Community and Regional Planning

hilton
The Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree prepares students with the education and practical skills to be leaders in the practice of planning. The program concentrates on land use and transportation, community design and development, and rural and environmental planning. Students may design their own area of concentration with the assistance of their major professor.
Program Homepage Program Virtual Tour Program Handbook

The professionally accredited, STEM-designated, and nationally ranked Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) 48-credit degree provides areas of concentration in land use and transportation, community design and development, and rural and environmental planning. Students may design their own area of concentration with the assistance of their major professor.


Degrees Offered:

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

How long does it take to earn a degree?

  • Median time to earn the master’s: 2.3 years (Methods)

Melissa Stenstrom

msten@iastate.edu
515-294-3366
Student Recruiter I
Iowa State University
159 College of Design
Ames, IA 50011-3094

Learning Goals

  • Graduates of the program will apply knowledge of the purpose and history of planning to analyze contemporary planning issues and scholarship.
  • Graduates of the program will demonstrate a working knowledge of planning law and local government institutions regarding how plans and policies are developed and implemented.
  • Graduates of the program will be able to evaluate a planning process; critically analyze how social, cultural, and economic forces influence land use changes; be able to create alternative scenarios for the future; and have experience applying these ideas through active learning and real-life experiences.
  • Graduates of the program will have a working knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative methods and demonstrate their ability to apply these methods to planning problems.
  • Graduates of the program will engage communities, identify a range of tools that can be applied to different situations, and demonstrate their ability to expand participation, ensure inclusion, and give voice to diverse stakeholders.
  • Graduates of the program will demonstrate professional written, oral and visual communication skills utilizing multiple forms of media within a variety of educational and community settings.
  • Graduates of the program will demonstrate their knowledge and ability to create sustainable and resilient communities within a changing world.
  • Graduates of the program will demonstrate their ability to make strategic decisions, evaluate projects, and analyze policies.
  • Graduates of the program will conduct, in teams or independently, research that analyzes and evaluates a planning issue and proposes new ideas or potential solutions.

Admission Requirements

Graduate College Requirements:

  • 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
  • Academic Records/Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)
  • Proof of English Proficiency.

Program Specific Requirements:

  • Three letters of recommendation are required to be submitted electronically with your on-line application.
  • OPTIONAL-supporting information will be accepted by email in .PDF format. Submit with your full name as listed on your application.
  • Program Requires GRE: No
  • Program Requires GMAT: No
  • Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: No

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 550
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 79
    IELTS 6.5
    PTE 53
    Duolingo (approved through spring 2026) 115

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Deadline for priority consideration is Feb. 1 for fall entry. The Department will continue reviewing until program is full.

Application Details:

This program is open to domestic and international students.

Application Instructions