University of Memphis

Master of City & Regional Planning

Degree Requirements

The 48-hour program of study is divided into three parts as follows:

Core Curriculum (24 hours):

These courses are required of all students in the program and provide knowledge and skills essential to the discipline. With previous training or experience, credit by examination can be given for a portion of the required courses.

Focused Electives (21 hours):

A bundle of electives provide the student with a sequence of special interest courses chosen from throughout the University. The 21 hours of electives allow the student to extend basic knowledge gained in the core curriculum and can include such subjects as economic development planning, urban design, land use and transportation planning, planning information systems, housing and community development planning, planning law, environmental planning, etc. Electives are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor.

Terminal Project (3 hours):

3-hour Capstone Project, submitted as a written report and orally defended, as a terminal experience designed to demonstrate mastery of planning process and substance.

Sequence of Courses

The sequence of courses is designed so that a student may be admitted to the program during either the fall or spring semester. A full-time student enrolls in 12 hours of course work during each semester. A majority of the core courses are offered during the first year to provide a basis for second year electives. The second year Comprehensive Planning Studio (7006) is a workshop course for the application of basic principles learned during the first year. The typical sequence of courses for a full-time student who starts the program in the fall semester is outlined below:

Fall - 1st Year

• Planning the American City (7000)
• Analysis for Community Planning (7012)
• Planning Theory and Perspectives (7002)
• Land Use Planning (7202)

Spring - 1st Year

• Land Use Controls (7004)
• Planning and the Metro Economy (7011)
• Site Planning (7008)
• Elective

Fall - 2nd Year

• Comprehensive Planning Studio (7006)
• Elective
• Elective
• Elective

Spring - 2nd Year

• Elective
• Elective
• Elective
• Capstone Project

Electives

The Planning Program at The University of Memphis offers a wide range of elective courses in topics like Housing Policy, Sustainability, Economic Development, Transportation Planning, GIS, Environmental Planning, and GIS. In addition to planning electives, other departments have courses regularly recommended for planning students. Some of these include Anthropology, Civil Engineering, Criminal Justice, Economics, Earth Sciences, Public Health, Political Science, Public Administration, Real Estate, and Sociology.