The MCRP program has always striven for excellence in graduate education. Today, it has refined the curriculum to fully reflect the program's community based planning philosophy in all aspects of teaching and research. The vigor, growth, and quality of the degree programs are tied to the increasing excellence of its students and alumni.

The curriculum is designed to foster connection to communities and instill the relevance of the practical application in pedagogy and analysis. The strength of the MCRP program lies in its commitment and connection to local community efforts in planning. Students and faculty actively strive to engage in community service as part of the overall mission of the program.

Although the program supports a number of introductory courses at the undergraduate level, there is no arrangement for automatic advancement into the program from the Bachelor's level. Students who take undergraduate planning courses can apply these to an undergraduate Planning concentration in the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design architecture program, or to a Bachelor of University Studies degree.