The Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning (MAURP) is offered as a "ladderized" program, in response to the steadily increasing demands of planning across different sectors.  This program will further develop the leadership, management, and research skills of urban and regional planning professionals. To qualify for MAURP,  a DURP graduate must have a weighted average of “1.75” or better, and upon the recommendation of the Program Admissions Committee and approval of the Dean.

Specialization

In addition to the master's thesis, the MAURP curriculum includes a specialized course to further develop the student's professional training in his/her chosen field of specialization, particularly in overseeing the preparation of planning documents such as Physical Framework Plans, Comprehensive Land Use Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Comprehensive Development Plans, Environmental Studies, Feasibility Studies, and the like.

Admission into the DURP Program is opened once a year. We will be announcing it here. The following are the requirements:

•  a bachelor’s degree in from a recognized institution of higher learning, 

• a minimum weighted average grade of 2.5 or its equivalent, 

• relevant work experience of at least two years, 

• a favorable letter of recommendation from a former superior and at least one other person who is well acquainted with, but not related to the applicant, 

• passing the Graduate Admission Test, and 

• favorable assessment of interview results.

Download Program Brochure 

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR AY 2025-26:

We are now accepting applications for DURP for AY 2025-2026. All applications shall be submitted online through this application form.  

Before submitting your application, please prepare to upload the following using the required format:

1. Your recent passport size photo (in JPG format)

2. Scanned copy of your Transcript of Records (in PDF format)

3. Certificate of Good Moral Character (in PDF format)

Recommendation letters, duly accomplished by at least two references shall be e-mailed directly to architecture.upmin@up.edu.ph on or before the application deadline. Applications with incomplete requirements will not be processed.

For your guidance, below is the schedule of the 2025 Admissions Process:

12 April - deadline for Applications (online)

26 April - Graduate Admission Test (in-person, time and venue to be announced via e-mail)

31 May - Interview for passing and waitlisted examinees (online)

August - start of AY 2025-2026

An application fee (PhP200) and examination fee (PhP150) in cash shall be collected on the date of the exam.

In the first semester of AY 2022-2023, the Diploma and Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning (DURP/MAURP)  program was initially offered under the UP Mindanao School of Management (SOM) with the aim, to develop professional planners to respond more effectively to the steadily increasing demands of urban development in Mindanao. In the following year, however, student enrolment declined, with a lack of full-time core faculty members who were qualified to deliver the program. Eventually, the program was suspended, as moved and approved during the UP Mindanao University Council (UC) meeting on April 18, 2006. New students were no longer admitted and the continuing students were given the opportunity to complete their remaining DURP and MAURP courses and thesis under the SOM administration,  MAURP’s last offering was the first semester of the academic year 2006-2007 and DURP’s last offering was the second semester of the academic year.  2006-2007. 

Under the CHSS, the institution of the Department of Architecture of UP Mindanao was approved by the Board of Regents (BOR) on June 17, 2012. With its suspension from SOM, the DURP/MAURP program was envisioned to be revived under the administration of the new Department envisioned to address the emerging demands from architectural and planning professionals; responding to the needs of local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao, most specifically in the Davao region. With the threat of permanent abolition, the Department of Architecture (DA) initiated the move to unfreeze the DURP/MAURP program under its administration. The move was supported by SOM. Furthermore, the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) in UP Diliman expressed its commitment to support once the program is reoffered in UP Mindanao. On November 2016, the UP Mindanao University Council (UC) approved the unfreezing and reoffering of DURP/MAURP under the DA. Consequently, the program was reoffered in the Second Semester of the Academic Year 2016-2017. 

The current reoffering of the DURP/MAURP program maintains the same original curriculum then offered by SOM as originally adopted from UP Diliman SURP. Following the current developments in the practice of the planning profession, such as the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10587, otherwise known as the Environmental Planning Act of 2013, there is a need to revise the curriculum of the DURP/MAURP program. Most importantly, there is also a need to update the courses into Output/Outcome Based Education (OBE) format inspired by the new teaching method by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education(CHED).

The revised curriculum of D/MURP program under the administration of the DA aims to build partnerships with the professional practice industry, national government agencies, local government units, civil society, and local indigenous communities. The program is also envisioned to be the hub for urban and regional space planning that is responsive to the needs of the people and environment, is peculiar to the local and regional ecologies in Mindanao. 

Specifically, the program seeks to: 

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge on the urban and regional land use planning and its key principles and practices;

• Develop research that would integrate urban and regional planning in various disciplines;

• Develop skills in oral, graphical, digital and written communication in the practice of urban and regional planning;

• Demonstrate academic excellence in urban and regional planning through research in both creative and scientific endeavours; 

• Uphold a higher degree of professional and ethical behaviour; 

• Integrate Mindanao indigenous community and folk technology appropriate for planning and place-making solutions in the context of a national identity; 

• Develop a diverse sense of management, organization and planning in relation to its historical, socio-cultural and geographical condition;

• Develop critical judgment in the analysis of problems and the formulation of solutions to diverse planning issues; and,

• Cultivate appreciation and demonstrate knowledge of socio-cultural, environmentally conscious and responsible planning practices to contribute to sustainable development.