Master of City and Regional Planning
Next open house: Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Click here to R.s.v.p.
For more information, contact planningdegree@cua.edu
GOALS
Building on the strong tradition of our architecture programs, the Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) links design with policy to assist planners in the stewardship of the built, natural, and cultural environments. The curriculum prepares students with the foundation to become generalist planners and steward planners according to the CUArch mission.
In today's climate, planning and design interventions should include the impacts on the environment. At CUArch you will learn about creating a better environment from the perspective of sustainable design and planning principles. The Washington, DC metropolitan area provides an excellent laboratory to explore planning issues. This perspective will be extended to the region to understand planning interventions in the context of urban, suburban, and exurban locations.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The MCRP curriculum prepares students with the foundation to become generalist planners and steward planners according to the CUArch mission. The planning curriculum will provide graduate students with a program of study that integrates planning history, theory, practice, zoning and legal aspects, land use, transportation, and analytical methods, all of which form the foundation of the generalist planner's perspective. Coupled with a design orientation, these policy related subjects will be framed within sustainable design and planning principles as well as the context of regionalism.
The MCRP is a minimum two year, 48-credit hour program with an optional design focus which increases the program to 60 credit hours. This added coursework will strengthen the physical design skills for those who do not have an architecture background or who want to extend their training in the context of physical planning. If pursued in conjunction with the M.Arch program, it may be possible to reduce the requirements by 12 credit hours. Evening classes are available.
| Number | Description | Credits |
Year 1 |
Fall Semester |
|
| ARPL 781 | Planning Origins and Traditions | 3 |
| ARPL 782 | Planning Principles | 3 |
| ARPL 788 | Urban Economics | 3 |
| ARPL 789 | Transportation and Land Use Planning | 3 |
|
Total: |
12 | |
Year 1 |
Spring Semester |
|
|
ARPL 780 |
Planning Studio | 6 |
|
ARPL 787 |
Planning Techniques | 3 |
| MCRP Elective I* | 3 | |
|
Total: |
12 | |
Year 1 |
Summer Semester [design option] |
|
| ARPL 500 | Introduction to Design and Graphics | 6 |
| Design Elective I | 3 | |
| Design Elective II | 3 | |
|
Total: |
12 | |
Year 2 |
Fall Semester |
|
| ARPL 524 | Practice Law, Real Estate and Planning | 3 |
| ARPL 761** | MCRP-MSSD Thesis Prep | 3 |
| MCRP Elective II* | 3 | |
| MCRP Elective III* | 3 | |
|
Total: |
12 | |
Year 2 |
Spring Semester |
|
| ARPL 704** | Written Thesis | 6 |
| ARPL 783 | Ethics and Stewardship | 3 |
| MCRP Elective IV | 3 | |
|
Total: |
12 |
* From Approved MCRP LIst
** Completion of ARPL761 is a prerequisite for enrollment in ARPL704.
JOINT DEGREE
Students may enroll simultaneously in the school's accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program and the Master of City and Regional Planning. This allows students to obtain the two degrees sooner than they could acquire each independently. The MCRP/M.Arch joint degree program requires a total of 94 semester hours of graduate credit. Completion of both degrees separately would require a total of 109 hours. Visit the MCRP/M.Arch. website for more information.
FACULTY
Hazel Ruth Edwards, Ph.D., AICP, Associate Professor and Program Director
Julius Levine, FAICP, Professor
Charles (Chuck) Hostovsky, Ph.D., MCIP
Judith Meany, Ph.D., FAICP, Clinical Associate Professor
Terrance Williams, FAIA, Professor
Christopher Grech, RIBA, CSI, Associate Professor
Miriam Gusevich, Associate Professor
ADMISSIONS
For more detailed information on admission to CUA's graduate programs in architecture, please visit the School's Graduate Admissions page.
ACCREDITATION
While there is no mandatory licensure for planners except in the State of New Jersey, more emphasis is being placed on the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) examination as the credential for practicing planners. The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) is the sole agency authorized to accredit planning programs in North America. This program will become eligible for consideration for accreditation once it has graduated at least 25 students. However, one may sit for the AICP exam with a degree from a non-accredited planning program. Information about the PAB accreditation process and eligibility requirements for the AICP exam can be found at http://www.planning.org/certification/index.htm.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For detailed information regarding the Master of City and Regional Planning program, contact the program's director, Hazel Ruth Edwards, Ph.D., AICP, associate professor, email: cua-arch-planning@cua.edu.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in graduate studies is required for graduation in all degree programs.
