Master of Community and Regional Planning Program

Required Courses  |  Fields of Interest  |  Sample Curriculum Outline

The MCRP degree program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.
Learn more: Public Information on Program Performance

Contact Us

Contact Bob Choquette (choquett@uoregon.edu) with questions about admissions procedures or Rebecca Lewis, Program Head (rlewis9@uoregon.edu), with questions about the MCRP curriculum.

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Degree Overview: Master of Community and Regional Planning

The master of community and regional planning (CRP) program trains policy-oriented planners for leadership positions in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Our program is applied, collaborative, and interdisciplinary.

The Community and Regional Planning Program is a professionally accredited master's program that has awarded degrees in planning since 1968. The progressive planning and policy environment in Oregon combined with the award-winning applied projects of the CRP program offer students an innovative learning environment. Our degree program, designed to take two years, enrolls approximately 25–30 students each year, and our graduates are consistently successful in finding jobs after graduation.

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Unique Aspects of the Community and Regional Planning Program

Here are some of the many reasons students choose to study planning at the University of Oregon.

• Applied Learning Opportunities: We offer one of the most applied planning programs in the United States. You will go beyond the classroom to do real work in real communities with real clients:
   
  • Community Planning Workshop (CPW) consistently cited by students as a highlight, the workshop goes beyond typical applied instruction. You will work on a range of projects for paying clients who are supervised by experienced planning professionals. By the end of your first year you will be presenting to boards, elected officials, and community organizations or running workshops.
     
  • Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) connects courses from across the university with a client city or organization. Students get to work on real projects offered by professionals in these organizations and present their findings.

• Collaborative: The PPPM students are leaders and active participants in the governance of PPPM. Starting with the fall retreat, you can help build a community of colleagues through social events, field trips, and other activities. Our Equity Initiative focuses on creating a more inclusive environment for all students and helps support students for careers in diverse communities.
   
• Public Good: The Community and Regional Planning Program emphasizes the role of planners to consider outcomes for current and future generations of the public, whether you work in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors. This includes careful consideration of the needs of underrepresented and marginalized populations.
   
• Interdisciplinary: The program offers flexibility, allowing you to choose electives that suit your background and career goals. You can also obtain concurrent degrees or certificates with several departments. Options include:

Research Opportunities:

The Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) conducts applied research that assists Oregon communities through planning and technical assistance. Programs include:

• Oregon Partners for Disaster Resilience (OPDR) natural hazard planning and coordination of community outreach and education
• Economic Development Administration Center (EDA) a joint program focused on economic development involving IPRE, PPPM, and the Center for Sustainable Business, which is funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Institute for a Sustainable Environment (ISE) engages you in interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research focusing on balanced economic development and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Cities Institute applied think-tank engaged in research, teaching, and community partnerships related to sustainability in cities.

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Our Master of Community and Regional Planning Program ranks in the top 25 of graduate urban planning programs worldwide. We train policy-oriented planners to become change agents who'll engage communities and translate innovative ideas into practice to make a real difference. Our commitment to building strong communities, equity and inclusion, flexible curriculum, and extensive career support sets us apart.

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Community and Regional Planning Required Courses (72 Credits)

Core Courses (35 credits)

• PPPM 611 Introduction to Planning Practice (4 credits)
• PPPM 612 Legal Issues in Planning (4 credits)
• PPPM 613 Planning Analysis I (5 credits)*
• PPPM 616 Planning Theory and Ethics (4 credits)
• PPPM 617 Human Settlements (4 credits)
• PPPM 620 Research Skills (2 credits)
• GIS (choose one)
  • PPPM 534 Urban GIS
  • PPPM 595 Advanced Urban GIS
• Land Use (choose one)
  • PPPM 640 Land Use Policy
  • PPPM 646 Growth Management
• Public Participation (choose one)
  • PPPM 510 Community Organizing
  • PPPM 552 Public Participation in Diverse Communities
  • PPPM 584 Collaboration

Experiential Learning (12 credits)

• PPPM 623 Professional Development I (1 credit)
• PPPM 625 & 626 Community Planning Workshop (2 terms required, 10 credits)
• PPPM 663 Professional Development II (1 credit)

Fields of Interest (25 credits)

As a planning student, you will select a set of courses in consultation with your advisor that concentrates your electives in one of the established fields of interest, or create your own field of interest in consultation with your advisor.

To see a description and sample list of elective courses for each field of interest, click on the links below. Course offerings change, so sample course lists provided may not include courses of interest to you or may include courses that are unavailable in the coming year. Courses marked with an * indicate a special course designation. This may indicate that instructor approval is needed to register for the course, the schedule is irregular, or course fees apply. Check the UO Course Catalog for more specific information.

For more information about degree requirements, see the Division of Graduate Studies Summary of Master's Degree Minimum Requirements.

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Careers in Planning

You'll graduate with a broad-based planning education that provides a range of employment opportunities. Oregon graduates have pursued successful careers in a wide range of sectors:

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Internships and Career Support

Our Career Services Director (Julie Voelker-Morris) supports graduate students in seeking internships while in school and careers after graduation.

The PPPM Internship Program offers an array of career and professional development services including:

• individual consultations
• classroom instruction
• résumé and cover letter reviews
• mock interviews
• announcements of internships

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