The Master of Community Planning (MCP) is a professional, non-thesis degree. Students earn the degree by successfully completing forty-five (45) credit hours of coursework that incorporates lecture, workshop and seminar courses and culminates with a synthesis or capstone project.
The first year of the program sequence provides the methodological, theoretical and substantive base of knowledge that is common among all planners. The second year allows students to take electives that will either broaden or focus their education into specific aspects of planning practice. The capstone project is a two-semester long synthesis studio, in which students work on a professional plan for a real client.
Core Courses (30 credit hours)
- CPLN 6010: Introduction to Community Planning (3)
- CPLN 6050: Land and Urban Economics (3)
- CPLN 6460: GIS of Planning and Policy (3)
- CPLN 7200: Urban Design Studio (3)
- CPLN 7240: Quantitative Methods for Planning (3)
- CPLN 7300: Community-based Qualitative Methods (3)
- CPLN 7350: Planning History and Theory (3)
- CPLN 7430: Land Use Law (3)
- CPLN 7600: Synthesis Studio 1 (3)
- CPLN 7610: Synthesis Studio 2 (3)
Comprehensive Exam (required)
A comprehensive examination is required of all students who have successfully completed 24 credit hours or all core classes (except the Synthesis Studio) in the MCP program and/or before registration for the Synthesis Studio courses. Students are notified of their eligibility for the comprehensive exam by the MCP program director. Comprehensive exams are usually taken at the end of the full second semester
Electives (15 credit hours)
Through five (5) elective courses, students have the opportunity either to focus on specific areas within planning or to broaden their experiences across many areas of planning. We currently offer elective courses in the following areas of faculty expertise: sustainable development and environmental planning, GIS and mapping, transportation, urban design, historic preservation, land use planning, revitalization and economic development, affordable housing, community development, real estate development, and public policy and administration.
- CPLN 6000 – History and Theory of Urban Form
- CPLN 6020 – Cities, Planning and Climate Change
- CPLN 6040 – Land Use Planning
- CPLN 6060 – Sustainable Transportation Planning and Policy
- CPLN 6070 – Environmental Planning
- CPLN 6080 – Affordable Housing Planning and Policy
- CPLN 6090 – Community Development
- CPLN 6100 – Urban Design Methods
- CPLN 6110 – Sustainable Urbanism and Smart Growth
- CPLN 6120 – Environmental Policy
- CPLN 6400 – Historic Preservation Planning
- CPLN 6970 – Special Topics – Public Sector Grant writing
- CPLN 6970 – Special Topics – Principles of Real Estate Development
- CPLN 6970 – Special Topics – Real Estate Market Analysis
- CPLN 7920 – Planning Internships
Master of Community Planning – Fall Intake
First Year – Fall (12 Credits)
CPLN 6010 – Introduction to Community Planning – 3 Core
Examines the basic principles of community design and planning, and introduces areas of specialization with the professional of planning.
CPLN 6050 – Land and Urban Economics – 3 Core
Examines the historical development and contemporary functioning of cities from an economic perspective, with focus on land use and transportation.
CPLN 7300 – Community Based Qualitative Methods – 3 Core
Introduces graduate students to the foundational principles of qualitative inquiry and community based/community-engaged research.
CPLN 7350 – Planning History and Theory – 3 Core
This course provides future practitioners with the theoretical and historical tools and knowledge to effective in the planning field.
First Year – Spring (12 Credits)
CPLN 7200 – Urban Design Studio – 3 Core
Basic principles of urban design are explored, with an emphasis on the planner's role in shaping the built environment. Exercises and projects provide hands-on experience in making good urban places.
CPLN 7240 – Quantitative methods for Planning - 3 Core
Development of working knowledge of planning techniques such as data collection, basic statistics, demographic analysis, economic analysis, social research, transportation, and evaluation.
CPLN 7430 – Land Use Law – 3 Core
This course covers three key elements of the planning profession: ethics, law and plan implementation.
CPLN 6460 – GIS for Planning and Policy – 3 Core
Program approval for non-majors and ABM students. Basic concepts of geographic information systems and digital planning applications. Emphasis on spatial decision making and visualization of planning scenarios.
Second Year – Fall (12 Credits)
CPLN 7600 – Synthesis Studio 1 – 3 Core
Serves as the primary opportunity for the student to demonstrate their competency in community design and planning by transition knowledge into action though the development of a practical plan.
Elective 1 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Elective 2 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Elective 3 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Second Year – Spring (9 Credits)
CPLN 7610 – Synthesis Studio 2 – 3 Core
Synthesis Studio 2 is the second required plan-making studio in a two semester series of classes that will critically consider a real-world planning project involving a city
Elective 1 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Elective 2 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Master of Community Planning – Spring Intake
First Year – Spring (12 Credits)
CPLN 6010 – Introduction to Community Planning – 3 Core
Examines the basic principles of community design and planning, and introduces areas of specialization with the professional of planning.
CPLN 7200 – Urban Design Studio – 3 Core
Basic principles of urban design are explored, with an emphasis on the planner's role in shaping the built environment. Exercises and projects provide hands-on experience in making good urban places.
CPLN 7240 – Quantitative Methods for Planning – 3 Core
Development of working knowledge of planning techniques such as data collection, basic statistics, demographic analysis, economic analysis, social research, transportation, and evaluation.
CPLN 7430 – Land Use Law – 3 Core
This course covers three key elements of the planning profession: ethics, law and plan implementation.
First Year – Fall (12 Credits)
CPLN 6460 – GIS for Planning Policy – 3 Core
Program approval for non-majors and ABM students. Basic concepts of geographic information systems and digital planning applications. Emphasis on spatial decision-making and visualization of planning scenarios.
CPLN 6050 – Land and Urban Economics – 3 Core
Examines the historical development and contemporary functioning of cities from an economic perspective, with focus on land use and transportation.
CPLN 7300 – Community-based Qualitative Methods – 3 Core
Introduces graduate students to the foundational principles of qualitative inquiry and community-based/community-engaged research.
CPLN 7350 – Planning History and Theory – 3 Core
This course provides future practitioners with the theoretical and historical tools and knowledge to effective in the planning field.
Second Year – Spring (12 Credits)
CPLN 7610 – Synthesis Studio 2 – 3 Core
Synthesis Studio 2 is the second required plan-making studio in a two semester series of classes that will critically consider a real-world planning project involving a city.
Elective 1 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Elective 2 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Elective 3 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Second Year – Fall (9 Credits)
CPLN 7600 – Synthesis Studio 1 – 3 Core
Serves as the primary opportunity for the student to demonstrate their competency in community design and planning by transition knowledge into action though the development of a practical plan.
Elective 1 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)
Elective 2 – 3 Elective
Elective (with MCP director approval)