MSCRP program
Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning (MSCRP)
The Master's Program in Community and Regional Planning (CRP) provides the theoretical foundations, specific skills and practical experience to succeed in professional planning and related policy careers. The program consists of 48 credit hours of coursework that includes preparation of a Masters Professional Report or Thesis.
Each student is expected to complete 24 hours of courses in the core curriculum and 18 hours in electives in specific planning areas or areas of special interest. Students complete the remaining six hours in Advanced Study. Advanced Study includes either an Internship (3 hours) and Professional Report (3 hours) sequence, or a Masters Thesis consisting of a supervised research course (3 hours) and a writing course (3 hours). Students can choose to cluster electives in one of the six specialization areas offered in CRP, or organize their elective hours across specializations according to their specific interests.
Core Curriculum
The core curriculum is designed to provide the foundation and skills for professional planning practice and an understanding of the institutions and social, economic, and physical environments that constitute the context of contemporary planning. The core curriculum provides a breadth of knowledge supporting areas of planning, including planning methods, theory, law, and finance. The following eight courses comprise the core curriculum. (Note: course numbers may be shared by more than one course in the core curriculum.)
Introduction to Planning (CRP 980X/Y/Z)
An introductory sequence of 3 courses (History and Theory; Regional Planning Methods; and the Integrative Planning Workshop) over the first 3 semesters of study. This first course in this sequence (980X) covers the basic theories, history, techniques, and ethical concerns of the planning profession. The second course (980Y) teaches applied planning methods, including population analysis, economic analysis, and physical/land use analysis and provides a framework for evaluating the use of applied methods in actual cases. The final course (980Z) focuses on exploring and developing a physical design proposal to better understand how design shapes and is shaped by physical, economic, political, social, and cultural considerations. This sequence of courses further trains students in the range of oral, written, visual, graphic, and technical skills required of professional planners.
Planning Law (CRP 381)
Provides an introduction to U.S. legal principles and concepts important for planning practice and techniques of legal research. The course examines the constitutional and legal framework for municipal, regional, and state planning in Texas and the U.S.
Quantitative Methods (CRP 386)
This course is designed to provide the planning student with a working set of basic statistical tools, focusing on description and inference.
Plans and Plan-Making (CRP 386)
Provides a basic introduction the comprehensive land planning process, including analysis of existing conditions, gathering necessary data, identifying issues, organizing information, incorporating public participation, plan-making, and implementation.
Financing Public Services (CRP 381)
This course is designed to provide students with a foundation in the theory and practice of public financial management. Students learn the tools and methods used to create, determine, and analyze government budgetary policy options as well as the structure of the flow of public resources.
Planning Processes and Practice (CRP 381)
This course covers citizen participation in planning, participatory planning methods, and the role of the collaborative planner. Skills include group facilitation, participatory process design, and multi-stakeholder conflict resolution.
CRP Electives
Electives are normally selected with approval of the Graduate Advisor and students can organize their electives in one of two ways.
First, elective courses can be selected to form a concentration involving 4 or more courses in a designated CRP specialization area (see below). Students who successfully complete four courses in a specialization area and complete a Professional Report or Masters Thesis on a subject related to the specialization receive a Certificate of Specialization upon graduation.
Second, elective courses can be taken in a number of specialization areas reflecting the student's particular interests. Students who choose not to specialize in a specific area receive a MSCRP degree upon graduation but no Certificate of Specialization.
Electives may also be taken in other graduate programs across the University with approval of the Graduate Advisor. The following is a list of recent elective course offerings, though not all courses are offered every year. Elective courses can follow a traditional lecture and discussion format, or may be conducted as research seminars, independent studies, studios, or workshops. Each course number is shared by more than one course; and courses are divided into the general categories of Management and Implementation, Seminars in Environmental and Regional Planning, Structure and Function of Communities and Regions, Applied Planning Techniques, Public Service Systems Planning, Special Topics in CRP, and Independent Research in CRP.
For a complete list of current electives, see CRP Courses.
Affordable Housing (CRP 388)
Alternative Dispute Resolution (CRP 383)
Applied GIS (CRP 386)
Applied Techniques in Environmental Analysis (CRP 383)
Brownfield Seminar (CRP 383) Community Development (CRP 385C)
Deep Democracy (CRP 388)
Designing Digital Communities (CRP 390)
Environmental Impact (CRP ???)
Environmental Readings (CRP 383)
Growth Management (CRP 390)
Historic Preservation Practice (CRP 389C)
History of Landscape Architecture (CRP 388)
Housing Demand and Production (CRP 388)
Housing in Latin America (CRP 388)
Independent Research in Community and Regional Planning (CRP 396)
International Sustainable Social Development (CRP 381)
International Transportation Issues (CRP 384)
Land Development (CRP 389C)
Metropolitan Transportation Studies with TransCAD GIS (CRP384)
Natural Resource and Environmental Planning (CRP 388K)
Neighborhood Transportation Planning (CRP 384)
PhD Colloquium (CRP 391D)
Planning and Visual Communication (CRP 386 - Design for Planners II)
Preservation and Economic Development (CRP 389C)
Preservation Law (CRP ???)
Principles of Physical Planning (CRP 369K)
Public/Private Land Development Process (CRP 389C)
Qualitative Research Methods (CRP 386)
Regional Planning (CRP 386)
Research Design (CRP 391D)
Sustainable Urban Economic Development Planning (CRP 383)
The Built Environment and Public Health (CRP383, SW387R)
Topics in Sustainable Development (CRP 383)
Transit-Oriented Development (CRP 381)
Transportation, Environment and Health (CRP 384)
Urban Environmental Analysis (CRP 383)
Urban Land Institute Workshop (LAR 388R)
Urban Politics Seminar (CRP 388)
Urban Politics Seminar (CRP f388)
Urban Poverty and Community Development Seminar (CRP 388)
Urban Public Places (CRP 386 - Design for Planners I)
Urban Transportation (CRP 384)
Water Resource Planning (CRP 383)
Water Resources (CRP 387C)
The CRP Masters program culminates in six semester credit hours of Advanced Study. Students may choose to demonstrate professional competence with either an approved Masters Thesis or with a Professional Report and completion of a planning internship. Advanced study leading to either the thesis or professional report is conducted under the supervision of a faculty committee selected by the student and the Graduate Advisor.
Choice of the Masters Thesis option does not preclude participation in an internship. However, students choosing the Professional Report option must include the internship in their program of work.
Masters Thesis (CRP 698A/B)
Individual research and writing, three semester credit hours for each of two semesters. Thesis research is conducted under the supervision of a faculty committee consisting of two or three members.
Planning Internship (CRP 397)
Includes placement and work in a public, nonprofit or private institution in a planning related field or activity. Students work for 300 hours in their internship coupled with presentation of a summary report of their internship experience. The Planning Internship course should be taken in the semester when the student will have completed their internship hours.
Masters Professional Report (CRP 398R)
A student may elect to complete a professional report in lieu of a thesis, provided that an internship is also completed. The report and the research leading to it accounts for the equivalent of three semester hours of credit.
M.S.C.R.P. Sample Course Sequence (as of 06-07)
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* Electives are normally selected with approval of the Graduate Advisor. Electives may be taken in other graduate programs in the University with approval of the Graduate Advisor.
**Election of the thesis option requires CRP 698A in place of the internship and CRP 698B in place of the professional report.