M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning

Program Overview

M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning

Program Overview

The Rowan Experience

Rowan University’s Master of Science (M.S.) in Urban and Regional Planning provides students a pathway into a growing profession that directly impacts the development of communities. Planners are problem solvers who utilize a variety of skill sets to help communities—from the smallest towns and neighborhoods to the largest cities and regions.

Curriculum

The M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning is a full-time or part-time program offered in a face-to-face format on our Glassboro, NJ campus. It requires the completion of 46 graduate semester hours (14 courses), which are possible to complete in three to four consecutive semesters.

• 14 Courses / 46 Semester Hours
• Foundation Courses: No
• Graduation / Exit / Thesis Requirements: Yes

Course Number | Title | S.H. (Credits)
---|---|---
Required Courses: 31 S.H.
PLAN 31580 | Introduction to Planning: Past, Present, and Future | 3
PLAN 31686 | Community Planning and Site Design | 3
PLAN 31590 | Research Methods in Planning | 3
PLAN 31589 | Environmental and Sustainability Planning | 3
PLAN 31685 | Planning, Practice, Law, and Ethics | 3
GEOG 31660 | Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems | 4
PLAN 31593 | Planning Communication | 3
GEOG 16661 | Geovisualization | 3
PLAN 31895 | Planning Studio | 6
Elective Courses: 15 S.H.
ENST 94503 | Perspectives on Environmental Regulation, Policy, and Law | 3
ENST 94502 | Sustainability Assessment | 3
ENST 94504 | Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving | 3
ENST 94501 | Sustainable Commerce | 3
GEOG 16550 | Selected Topics in Geography, Planning, and Sustainability | 1-3
PLAN 31540 | Advanced Historic Preservation | 3
PLAN 31587 | Graduate Seminar in Food Systems Planning | 3
GEOG 16560 | Introduction to Mapping and GIS | 3
GEOG 16565 | Geographic Information Systems Topics and Applications | 3
GEOG 16575 | Remote Sensing of Environment | 3
GEOG 16591 | Independent Study | 3
CEE 08513 | Environmental Management | 3
SOC 08599 | Urban Environmental Health | 3
SOC 08600 | Social Experience of City Life and Urban Inequalities | 3
SE 01503 | Environmental Policy | 3
SE 01504 | Environmental Management | 3
SOC 08575 | Social Determinants of Health: Theory and Intervention in Urban Settings | 3
SOC 08578 | Critical Race Theory: Application and Intervention | 3

Admission Requirements

• Completed Application Form
• $65 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee
• Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
• Current professional resume
• Typewritten statement of professional objectives
• Two letters of recommendation
• Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)

Deadlines, Tuition & Financial Aid

Entry Terms & Deadlines Tuition Financial Aid

• Fall: July 1
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: April 1

Rates

• We know paying for tuition can be a challenge. That is why Rowan provides students with the financial resources needed to put their education first by offering grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Rowan University's Master of Science (M.S.) in Urban and Regional Planning program offers a pathway into a growing profession impacting community development. Planners are presented as problem-solvers utilizing diverse skill sets to aid communities of all sizes. The curriculum aligns with national planning education standards, focusing on core skills in: Environmental and Sustainability Planning; Research and Communication Methods; Law & Justice; Food Systems Planning; Digital mapping and spatial analysis (GIS); and Environmental Studies. Students can also create a specialization reflecting their professional interests using graduate courses from across the university. Rowan's location provides access to rural, suburban, and urban environments (equidistant from rural New Jersey and the urban centers of Philadelphia and Camden), offering experiential learning opportunities to understand complex community issues. The faculty emphasizes applied, experiential learning, combining theory, case studies, and applied skill building to enable students to analyze problems and contribute solutions. The program aims to train professionals to create resilient, place-based solutions to 21st-century social, economic, and environmental challenges. Program highlights include a challenging curriculum, dedicated faculty, specialized study for in-demand skills, opportunities for personalized curricula, an environmental focus, and client-based studio courses.

Outline:

The M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning is a full-time or part-time program offered face-to-face on the Glassboro, NJ campus. It requires 46 graduate semester hours (14 courses), potentially completable in three to four consecutive semesters. There are no graduation/exit/thesis requirements. The curriculum includes:

• Required Courses (31 S.H.
• ):
• PLAN 31580 Introduction to Planning: Past, Present, and Future (3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31686 Community Planning and Site Design (3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31590 Research Methods in Planning (3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31589 Environmental and Sustainability Planning (3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31685 Planning, Practice, Law, and Ethics (3 S.H.)
• GEOG 31660 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (4 S.H.)
• PLAN 31593 Planning Communication (3 S.H.)
• GEOG 16661 Geovisualization (3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31895 Planning Studio (6 S.H.)
• Elective Courses (15 S.H.
• ): A selection from the following (note: this list is not official and subject to change):
• ENST 94503 Perspectives on Environmental Regulation, Policy, and Law (3 S.H.)
• ENST 94502 Sustainability Assessment (3 S.H.)
• ENST 94504 Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving (3 S.H.)
• ENST 94501 Sustainable Commerce (3 S.H.)
• GEOG 16550 Selected Topics in Geography, Planning, and Sustainability (1-3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31540 Advanced Historic Preservation (3 S.H.)
• PLAN 31587 Graduate Seminar in Food Systems Planning (3 S.H.)
• GEOG 16560 Introduction to Mapping and GIS (3 S.H.)
• GEOG 16575 Remote Sensing of Environment (3 S.H.)
• GEOG 16591 Independent Study (3 S.H.)
• CEE 08513 Environmental Management (3 S.H.)
• SOC 08599 Urban Environmental Health (3 S.H.)
• SOC 08600 Social Experience of City Life and Urban Inequalities (3 S.H.)
• SE 01503 Environmental Policy (3 S.H.)
• SE 01504 Environmental Management (3 S.H.)
• SOC 08575 Social Determinants of Health: Theory and Intervention in Urban Settings (3 S.H.)
• SOC 08578 Critical Race Theory: Application and Intervention (3 S.H.)

Teaching:

The faculty prioritizes applied, experiential learning. The program combines theory, case studies, and applied skill building. Client-based studio courses are also a feature.

Careers:

The program prepares students for careers in urban and regional planning, addressing 21st-century challenges. The text highlights the growing nature of the profession and the importance of planners in creating resilient community solutions.

Other:

The program is offered in Fall and Spring terms for international students. The 21st century's social, economic, and environmental challenges are emphasized as the context for the program's relevance. The program encourages fresh voices and youthful vibrancy in the field. The university emphasizes affordability and provides financial aid resources.