Regional & Community Planning (Non-Baccalaureate MRCP)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus

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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 Objections

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.

First semester (15 credit hours)

ENVD 203 - Survey of the Design Professions Credits: 1
MATH 100 - College Algebra Credits: 3
COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA Credits: 2
Humanities/Design Elective* Credits: 3
Social Science/History Elective* Credits: 3
Social Science/Sociology Elective* Credits: 3

Second semester (16 credit hours)

ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I Credits: 3
General Elective* Credits: 3
Humanities/Design Electives* Credits: 6
Natural Science Elective with Lab* Credits: 4

Sixth semester (14 credit hours)

KCDC or Study Abroad Option:
PLAN 703 - Off-Campus Studies Credits: 5
Professional Electives Credits: 9
Internship Option:
PLAN 655 - Land Development Planning Credits: 3
PLAN 703 - Off-Campus Studies Credits: 5

Seventh semester (12 credit hours)

PLAN 707 - Writing and Thinking the City Credits: 3
PLAN 720 - Infrastructure and Plan Implementation Credits: 3
PLAN 801 - Knowledge Methods Credits: 3
Professional Elective Credits: 3

Eighth semester (13-14 credit hours)

Thesis Option (13 credit hours):
LAR 500 - Site Planning and Design Credits: 3
PLAN 020 - Planning Field Trip 2 Credits: 0
PLAN 812 - Planning Theory & Law Credits: 3
PLAN 836 - Plan Making Credits: 5
PLAN 897 - Proposal Writing Credits: 2-3
Report Option (14 credit hours)
- LAR 500 - Site Planning and Design Credits: 3
- PLAN 020 - Planning Field Trip 2 Credits: 0
- PLAN 812 - Planning Theory & Law Credits: 3
- PLAN 836 - Plan Making Credits: 5
- PLAN 897 - Proposal Writing Credits: 3

Ninth semester (12 credit hours)

Thesis Option:
PLAN 730 - Planning Professional Practice Credits: 3
PLAN 899 - Research in Planning Credits: 1-18
Professional Electives Credits: 6

Report Option:

PLAN 730 - Planning Professional Practice Credits: 3
Professional Electives Credits: 9

Tenth semester (11-12 credit hours)

Report Option (11 credit hours):
PLAN 705 - Master’s Project Credits: 3
PLAN 898 - Master’s Report Credits: 2
Professional Electives Credits: 6

Thesis Option (12 credit hours):
PLAN 899 - Research in Planning Credits: 1-18
Professional Elective Credits: 9

Total credit hours required for graduation: (138)

Undergraduate Hours Credits: (92)
Graduate Hours Credits: (46)

*A minimum of fifteen (15) 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 must include 6 graduate 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.

Kansas State University

Course Catalog