- Urban planning education
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University-level urban planning education is offered as an academic degree in urban, city or regional planning, awarded as either an Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or Doctorate.
Since planning programs are usually small, they tend not to be housed in distinct "planning schools" but rather, as part of an architecture school, a design school, a geography department, or a public policy school, since these are cognate fields. Generally speaking, planning programs in architecture schools focus primarily on physical planning and design, while those in policy schools tend to focus on policy and administration.
As urban planning is such a broad and interdisciplinary field, a typical planning degree program emphasizes breadth over depth, with core coursework that provides background for all areas of planning. Core courses typically include coursework in history/theory of urban planning, urban design, statistics, land use/planning law, urban economics, and planning practice. Many planning degree programs also allow a student to "concentrate" in a specific area of interest within planning, such as land use, environmental planning, housing, community development, economic development, historic preservation, international development, urban design, transportation planning, or geographic information systems (GIS). Some programs permit a student to concentrate in real estate, however, graduate real estate education has changed giving rise to specialized real estate programs.
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Accreditation in the United States of America
Accreditation is a system for recognizing educational institutions and professional programs affiliated with those institutions for a level of performance, integrity, and quality. [1]The Planning Accreditation Board is the sole accreditor of planning programs in the United States. The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredits graduate and undergraduate planning programs in the United States and Canada.[2] Currently, there are 15 PAB accredited undergraduate programs and 72 accredited graduate programs in North America.
The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredits university programs in North America leading to bachelors and masters degrees in planning. The accreditation process is based on standards approved by the PAB and its sponsoring organizations: the American Planning Association (APA); the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) (the professional planners’ institute within the American Planning Association); and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).[3]
Also, graduation from a PAB accredited program allows a graduate to sit for the AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) Certification Exam earlier in the career than a student with a degree from a non-accredited program or school.
Programs that desire accreditation through the PAB must apply for candidacy status. The program seeking candidacy must demonstrate that they meet the five preconditions of accreditation. [4] The five preconditions are:[5]
- Program graduation of at least 25 students in the degree.
- Program's parent institution must be accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Formal title of program and degree offered must include the term "Planning".
- Undergraduate programs must offer 4 full time years of study or equivalent, while graduate programs must be 2 full time years of study or equivalent.
- Program's primary goal is to educate students to become practicing planning professionals.
Once the preconditions have successfully been met by the program, the program must complete and submit a Self-Study Report.[6] Through the Self-Study Report, the program assesses their performance and compliance with PAB's accreditation standards. This report serves as the basis of review for the Planning Accreditation Board, along with a formal meeting with the Program Administrator at the Board meeting. The application fee is $1,925.[7]If candidacy is awarded, the Planning Accreditation Board will send a three member team to visit and formally review the program during a semester. The three member team will meet with faculty, staff, students, and members of the local planning community. The team will then submit a Site Visit Report to the Planning Accreditation Board. During the meeting of the Planning Accreditation Board, the board will review the Self-Study Report , Site Visit Report and other documentation and meet with the Program Administrator. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board decides if the program is awarded accreditation and the length of accreditation. [8]
Accreditation length is dependent on the extent the program complies with requirements of the Planning Accreditation Board, with the maximum length awarded is 7 years.[9] Programs must re-apply for accreditation in the year their accreditation term expires.
Accredited planning programs
School Location Undergraduate[10] Since[11] Graduate[12] Since[13] Accreditation Through[14] Alabama A&M University Normal, AL Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning 1986 Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1976 December 31, 2012 Auburn University Auburn, AL not offered Master of Community Planning 2005 December 31, 2012 Arizona State University Tempe, AZ Bachelor of Science in Planning 2002 Master of Urban & Environmental Planning 1992 December 31, 2018 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ not offered Master of Science in Planning 1998 December 31, 2012 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA Bachelor of Science in City & Regional Planning 1973 Master of City & Regional Planning 1993 December 31, 2012 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, CA Bachelor of Science in Urban & Regional Planning 1970 Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1972 December 31, 2015 San Jose State University San Jose, CA not offered Master of Urban Planning 1972 December 31, 2012 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA not offered Master of City Planning 1960 December 31, 2012 University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1998 December 31, 2011 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1971 December 31, 2012 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA not offered Master of Planning 1967 December 31, 2014 University of Colorado, Denver Denver, CO not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1975 December 31, 2011 Florida Atlantic University Fort Lauderdale, FL Bachelor of Urban Design 2011 Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1995 December 31, 2015 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL not offered Master of Science in Planning 1965 December 31, 2012 University of Florida Gainesville, FL not offered Master of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning 1978 December 31, 2012 Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1969 December 31, 2012 University of Hawaii Honolulu, HI not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1981 December 31, 2013 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Public Affairs Master of Urban Planning & Policy 1979 December 31, 2012 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning 1953 Master of Urban Planning 1945 December 31, 2016 Ball State University Muncie, IN Bachelor of Urban Planning & Development 1995 Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1993 December 31, 2013 Iowa State University Ames, IA Bachelor of Science in Community & Regional Planning 1979 Master of Community & Regional Planning 1979 December 31, 2012 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1970 December 31, 2013 Kansas State University Manhattan, KS not offered Master of Regional & Community Planning 1961 December 31, 2015 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS not offered Master of Urban Planning 1983 December 31, 2010 McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada not offered Master of Urban Planning 1947 1952-2012 University of Louisville Louisville, KY not offered Master of Urban Planning 2010 December 31, 2013 University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1976 December 31, 2013 Morgan State University Baltimore, MD not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1973 December 31, 2011 University of Maryland at College Park College Park, MD not offered Master of Community Planning 1978 December 31, 2013 Harvard University Cambridge, MA not offered Master in Urban Planning 1923-1984; 1997 December 31, 2012 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA not offered Master in City Planning 1932 December 31, 2013 Tufts University Medford, MA not offered Master of Arts in Urban, Environmental Policy & Planning 2004 December 31, 2011 University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA not offered Master of Regional Planning 1987 December 31, 2012 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Bachelor of Science or Arts in Urban & Regional Planning 1998 not offered December 31, 2013 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Bachelor of Science in Urban & Regional Planning 1959 Master in Urban & Regional Planning 1959 December 31, 2012 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI not offered Master of Urban Planning 1968 December 31, 2015 Wayne State University Detroit, MI not offered Master of Urban Planning 1975-1985; 1997 December 31, 2013 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1982 December 31, 2015 Jackson State University Jackson, MS not offered Master of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning 2010 December 31, 2014 Missouri State University Springfield, MO Bachelor of Science in Planning 2004 not offered December 31, 2013 University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO Bachelor of Urban Planning & Design not offered December 31, 2011** University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE not offered Master of Community & Regional Planning 1978 December 31, 2013 Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1968 December 31, 2014 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Planning & Design Master of Community & Regional Planning 1987 December 31, 2014 Columbia University New York, NY not offered Master of Science in Urban Planning 1945 December 31, 2013 Cornell University Ithaca, NY Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning Master of Regional Planning 1959 December 31, 2014 Hunter College, City University of New York New York, NY not offered Master in Urban Planning 1969 December 31, 2017 New York University New York, NY not offered Master of Urban Planning 1961 December 31, 2013 Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NY not offered Master of Science in City & Regional Planning 1962 December 31, 2014 University at Albany, State University of New York Albany, NY not offered Master of urban & Regional Planning 2000 December 31, 2016 University at Buffalo, State University of New York Buffalo, NY not offered Master of Urban Planning 1988 December 31, 2014 East Carolina University Greenville, NC Bachelor of Science in Urban & Regional Planning 2003 not offered December 31, 2015 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1969 (founded 1946) December 31, 2011 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH not offered Master of Urban Planning, Design & Development 1998 December 31, 2014 Ohio State University Columbus, OH Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning Master of City & Regional Planning 1961 December 31, 2011 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Bachelor of Urban Planning 1966 Master of Community Planning 1964 December 31, 2012 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK not offered Master of Regional & City Planning 1957-1966; 1992 December 31, 2012 Portland State University Portland, OR not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1980 December 31, 2013 University of Oregon Eugene, OR not offered Master of Community & Regional Planning 1970 December 31, 2016 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Bachelor of Science in Regional Planning not offered December 31, 2011** Temple University Ambler, PA Bachelor of Science in Community & Regional Planning Master of Community & Regional Planning December 31, 2011** University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA not offered Master of City Planning 1969 December 31, 2014 Clemson University Clemson, SC not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1972 December 31, 2014 University of Memphis Memphis, TN not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1981 December 31, 2013 Texas A&M University College Station, TX not offered Master of Urban Planning 1968 December 31, 2013 Texas Southern University Houston, TX not offered Master of Urban Planning & Environmental Policy 2009 December 31, 2011 The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX not offered Master of City & Regional Planning 1978 December 31, 2015 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX not offered Master of Science in Community & Regional Planning 1969 December 31, 2017 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT not offered Master of City & Metropolitan Planning 2011 December 31, 2014 University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Bachelor of Urban & Environmental Planning 1963 Master of Urban & Environmental Planning 1968 December 31, 2013 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1977 December 31, 2014 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1961 December 31, 2014 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Bachelor of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning 1983 Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1983 December 31, 2014 University of Washington Seattle, WA not offered Master of Urban Planning 1941 December 31, 2015 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1962 December 31, 2014 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI not offered Master of Urban Planning 1974 December 31, 2013 University of Montreal Montreal, QC. Canada Baccalauréat Specialisé en Urbanisme 1982 Maîtrise en Urbanisme 1965 December 31, 2013 University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC. Canada not offered Master of Arts/Science in Planning 1970 December 31, 2016 University of Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico not offered Master in Planning 1977 December 31, 2015 Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada not offered Master of Urban & Regional Planning 1970 December 31, 2015 (** candidate for accreditation)
For current information on PAB accredited programs, please visit the Planning Accreditation Board website.
Master of City Planning
The Master of City Planning (MCP) or is a one- to two-year academic/professional Master's degree that qualifies graduates to work as urban planners. Some schools offer the degree as a Master of Urban Planning (MUP), Master of Community Planning, Master of Regional Planning (MRP), Master of Town Planning (MTP), Master of Planning (MPlan), Master of Environmental Planning (MEP) or in some combination of the aforementioned (e.g., Master of Urban and Regional Planning), depending on the program's specific focus. Some schools offer a Master of Arts or Master of Science in planning. Regardless of the name, the degree remains generally the same.
A thesis, final project or capstone project is usually required to graduate. Additionally, an internship component is almost always mandatory due to the high value placed on work experience by prospective employers in the field.
Like most professional Master's degree programs, the MUP is a terminal degree. However, some graduates choose to continue on to doctoral studies in urban planning or cognate fields. The PhD is a research degree, as opposed to the professional MUP, and thus focuses on training planners to engage in scholarly activity directed towards providing greater insight in to the discipline and underlying issues related to urban development.
Rankings
While there is no official ranking of the graduate programs for planning, Planetizen publishes an annual list of the Top 10 planning graduate programs.[15] First published in 2006, the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs has been widely praised by prospective planning students as being the single most important tool used in deciding which schools they would apply to and attend. This new edition of the Guide includes even more information previously unavailable to prospective planning students. In addition, Planetizen consulted with a special committee of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) during the production of the Guide to ensure that the 2009 edition met the needs and expectations of students, planning programs and faculty alike. The top schools in 2012 are as follows:
Rank[16] School 1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2 Cornell University 3 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 4 University of California, Berkeley 5 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 6 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 7 University of Southern California 8 Georgia Institute of Technology 9 University of California, Los Angeles 10 University of Pennsylvania References
- ^ Planning Accreditation Board
- ^ Accredited Planning Programs
- ^ Planning Accreditation Brief
- ^ Candidacy Information
- ^ Application for Candidacy Status
- ^ Self-Study Report Manual
- ^ Candidacy Information
- ^ Applying for Initial Accreditation
- ^ The Accreditation Document, Pg. 38
- ^ Accredited Planning Programs
- ^ History of Accredited Programs
- ^ Accredited Planning Programs
- ^ History of Accredited Programs
- ^ Accredited Planning Programs
- ^ Plantizen's Top Graduate Schools
- ^ Planetizen. 2012 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs. Published by Planetizen Press (May 2011).
See also
External links
- Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
- Planetizen Ranking of Top Graduate Urban Planning Programs in the United States
- Canadian Institute of Planners
- Royal Town Planning Institute
- Association of European Schools of Planning
- Planning Institute of Australia
- Planning Accreditation Board
- INTBAU guide to tertiary institutions
Categories:- Master's degrees
- Urban studies and planning
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