Apr 24, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Regional and Community Planning (M.R.C.P.)

Program Definition

The Master of Regional & Community Planning integrates the concept of comprehensive community development planning in an environmental context with considerations for social, economic, cultural and political issues in the community while recognizing the importance of financial management, private enterprise-government relations, and citizen participation in community decision making. Core courses reflect the impact of these key concerns on traditional planning activities, while exploring related ethical issues in depth.

With a firm educational foundation in basic planning and analytical techniques, management, human relations, and ethics, today’s MRCP graduate will have the skills and judgment to become tomorrow’s successful practicing planner.

Graduates of our program become directors or managers of community development / city planning departments, economic development agencies, housing or related departments and agencies in cities, small communities, counties and regions. Some graduates may use the same educational background to become directors of planning or related activities in private consulting firms and research organizations, while others may enter the field of real estate development and a host of related disciplines.

Program Mission and Objectives

We prepare graduates to be effective advocates of resilient cities and responsible for community growth and redevelopment. We engage in the exchange of ideas that develop strategic visioning to enhance quality of life in ways that are sustainable, equitable, and accessible to all our citizens. We contribute to the expansion of knowledge through research and its dissemination, outreach to various constituents, and professional education grounded in creative and critical thinking. Students and faculty engage in exploration, analysis, synthesis, and resolution of planning, design and management issues.  Our aim is to help communities effectively address challenges related to resource conservation, growing of diverse populations, and continually changing technologies and value systems.

 

Non-Baccalaureate Master of Regional and Community Planning

First semester (15 credit hours)

  • ENVD 203 - Survey of the Design Professions (1)
  • MATH 100 - College Algebra (3)
  • COMM 105 - Public Speaking 1A (2)
  • Humanities/Design Elective* (3)
  • Social Science/History Elective* (3)
  • Social Science/Sociology Elective* (3)

Second semester (16 credit hours)

  • ENGL 100 - Expository Writing 1 (3)
  • Humanities/Design Electives* (6)
  • Natural Science Elective with Lab* (4)
  • General Elective* (3)

Third semester (16 credit hours)

  • PLAN 315 - Introduction to City Planning (3)
  • PLAN 316 - Planning Principles Seminar (2)
  • LAR 420 - Natural Systems & Site Analysis (4)
  • Social Science/Economics Elective* (3)
  • General Elective (3)

Fourth semester (18 credit hours)

  • PLAN 415 - World Cities (3)
  • LAR 322 - Environmental Issues & Ethics (3)
  • ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3)
  • Statistcs Elective* (3)
  • Social Science/Geography Elective* (3)
  • General Elective* (3)

Fifth semester (17 credit hours)

  • Natural Science Elective* (3)
  • Social Science/Political Science Elective (3)

Sixth semester (15 credit hours)

  • PLAN 010 Planning Field Trip (0)
  • Professional Electives* (6)

Seventh semester (13 credit hours)

  • Professional Elective (3)
  • PLAN 444 - Career Planning Seminar (1)

Eighth semester (14-16 credit hours)

  • Professional Electives (9)

Ninth semester (12-15 credit hours)

  • Professional Elective (3)

Tenth semester (9-11 credit hours)

  • Professional Elective (3)

Total Credits Required for the Non-Baccalaureate MRCP Degree (147 hours)

 *A minimum of nine (9) general elective credits must be taken. General electives may be taken in pursuit of a minor. They may be taken any time prior to or during the Regional and Community Planning program and may include KSU approved AP, IB, CLEP and transfer credit. Students may not count more than three (3) total hours of recreation credits toward graduation.

**Professional Electives in the sixth semester must include 6 undergraduate credit hours of PLAN courses.

All required courses taught in the landscaper architecture and regional & community planning programs that are counted toward the degree must be passed with a grade of C or better.

***Eighth semester: Two distinct study opportunities are offered during this semester, each requiring 14 credit hours. The study abroad and internship options have course requirements that substitute for the 9 professional elective credit requirements.

All students will complete either a Master’s Report or a Master’s Thesis.

+If a student elects the thesis option, PLAN 897 Proposal Writing will be taken during the eighth semester for 2 credit hours. This course is completed by advance arrangement. PLAN 897 students work independently to develop their thesis proposal with their major professor’s supervision. PLAN 899 Research in Planning will be taken in the ninth semester in place of PLAN 897 and in the tenth semester in place of PLAN 705, PLAN 898 and the professional elective.


The K-State 8 General Education areas are covered by courses required in the Regional and Community Planning curriculum. Information about the K-State 8 is available at http://www.k-state.edu/kstate8 and in the university catalog.

Total credit hours required for Graduate School program of study = 35.

Post-Baccalaureate Master of Regional and Community Planning

First semester (14 credit hours)

  • PLAN 315 - Introduction to City Planning (3)
  • PLAN 316 - Planning Principles Seminar (2)
  • Professional Elective

Second semester (15-17 credit hours)

  •  Professional Electives* (6)
  •  PLAN 010 - Planning Field Trip (0)

Third semester (15 credit hours)

  • Professional Elective (3)

Fourth semester (9-11 credit hours)

  • Professional Elective (3)

Total credits required for the post-baccalaureate MRCP degree (55 hours)

All students will complete either a Master’s Report or a Master’s Thesis.

+If a student elects the thesis option, PLAN 897 Proposal Writing will be taken during the second semester for 2 credit hours. This course is completed by advance arrangement. PLAN 897 students work independently to develop their thesis proposal with their major professor’s supervision. PLAN 899 Research in Planning will be taken in the third semester in place of PLAN 897 and in the fourth semester in place of PLAN 705, PLAN 898 and the professional elective.

*Professional Electives in the second semester must include 6 undergraduate credit hours of PLAN courses.

All required courses taught in the landscape architecture and regional & community planning programs that are counted toward the degree must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Total credit hours required for Graduate School program of study = 35