Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 45
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CTRP 5014 | Planning Politics and Administration | 3 |
| CTRP 5413 | Planning Communications | 3 |
| CTRP 5513 | Planning Analysis | 3 |
| CTRP 5524 | Spatial Analysis Techniques/Geographic Information Systems 1 | 3 |
| CTRP 8013 | Planning History and Theory | 3 |
| CTRP 8016 | Planning Law | 3 |
| CTRP 8213 | Environmental Planning | 3 |
| Electives 2 | 18 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| CTRP 9889 | Planning Studio | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
- 1
With permission from the graduate advisor or chair of the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design, students who have had significant training in geographic information systems may be allowed to substitute an elective for CTRP 5524.
- 2
CTRP or related courses are selected in consultation with a department advisor.
Students may undertake one of two transcripted optional concentrations in fulfilling the coursework requirements for the MS degree:
Sustainable Community Planning
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Concentration Courses | ||
| CTRP 5256 | Sustainable Community Design and Development | 3 |
| CTRP 8276 | Regional Development | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two from the following: 1 | 6 | |
CTRP 8155 | Ecological Planning and Development | |
CTRP 8156 | Neighborhoods, Cities, and Regions | |
CTRP 8255 | Sustainability in Suburban Communities | |
CTRP 8257 | Environmental Policy | |
CTRP 8266 | Sustainable Business Practices | |
CTRP 8355 | Environmental Infrastructure Planning and Management | |
CTRP 8476 | Collaborative Planning | |
CTRP 8755 | Introduction to Emergency Management Planning | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
In consultation with a department advisor or chair, students may substitute one relevant 3-credit CTRP graduate course as an elective.
Transportation Planning
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Concentration Course | ||
| CTRP 8655 | Transportation Planning | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select three from the following: 1 | 9 | |
CTRP 8276 | Regional Development | |
CTRP 8656 | Integrated Transportation and Land-Use Planning: Context-Sensitive Design Solutions | |
CTRP 8657 | Non-motorized Transportation Planning | |
CTRP 8666 | Travel Demand Modeling | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
In consultation with a department advisor or chair, students may substitute one relevant 3-credit CTRP graduate course as an elective.
Internship: A supervised 180-hour internship is required. The internship emphasizes the acquisition and application of practical skills in planning. Placements are made at public agencies, nonprofit institutions and private firms, with designated onsite and Planning and Community Development faculty supervisors. Internships may require interim reports and must culminate in a written report regarding the experience. Students have the option of registering for CTRP 9885 Internship in Planning for 3 elective credits. If the student has relevant professional experience, the internship requirement is waived and CTRP 9885 may not be taken for credit toward the degree.
Culminating Events:
Capstone Course:
All students must complete CTRP 9889 Planning Studio (6 credits), which involves undertaking a planning project in cooperation with a local or regional client. Students synthesize the knowledge gained from previous courses in the development of an integrated approach that is appropriate to their project.
Thesis Option:
The master's thesis is substantial in length and follows a knowledge-enhancement model, based on planning theory, methodology and history. Requirements are specified in the Graduate School’s Dissertation and Thesis Handbook, found at https://grad.temple.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-handbook. Up to 6 elective credits may be earned for taking CTRP 9995 Thesis in Planning.
The student's Master's Committee is responsible for evaluating the thesis and its defense. No thesis should go to defense unless it is ready for public scrutiny. The committee evaluates the student's ability to express in writing and orally their research question, methodological approach, primary findings and implications. Committee members vote to pass or fail the thesis upon conclusion of the public defense. If the student must make revisions, those changes must be approved as arranged by the Master's Committee.