MASTER of
CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING – 2003-05 Catalog
City and Regional Planning
Dexter Bldg. (34), Room 251
(805) 756-1315
General Characteristics
The Master of City and Regional Planning degree program (MCRP) is professionally
oriented. It is open to students with high standards of academic achievement
who wish to pursue careers in city and regional planning. It is structured to
prepare graduates with competence to function in a general context of city
planning, as well as in an area of special emphasis. The MCRP core courses
cover planning theory, methods, law, formulation and implementation of plans
and policies.
Two principal areas of study are
emphasized: urban land use planning, focused on comprehensive physical planning
and urban design; and environmental planning, focused on natural systems and
development impacts. In addition, skills building in all aspects of planning
communications (visual, verbal, written) is stressed. The City and Regional
Planning Department jointly offers the MCRP degree with the Master of Science
in Engineering with a specialization in transportation planning.
The MCRP Program is structured to meet the needs of those who have earned baccalaureate degrees in a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, economics, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, political science, environmental or urban studies, natural resources management, and ecology. The program is six quarters (two years) in duration and consists of 72 approved units (not including courses necessary to compensate for deficiencies). Because of the sequencing of courses, students admitted to the program are generally expected to begin their studies in the fall quarter. Students with prerequisite coursework deficiencies and those with backgrounds allowing waivers of first-year core courses may be admitted in other quarters. The degree culminates in a thesis (CRP 599), professional project (CRP 596), or synthesis course (CRP 597) and comprehensive exam.
The MCRP Program offers students an opportunity to develop close working relationships with the planning faculty. Self-directed study, tailored to the student's interests and needs, is also encouraged.
Prerequisites
Students entering the MCRP Program are required to bring with them a
background in computers and computer applications equivalent to the Cal Poly
course, CSC 110 Computers and Computer
Applications: Windows. This includes knowledge of Microsoft Windows, word
processing and spreadsheets.
Applicants for admission to the Master of City and Regional Planning program are expected to:
1. Have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college,
2. Have attained a grade point average of 3.0 in last 90 quarter units of undergraduate work,
3. In cases of borderline grade point average, provide the CRP Graduate Review Committee with the results of the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test,
4. Give indications of motivation, maturity, and high standards of academic involvement through work and references (three letters required) and submission of a project or paper demonstrating writing ability,
5. Provide a statement (maximum of 300 words) demonstrating your understanding of and areas of interest in city and regional planning, your career objectives, and your educational objectives.
Applicants lacking prerequisites or other background requirements for classified standing requirements may be admitted on a conditionally classified basis, depending on the results of an individual analysis of their applications.
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Units |
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Core Courses |
54/56 |
|
First Year |
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CRP
501 Foundations of Cities and Planning (4) |
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CRP
510 Planning Theory (4) |
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CRP
513 Planning Research Methods (4) |
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CRP 514
Computer Applications for MCRP (2) |
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CRP
515 Planning Presentation and Communication Techniques (3) |
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CRP
516 Quantitative Methods in Planning (4) |
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CRP
518 Public Policy Analysis (4) |
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CRP
525 Plan Implementation (4) |
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CRP 554
Regional Planning and Analysis (4) |
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Second Year |
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CRP
409 Planning Internship (2) |
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CRP
420 Land Use Law (4) |
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CRP
530 Planning Agency Management (3) |
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CRP
552 Community Planning Laboratory (4) |
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CRP 553
Project Planning Laboratory (4) |
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CRP 597 Policy, Planning,
and Management (4) and comprehensive exam or
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Emphasis Area (select one) |
11 |
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Land Use Planning |
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CRP 520 Feasibility Studies
in Planning (4) |
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CRP 548 Principles of City
Design (3) |
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Urban electives (4) |
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Environmental Planning |
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CRP 545 Env Planning,
Policies and Principles (4) |
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Environmental electives
(7) |
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Advisor approved electives |
7/5 |
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