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.
Year 1—Fall Semester
City Planning History (3 cr.)
Planning Principles (3 cr.)
Planning Stewardship (3 cr.)
Elective (3 cr.)
Year 1—Spring Semester
Planning Studio (6 cr.)
Planning Techniques I (3 cr.)
Ethics and Scales of Sustainability (3 cr.)
Year 1—Summer Semester
Elective (3 cr.)
Year 1—Summer Semester (Design Option)
Design Studio (6 cr.)
Introduction to Design and Graphics (3 cr.)
Design-related Elective (3 cr.)
Year 2—Fall Semester
Legal Aspects of Planning (3 cr.)
Planning Techniques II (3 cr.)
Thesis Research (3 cr.)
Elective (3 cr.)
Year 2—Spring Semester
Graduate Thesis (6 cr.)
Electives (3 cr.)
Total: 48 credits minimum
JOINT DEGREE
Students may enroll simultaneously in the school’s accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program and the Master of Science in Sustainable Design. 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.