CHARLES SANTO, PhD
Interim Director and Coordinator of Graduate Studies
E-mail: casanto@memphis.edu

Room 208, McCord Hall
(901) 678-2161
http://planning.memphis.edu

I. The Division of City and Regional Planning in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy offers the Master’s in City and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree. Planning uses a multidisciplinary approach to solve urban and regional problems. As such, planning is concerned with the spatial arrangement and interaction of human activity systems in urbanized areas and enables the arrangement of facilities and programs in an optimal and comprehensive way. As a professional practice, planning is concerned with guiding the growth and development of cities and regions toward desired objectives. Planning increases the effectiveness of public and private decision-making by giving careful consideration to goal formulation, the collection and organization of information and knowledge, and the design of policies and programs. The curriculum is intended to provide the basic knowledge and skills in theory, techniques, methods, and practice. The program is a full member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, and its degree is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

Program objectives are: (1) mastery of computing and written, oral , and graphical skills; (2) strong sense of professional ethical principles; (3) respect for and understanding of diverse viewpoints, needs, and ideologies, with particular attention to issues related to class, gender, race and ethnicity in urban society; (4) knowledge and skills for urban problem-solving including history and theory of planning processes and practices; administrative, legal, and political aspects of plan making and policy implementation; and synthesis and application of knowledge; (5) knowledge of the structure and function of urban settlements, and (6) knowledge and skills necessary for achieving status as a Certified Planner.

 All graduate students must comply with the general requirements of the Graduate School (see Admissions Regulations, Academic Regulations, and Minimum Degree Requirements) as well as the program requirements of the degree being pursued.

II. MCRP Degree Program

A. Program Admission

Applicants must satisfy admission standards of the Graduate School and receive favorable endorsement from the planning faculty. Admission will be based on applicable test scores (GRE or MAT); undergraduate grade point average; previous education and/or experience; and ability to articulate career and education objectives.

B. Program Prerequisite

Students are accepted from all undergraduate disciplines and professional areas; however, the department determines if students must do remedial work. Some credit may be granted by the department for remedial work if obtained at the graduate level after entering the program.

C. Program Requirements

The student is required to complete a minimum of 48 semester hours. Thirty (30) hours are taken in the core curriculum and 15 hours are electives that lead to a 3-hour Capstone Project. The fifteen (15) hours of electives allow the student to extend basic knowledge gained in the core curriculum and can include such subjects as economic development planning, urban design, land use and transportation planning, planning information systems, housing and community development planning, planning law, and environmental planning.

The 3-hour Capstone Project, submitted as a written report and orally defended, is required of all majors as a terminal experience designed to demonstrate a student’s mastery of planning process and substance.

The comprehensive examination must be successfully completed at the end of the semester in which the student expects to graduate.

D. Transfer of Credits

The Director may recommend to the Graduate School credit for planning course-work successfully completed at other institutions but not to exceed 12 semester hours. For those students formerly enrolled in graduate planning programs accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, a maximum of 24 hours in planning course-work may be approved. Credit previously earned at another institution must be presented for evaluation not later than the end of the student’s second semester of enrollment.

CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING (PLAN)

In addition to the courses below, the department may offer the following Special Topics courses:
PLAN 7610-7620. Special Topics in City and Regional Planning. (3). Topics vary and are announced in the online class listing.

Core Curriculum

Electives