The CRP curriculum reflects the mission of the program in a manner that builds on professional practice and the academic expertise of the regular and adjunct faculty. Class sizes are kept small to facilitate a pedagogy that ensures active engagement in dialogue and discourse. Oftentimes, such interaction is modeled on actual cases and planning problems in the region.

Full-time Study vs. Part-time Study

A full-time student can complete the degree program in 4 semesters (2 years). The Program requires a minimum of 50 credit hours of study, at least 27 hours of which must be taken within the Community and Regional Planning Program. These credit hours must include the required core courses, an emphasis foundations course, and a second methods course. Students must also complete a thesis or professional project.

Part-time students should plan to allocate more time, and to manage their time in such a way that they can accomodate their coursework in their daytime schedule. The program schedules many electives in the late afternoon and early evening, however core courses are traditionally offered during regular daytime hours. Because courses are not offered every semester, it is extremely important that students coordinate their program to coincide with the two-year sequence of the full-time curriculum.

Note also that the University requires all graduate students to complete their degrees within five years.

Curriculum

The next few pages provide an overview of the CRP Program components, illuminate each of the CRP Program emphases, and suggest ways to manage your progress through the program. Your CRP course of study will consist of core courses, courses in one of two program emphases, and exit requirements. The text below and the table that follows describe the structure of, and relationship between, each of those components.

Core

A core of 5 courses (distributed over 19 credit hours) is required of all students. The core represents the knowledge elements deemed necessary to provide for a solid foundation in planning practice. Petitions to substitute any other coursework for these requirements will be considered only under extraordinary cicumstances.

Emphases

The MCRP degree is designed to allow students to pursue an emphasis consistent with their professional objectives. Two emphases have been developed to provide knowledge and to build skills in a specialized area of planning. These are the Natural Resources & Environmental Planning emphasis and the Rural & Urban Community Development emphasis. The completion of an emphasis allows students to match academic interests with potential employment opportunities.

The emphases are described in detail on pages 8 through 11. A required foundations course and a second methods course comprise six of these credit hours. The remainder can be selected from a variety of offerings. At the time of their Graduate Candidacy Review (ordinarily upon completion of the first 12 credit hours of coursework or the first full semester) students must declare their emphasis. The student completes the Review with his or her Faculty Advisor and a second CRP faculty member. The necessary candidacy forms can be obtained from the SAAP Student Advisor.

Courses may be offered that are not listed under each respective emphasis. Such courses may satisfy either the second methods course requirement or an emphasis elective. Students may substitute such courses if they have special relevance to a studentıs professional trajectory and or their thesis or professional project. Such courses can be offered outside of the MCRP program, but can only be applied if they carry graduate credit. Any proposed changes, however, must have the approval of the studentıs faculty advisor or committee chair, and of the emphasis coordinator.

Students in dual degree programs may have different requirements regarding program emphases. Please see pages 13 through 15 for more information.

Exit Requirements