BACHELOR OF URBAN + ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING: DISTINGUISHED MAJOR

Students who show exceptional promise in their major field of study and have the required 3.4 cumulative and major GPA may be eligible for admission to the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) within their department.

The Opportunity

The BUEP Distinguished Major provides students the opportunity to work more directly with a faculty member on an area of research that supports their long-term goals and strengthens their research skills. The Distinguished Major track does not add any additional credit hours, but would require that professional and open electives be directed to higher-level courses that support focused research. Eligible students can apply for admission to the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) in the spring of their 2nd year, fall of their 3rd year, or spring of their 3rd year in the BUEP program (note fall and spring application dates below).

In addition to the writing and acceptance of an undergraduate thesis, students will work with their faculty advisor to develop a communications plan for their work that includes academic journals, social media, and print media to expand the reach of their research and discovery. All students in the program will have access to workshops on expanding the impact of undergraduate research.

Eligibility:

Students must have and maintain a 3.4 or better grade point average. In addition to meeting the requirements of the Bachelor’s in Urban and Environmental Planning, students in the program would allocate their professional and open electives in the following way:

courses in GIS, Digital Visualization, or Social Science Methods at 4000 level or above (3 to 6 credits)
courses in Urban and Environmental Planning or any other professional program at the 4000 level or above that support the research focus of the planned thesis (6 credits)
and six credits across two semesters of fourth-year thesis research and writing (6 credits)

Application Criteria:

Students who wish to be considered for the program must submit an application and writing sample during the spring semester of their second year, fall semsester of their third year, or spring semester of their third year.
Applications will be assessed on three major criteria:

strength and creativity of proposed research project
viability of research to address a major area of planning practice or theory
academic performance

It is anticipated that no more than 20 percent of students will be accepted.

How to Apply:

To apply, submit the following application materials as a single PDF to Associate Professor Andrea Roberts, via email yja9dq@virginia.edu:

Cover sheet, including:
- Name
- Email
- Current Year and Semester of Study
- PLAN/PLAC Courses Taken
- Overall GPA
Required Essay (maximum 2 pages, double-spaced): Describe an area(s) of planning that interests you most. What questions would you want to answer with your research thesis as a Distinguished Major?
Letter of Recommendation

Application Deadline: 

SPRING SEMESTER DEADLINE: THURSDAY MAY 1, 2025
FALL SEMESTER DEADLINE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2025

Note: Eligible BUEP students can apply during the spring of their 2nd year, fall of their 3rd year, or spring of their 3rd year.

Questions?  

Questions about the BUEP Distinguished Major should be sent to Associate Professor Andrea Roberts, via email yja9dq@virginia.edu.