Study Abroad with City & Regional Planning

A Message from the Director

"Dream of a City" is the motto for the Division of City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis. It alludes to the University's motto – "Dreamers. Thinkers. Doers." – while evoking Daniel Burnham's exhortation to make big plans, and reflecting Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of justice, unity, and opportunity. The purpose of the motto is, in part, to inspire students of planning to be visionary – to think beyond planning as a technical exercise and engage in planning as a creative endeavor. We also hope to inspire students, community partners, and planners alike to recognize that we don't have to settle for the faults, shortcomings, and injustices of our neighborhoods and places – that change is possible if there is vision. We each have our unique perspectives on what makes an ideal city.

The University of Memphis' Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning seeks to challenge local citizens, appointed and elected officials, professional planners, and planning students and scholars to work together to apply their knowledge and skills to create more vibrant, sustainable, and just communities.  

We welcome your knowledge, insights, visions, and dreams!

The Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning

is one of four units within the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy. The 48 hour Master's degree in City & Regional Planning prepares students for careers concerned with the physical development of communities, and the interaction of that development with the social, economic, and environmental well-being of communities. The program is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

Click here for measures of student achievement and recent program statistics.

The Mid-South Planning & Zoning Institute

presents a day-long conference each spring for citizen leaders, elected officials, planning commissioners, zoning boards, and planning professionals. The purpose of this conference is to facilitate a better understanding of critical issues in land use planning and policy. Nationally recognized experts form the faculty of the conference and explore critical issues in planning the future of neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties, and regions in the Mid-South.

 The Regional Economic Development Center

was established in 1967 with funding from the Economic Development Administration and served, formerly, as a research and outreach arm of the Graduate Program in City & Regional Planning, conducting applied research and providing technical assistance to public and private sector clients in Middle and West Tennessee. Past REDC projects can be found here.