While permitting study of one or more areas of specialization, the core curriculum is designed to provide students with the basic elements of planning theory and their relationships to planning practice. Students hone their quantitative and qualitative skills and gain interviews of new developments in the field. A minimum of sixty credits of course work is necessary, of which thirty may be taken outside the CRP department. Students should plan on four semesters of residence to complete requirements. Because candidates for the program must demonstrate ability to do independent work as professionals, each is required to do an independent research project.
Faculty members encourage integration of theoretical analysis with field research.
Our department's faculty-student ratio ensures that students receive personal attention to their interests and goals. In-between the first and second year of study, summer internships provide an opportunity to combine research with professional experience. Examples of such courses include Wine Tasting, Culinary Arts, English as a Second Language, Dance, and Physical Education. All incomplete coursework must be completed by the beginning of the second subsequent semester. A student entering the Master of Regional Planning program from CRP's undergraduate Urban and Regional Studies program may receive advanced placement, and should check directly with the department for the corresponding guidelines.