Planning, Public Policy and Management

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Master of Community and Regional Planning

Why UO? | Curriculum | Advising | Application Procedures

MCRP Program Overview

The master's program in community and regional planning (CRP) trains policy-oriented planners for leadership positions in the public, nonprofit and private sector. The program is ideal for students seeking a challenging education with an emphasis on both the long-term principles and practical skills necessary for a professional career. The program is designed to be highly flexible, allowing students to develop electives around their career interests or pursue joint degrees with several programs across campus.

The planning program has awarded degrees since 1968. It is one of 72 master’s programs accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. The progressive planning and environmental programs of the State of Oregon and the applied, problem-solving orientation of the program attract an increasing number of students from the U.S. and the Pacific Basin. The two-year degree program is designed to serve fifty graduate-level planning students. Each year about one hundred students apply for twenty-five available positions in the first-year class.

Careers in Planning

PPPM students graduate with a broad-based planning education that provides a range of employment opportunities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. PPPM graduates are working today throughout Oregon, the United States and the world.

Public sector jobs (local, state and federal) held by CRP graduates include:

Local government land use planner
Community development director
Social services staff
Impact Assessment specialist
Environmental planner
Emergency services director

Private Sector employers include:

Planning consultant firms
Private developers
Utility companies

Nonprofit and Research employers include:

Sustainable business organizations
Economic development corporations
Advocacy groups
Political associations
State research bureaus

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Why the University of Oregon?

There are many reasons students choose to study planning at the University of Oregon. Here are some of the ones our students commonly cite:

Experiential learning
Our community planning workshop (CPW) is consistently cited by students as one of their educational highlights. All accredited planning programs require an experiential component, but CPW goes one step further. Teams of first year students work on a range of projects managed by a second year student and closely supervised by experienced CPW planning professionals. Most importantly, these projects are for paying clients, and the student teams often conduct surveys, focus groups or public meetings. As a result, students gain substantial “real world” experience in their first year.

Strong community
The PPPM students are leaders and active participants in the governance of the department. Starting with the Fall retreat, students work to build a community of colleagues through social events, field trips and other activities.

Nationally ranked program
A national study of planning programs rated the University of Oregon 5th in terms of faculty publications. PPPM is a small department with faculty dedicated to teaching and engaged in innovative research. Faculty are friendly and accessible, and often work with Masters students to conduct research and co-author articles.

Flexible curriculum
The CRP program offers flexibility, allowing you to choose electives that suit your background and career goals. Some students also choose to pursue dual degrees in Public Administration, Geography, Environmental Studies, Landscape Architecture and Law.

Pacific Northwest and Oregon
The Pacific Northwest is not only a beautiful place to live, it is also a place of innovative thinking and governance. It is a leading center for sustainable business and design, and Oregon is recognized internationally for its leadership in land use planning, compact urban development, and collaborative governance.

Department Information

PPPM is located in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts (A&AA). Community and regional planning is one of three graduate programs in the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM). The public policy and management program offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA). The department also offers a 24-credit graduate certificate in nonprofit management.

The department maintains strong ties to programs across the campus, including: historic preservation, landscape architecture, architecture, environmental studies, international studies, economics, geography, sociology, and political science. The School of Law and Colleges of Business and Education also provide course work and research opportunities important to the professional career preparation of planning students.

The department is also affiliated with several centers and institutes that offer opportunities for internships, research positions, and advising expertise:

The Community Service Center (CSC) is an interdisciplinary organization within PPPM that assists Oregon communities by providing planning and technical assistance to help solve local and regional issues through the following programs:

Community Planning Workshop (CPW) is an experiential learning program, supervised by planning professionals, that engages teams of four to six graduate students in applied research projects for a range of local, state and nonprofit organizations. CPW has two primary missions: (1) to provide community service, and (2) to provide a quality "real world" experience for students. CPW is primarily funded through contracts with communities with budgets ranging from $3,000-$60,000.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) helps provide twenty-five to thirty year-long work experiences in Oregon communities to help diversify the economy and improve environmental conditions in rural communities. Participants receive $1,200 per month in salary, health insurance coverage, a $4,725 educational award, and are eligible to apply for Oregon in-state tuition.
Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup ONHW) assists communities by addressing two key activities in natural hazards risk and loss reduction through planning education, and information dissemination.
Institute for a Sustainable Environment (ISE) is an interdisciplinary research and service institute working at the regional, national and international levels on environmental sustainability. Faculty and students from a range of departments are engaged in the work of the ISE.
Institute for Policy Research and Innovation (IPRI) facilitates and supports policy-relevant research by faculty members and graduate students. It emphasizes the dissemination of knowledge about a range of public problems and issues.

Internships

Although internships are not required for the CRP degree, students are encouraged to obtain professional experience during their graduate training. Students may access the resources of the Internship Program and work with the internship director to identify opportunities.

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The Curriculum

CRP delivers a broad based curriculum that provides students with theoretical foundations and applied problem-solving skills to plan for a sustainable future. A total of 72 credit hours is required for graduation. To see a sample 2-year program, please click on the file below:

CRP 2-Year Program Sample (PDF)

1. CORE (32 credits)

PPPM 611, Introduction to Planning Practice (4 credits)
PPPM 612, Legal Issues in Planning (4 credits)
PPPM 613, Planning Analysis *(5 credits)
PPPM 616, Planning Theory and Ethics (4 credits)
PPPM 617, Human Settlements (4 credits)
PPPM 618, Introduction to Public Service (4 credits)
PPPM 620, Applied Methods in Planning, Policy & Management (4 credits)
Computer short course (3 credits)

* Students must complete the equivalent of an advanced undergraduate or graduate-level introductory course in statistics as a pre- or co-requisite to Planning Analysis. No credit toward the M.C.R.P. degree is allowed for the statistics course, and the requirement is waived for students with equivalent courses or work experience. Entering students are urged to satisfy this requirement before enrolling in the program.

2. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (10 credits)

PPM 608, Community Planning Workshop (2-terms required -10 credits)

3. FOCAL AREA (14-19 credits)

Planning students select a set of courses in consultation with their advisor that focuses their elective work on an area of special interest. This focal area consists of at least 14-19 credits, depending on whether the student does a thesis or terminal project. At least four of these elective credits must be within PPPM. The CRP program does not have formal concentrations, but the PPPM department is particularly strong in the following areas:

Social and Health Policy
Nonprofit / Philanthropy
Community Development
Land Use and Built Environment
Governance and Civic Engagement
Environmental Planning and Policy

In choosing a set of focal area classes, students should think about their undergraduate/professional background and their career objective. It may be helpful to consult with an academic advisor, a professional working in the desired career area, and fellow students. Students should also consider a balanced training for their focal area:

Knowledge: Consider classes that provide the substantive training in a particular topic area (e.g., natural resources policy, transportation planning, land use planning).
Skills: Consider classes that provide important analysis and technical skills (e.g., GIS, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Urban Economics, Statistics, Qualitative Methods)

Possible Focal Area Courses
Students can choose courses from across the university for their focal area. The program brochure (PDF ) includes a comprehensive list of acceptable classes. Check with each department listed for an updated course offering schedule and prerequisites.

4. SYNTHESIS (7-12 credits)

PPPM 690, Student Research Colloquium (2-terms required - 2 & 1 credit)
PPPM 609, Terminal Project (4 credits) or
PPPM 503, Thesis (9 credits)

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Advising

CRP students are assigned a provisional academic advisor prior to their enrollment, but students are free to change academic advisors. They should confirm the change with their new advisors and submit a Change of Advisor form. CRP advising includes:

Individual Advising: Each student is strongly recommended to regularly meet with their advisor to discuss their progress and selection of electives.
Group advising: MCRP students are invited to participate in group advising sessions about courses and career strategies. These sessions are organized topically on the basis of faculty expertise (e.g., environmental planning, community development, regional planning).
Mid-Program Review: Each MCRP student is requested to meet with his or her advisor before registering for second year fall term courses. The purposes of this meeting are to review student progress and help select a set of focal area elective courses.

Financial Aid

A listing of some financial aid possibilities is listed at http://pppm.uoregon.edu/index.cfm?mode=prospective&page=financialaid. The program has teaching and research assistantships for qualified students in their second year of study. Research and Community Service stipends, for qualified applicants, are also available to students through the Community Planning Workshop (CPW) and Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE). Approximately forty percent of the students graduating from the community and regional planning program receive financial support from one or more of these sources in the second year of their studies. Students in need of financial aid are encouraged to apply for work-study support or loans through the University of Oregon Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Grants and fellowships are also available through a number of private foundations. Several graduate teaching fellowships (GTFs) annually are awarded by the Department in amounts ranging from $1,218 to $3,655, in addition to tuition. Normally the fellowships are awarded to second-year students, although a few are awarded to first-year students for winter and spring terms. Opportunities for part-time employment with public and private planning agencies in the City of Eugene and Lane County are occasionally available through the PPPM internship program.

Diversity Building Scholarships

The Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management (PPPM) strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. PPPM is dedicated to fostering an academic environment that will prepare our students to flourish in diverse communities found both locally and abroad. We recognize that a diverse student body brings multiple perspectives (e.g., cultural, historical, spiritual, political, etc.) that enhance the curriculum and offer various sources for learning. We also recognize that a familiarity and comfort with diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, and real-life experiences will help produce better future public leaders. The University of Oregon offers Diversity Building Scholarships for graduate students who are US citizens. The deadline is January 15th. For more information and the application, click here (PDF).

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Application Procedures

The graduate program in Community and Regional Planning provides opportunities for individually tailored sets of courses. Great importance is placed on the student's preference for and ability to undertake self-directed educational activity. The admissions committee emphasizes the selection of candidates who present clear and specific statements of the reasons for choosing to pursue their graduate work in planning at the University of Oregon. The committee also values applicants with some work experience, particularly if it is related to planning.

The application deadline is February 1 for all materials to be at the department for Fall term admission. Detailed application procedures can be accessed here.

For a PDF version of this program description click here

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Last updated July 30, 2008
An equal opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This publication will be made available in accessible formats upon request.



PPPM Home About PPPM - About PPPM - Mission, Principles and Program Objectives - Department History - Department Facilities - The Circle: Annual Newsletter Undergraduate Programs - Undergraduate Programs - PPPM Major - PPPM Minor - Nonprofit Minor - Honors Thesis Graduate Programs - Graduate Programs - Master of Community and Regional Planning - Master of Public Administration - Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management Prospective Students - Prospective Students - How to Apply - Financial Aid - Housing - Life in Eugene Current Students - Current Students - Departmental Forms - Course Listings - Funding Resources - Student Groups - Commencement Information - Student Handbook Community Service Center - Community Service Center Internship Program - Internship Program - Planning Your Internship - Current Internships - Recurring Internships - Student Fellowships - International Internships - Internship Resources - Posting an Internship Faculty and Staff - Faculty and Staff - - Visiting Scholars - Staff Profiles - Collaboratives Research News and Events - News and Events - Calendar of Events - Department Lectures Research Institutes - Research Institutes - - - Alumni - Alumni - Alumni Advisory Council - - Where are they now? - CSPA - Giving - Annual Award Recognition	Home > Graduate Programs > Master of Community and Regional Planning Master of Community and Regional Planning Why UO? \| Curriculum \| Advising \| Application Procedures MCRP Program Overview The master's program in community and regional planning (CRP) trains policy-oriented planners for leadership positions in the public, nonprofit and private sector. The program is ideal for students seeking a challenging education with an emphasis on both the long-term principles and practical skills necessary for a professional career. The program is designed to be highly flexible, allowing students to develop electives around their career interests or pursue joint degrees with several programs across campus. The planning program has awarded degrees since 1968. It is one of 72 master’s programs accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. The progressive planning and environmental programs of the State of Oregon and the applied, problem-solving orientation of the program attract an increasing number of students from the U.S. and the Pacific Basin. The two-year degree program is designed to serve fifty graduate-level planning students. Each year about one hundred students apply for twenty-five available positions in the first-year class. Careers in Planning PPPM students graduate with a broad-based planning education that provides a range of employment opportunities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. PPPM graduates are working today throughout Oregon, the United States and the world. Public sector jobs (local, state and federal) held by CRP graduates include: Local government land use planner Community development director Social services staff Impact Assessment specialist Environmental planner Emergency services director Private Sector employers include: Planning consultant firms Private developers Utility companies Nonprofit and Research employers include: Sustainable business organizations Economic development corporations Advocacy groups Political associations State research bureaus TOP Why the University of Oregon? There are many reasons students choose to study planning at the University of Oregon. Here are some of the ones our students commonly cite: Experiential learning Our community planning workshop (CPW) is consistently cited by students as one of their educational highlights. All accredited planning programs require an experiential component, but CPW goes one step further. Teams of first year students work on a range of projects managed by a second year student and closely supervised by experienced CPW planning professionals. Most importantly, these projects are for paying clients, and the student teams often conduct surveys, focus groups or public meetings. As a result, students gain substantial “real world” experience in their first year. Strong community The PPPM students are leaders and active participants in the governance of the department. Starting with the Fall retreat, students work to build a community of colleagues through social events, field trips and other activities. Nationally ranked program A national study of planning programs rated the University of Oregon 5th in terms of faculty publications. PPPM is a small department with faculty dedicated to teaching and engaged in innovative research. Faculty are friendly and accessible, and often work with Masters students to conduct research and co-author articles. Flexible curriculum The CRP program offers flexibility, allowing you to choose electives that suit your background and career goals. Some students also choose to pursue dual degrees in Public Administration, Geography, Environmental Studies, Landscape Architecture and Law. Pacific Northwest and Oregon The Pacific Northwest is not only a beautiful place to live, it is also a place of innovative thinking and governance. It is a leading center for sustainable business and design, and Oregon is recognized internationally for its leadership in land use planning, compact urban development, and collaborative governance. Department Information PPPM is located in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts (A&AA). Community and regional planning is one of three graduate programs in the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM). The public policy and management program offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA). The department also offers a 24-credit graduate certificate in nonprofit management. The department maintains strong ties to programs across the campus, including: historic preservation, landscape architecture, architecture, environmental studies, international studies, economics, geography, sociology, and political science. The School of Law and Colleges of Business and Education also provide course work and research opportunities important to the professional career preparation of planning students. The department is also affiliated with several centers and institutes that offer opportunities for internships, research positions, and advising expertise: The Community Service Center (CSC) is an interdisciplinary organization within PPPM that assists Oregon communities by providing planning and technical assistance to help solve local and regional issues through the following programs: Community Planning Workshop (CPW) is an experiential learning program, supervised by planning professionals, that engages teams of four to six graduate students in applied research projects for a range of local, state and nonprofit organizations. CPW has two primary missions: (1) to provide community service, and (2) to provide a quality "real world" experience for students. CPW is primarily funded through contracts with communities with budgets ranging from $3,000-$60,000. Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) helps provide twenty-five to thirty year-long work experiences in Oregon communities to help diversify the economy and improve environmental conditions in rural communities. Participants receive $1,200 per month in salary, health insurance coverage, a $4,725 educational award, and are eligible to apply for Oregon in-state tuition. Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup ONHW) assists communities by addressing two key activities in natural hazards risk and loss reduction through planning education, and information dissemination. Institute for a Sustainable Environment (ISE) is an interdisciplinary research and service institute working at the regional, national and international levels on environmental sustainability. Faculty and students from a range of departments are engaged in the work of the ISE. Institute for Policy Research and Innovation (IPRI) facilitates and supports policy-relevant research by faculty members and graduate students. It emphasizes the dissemination of knowledge about a range of public problems and issues. Internships Although internships are not required for the CRP degree, students are encouraged to obtain professional experience during their graduate training. Students may access the resources of the Internship Program and work with the internship director to identify opportunities. TOP The Curriculum CRP delivers a broad based curriculum that provides students with theoretical foundations and applied problem-solving skills to plan for a sustainable future. A total of 72 credit hours is required for graduation. To see a sample 2-year program, please click on the file below: CRP 2-Year Program Sample (PDF) 1. CORE (32 credits) PPPM 611, Introduction to Planning Practice (4 credits) PPPM 612, Legal Issues in Planning (4 credits) PPPM 613, Planning Analysis (5 credits) PPPM 616, Planning Theory and Ethics (4 credits) PPPM 617, Human Settlements (4 credits) PPPM 618, Introduction to Public Service (4 credits) PPPM 620, Applied Methods in Planning, Policy & Management (4 credits) Computer short course (3 credits) Students must complete the equivalent of an advanced undergraduate or graduate-level introductory course in statistics as a pre- or co-requisite to Planning Analysis. No credit toward the M.C.R.P. degree is allowed for the statistics course, and the requirement is waived for students with equivalent courses or work experience. Entering students are urged to satisfy this requirement before enrolling in the program. 2. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (10 credits) PPM 608, Community Planning Workshop (2-terms required -10 credits) 3. FOCAL AREA (14-19 credits) Planning students select a set of courses in consultation with their advisor that focuses their elective work on an area of special interest. This focal area consists of at least 14-19 credits, depending on whether the student does a thesis or terminal project. At least four of these elective credits must be within PPPM. The CRP program does not have formal concentrations, but the PPPM department is particularly strong in the following areas: Social and Health Policy Nonprofit / Philanthropy Community Development Land Use and Built Environment Governance and Civic Engagement Environmental Planning and Policy In choosing a set of focal area classes, students should think about their undergraduate/professional background and their career objective. It may be helpful to consult with an academic advisor, a professional working in the desired career area, and fellow students. Students should also consider a balanced training for their focal area: Knowledge: Consider classes that provide the substantive training in a particular topic area (e.g., natural resources policy, transportation planning, land use planning). Skills: Consider classes that provide important analysis and technical skills (e.g., GIS, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Urban Economics, Statistics, Qualitative Methods) Possible Focal Area Courses Students can choose courses from across the university for their focal area. The program brochure (PDF ) includes a comprehensive list of acceptable classes. Check with each department listed for an updated course offering schedule and prerequisites. 4. SYNTHESIS (7-12 credits) PPPM 690, Student Research Colloquium (2-terms required - 2 & 1 credit) PPPM 609, Terminal Project (4 credits) or PPPM 503, Thesis (9 credits) TOP Advising CRP students are assigned a provisional academic advisor prior to their enrollment, but students are free to change academic advisors. They should confirm the change with their new advisors and submit a Change of Advisor form. CRP advising includes: Individual Advising: Each student is strongly recommended to regularly meet with their advisor to discuss their progress and selection of electives. Group advising: MCRP students are invited to participate in group advising sessions about courses and career strategies. These sessions are organized topically on the basis of faculty expertise (e.g., environmental planning, community development, regional planning). Mid-Program Review: Each MCRP student is requested to meet with his or her advisor before registering for second year fall term courses. The purposes of this meeting are to review student progress and help select a set of focal area elective courses. Financial Aid A listing of some financial aid possibilities is listed at http://pppm.uoregon.edu/index.cfm?mode=prospective&page=financialaid. The program has teaching and research assistantships for qualified students in their second year of study. Research and Community Service stipends, for qualified applicants, are also available to students through the Community Planning Workshop (CPW) and Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE). Approximately forty percent of the students graduating from the community and regional planning program receive financial support from one or more of these sources in the second year of their studies. Students in need of financial aid are encouraged to apply for work-study support or loans through the University of Oregon Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Grants and fellowships are also available through a number of private foundations. Several graduate teaching fellowships (GTFs) annually are awarded by the Department in amounts ranging from $1,218 to $3,655, in addition to tuition. Normally the fellowships are awarded to second-year students, although a few are awarded to first-year students for winter and spring terms. Opportunities for part-time employment with public and private planning agencies in the City of Eugene and Lane County are occasionally available through the PPPM internship program. Diversity Building Scholarships The Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management (PPPM) strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. PPPM is dedicated to fostering an academic environment that will prepare our students to flourish in diverse communities found both locally and abroad. We recognize that a diverse student body brings multiple perspectives (e.g., cultural, historical, spiritual, political, etc.) that enhance the curriculum and offer various sources for learning. We also recognize that a familiarity and comfort with diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, and real-life experiences will help produce better future public leaders. The University of Oregon offers Diversity Building Scholarships for graduate students who are US citizens. The deadline is January 15th. For more information and the application, click here (PDF). TOP Application Procedures The graduate program in Community and Regional Planning provides opportunities for individually tailored sets of courses. Great importance is placed on the student's preference for and ability to undertake self-directed educational activity. The admissions committee emphasizes the selection of candidates who present clear and specific statements of the reasons for choosing to pursue their graduate work in planning at the University of Oregon. The committee also values applicants with some work experience, particularly if it is related to planning. The application deadline is February 1 for all materials to be at the department for Fall term admission. Detailed application procedures can be accessed here. For a PDF version of this program description click here TOP Last updated July 30, 2008 An equal opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This publication will be made available in accessible formats upon request. Copyright © 2008. School of Architecture and Allied Arts, University of Oregon.