About This Program

The Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) prepares students for careers as professional planners with public, private and nonprofit organizations. It does this by training students to apply planning theory, knowledge, techniques, and skills to “real world” planning problems through coursework, studios, and internship opportunities. The advanced standing track is available to students well-prepared through an undergraduate degree in planning or related field with  five or more years of relevant and verifiable professional experience. This track is not accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

Competencies

1. Graduates will be able to communicate planning information clearly and effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
2. Graduates will be able to relate knowledge of the ethical and normative aspects of planning to the planning process.
3. Graduates will be able to identify and evaluate planning problems and to apply planning methods to their solution and communication.
4. Graduates will be able to identify and relate the factors influencing the growth and development of communities, cities, and regions.
5. Graduates will be able to understand the challenges that regions, cities, communities, and planners face in the field.

Admissions Criteria

The MCRP program takes a holistic approach to the application review process. Each applicant file is reviewed individually with equal consideration given to the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the student’s record. A complete application includes:

• Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA): The undergraduate GPA based on the last 60 hours of course work as calculated by the Graduate Admissions from the official transcript.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores: Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing (Exceptions: Outstanding UT Arlington graduates may qualify for GRE waiver providing they meet certain requirements. See "Waiving the GRE" below)
• Letters of Recommendation attesting to the applicant’s potential to do Master’s-level work and complete the program. Letters for Master’s programs should be from professors or supervisors at work (download Letter of Recommendation form)
• Essay by applicant approximately one double-spaced page in length (approximately 250 words). The Essay is considered both for its content and quality of writing. The Essay should address the following questions: 1. Why do you want to earn a Master’s degree in the program for which you are applying? 2. What relevant background and experience do you bring to the program? The essay can also include other concerns you’d like to bring to the attention of the CAPPA Academic Recruiter. the Graduate Advisor, or the Master's Admissions Committee.
• Non-native English speakers only:  TEOFL-iBT or IELTS scores meeting University minimum admission standards are required (TOEFL-iBT 79 with sectional scores of at least 22 Writing, 21 Speaking, 20 Reading, and 16 Listening; or an IELTS score of at least 6.5.). However, a non-native English speaking applicant holding either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university is not required to take these tests.  Students failing to meet English proficiency requirements may be admitted on probation to the Pathway Admission program to improve their English skills.

Official transcripts and test scores must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions by the issuing institution or testing service. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly via email to cappa.advising@uta.edu or by  postal service, to: CAPPA Program – Master of City & Regional Planning (MCRP), Box 19108, Arlington TX 76019. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all application materials are received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline could be deferred.

The MCRP program admits students for Fall and Spring semesters; the application deadlines are June 15th and October 15th respectively.

Waiving the GRE 

The MCRP program waives the requirement that an applicant take the GRE under the following condition:

• A completed UT-Arlington undergraduate degree  awarded within three years of application for admission and a 3.0 or higher GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework.

Unconditional Admission

Applicants who meet all the following requirements will be considered for unconditional admission:

1. An undergraduate degree in planning or related field and at least five relevant and verifiable professional experience.
2. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better
3. A preferred minimum Verbal GRE score of 150  a preferred minimum Quantitative GRE score of 141 and a preferred minimum Writing GRE score of 4.
4. Outstanding letters of recommendation
5. Strong, well-written personal essay
6. Non-native English speakers only:  Students must demonstrate proficiency in English  by earning a TOEFL-iBT score of at least 79 with sectional scores of at least 22 Writing, 21 Speaking, 20 Reading, and 16 Listening; or an IELTS score of at least 6.5. A non-native English speaking applicant holding either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university is presumed to be English-proficient and is not required to take these tests.

Probationary Admission

Applicants who do not meet all requirements for Unconditional admission will be considered for Probationary admission based on the strength of all the listed admission factors. International students who do not meet the minimum requirements for demonstrating proficiency in English may be admitted on probation to the Pathways Admission program to strengthen their English skills. Under Probationary admission, special course requirements or other conditions may be imposed by the CAPPA Master’s Admissions Committee. Applicants who meet all the standards for Unconditional admission except for deficiency in Writing GRE score will be considered for Probationary Admission conditional on completing an approved Writing course in their first semester.

Deferred Admission

Applicants who are unable to supply required application materials, or who must complete additional preparatory work before their admissibility can be determined, may be deferred until records are complete.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who are unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appear to meet admission requirements may be granted Provisional admission pending submission of complete and satisfactory credentials before the end of the semester in which they have registered in a Provisional status.

Denial of Admission

Applicants who fail to meet more than one of the admission requirements and for whom the CAPPA Master’s Admission Committee finds there is insufficient basis to justify any other kind of admission will be Denied admission. GRE test scores will not constitute the sole or primary basis for ending the consideration of an applicant.  As the admission process is competitive, applicants meeting basic admission requirements who are less well qualified than other applicants may also be denied admission.

Scholarship and Fellowship Criteria

• Graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or better who are enrolled in six hours or more are eligible to apply for competitive scholarships, fellowships and the planner-in-training internship.
• Scholarships and fellowships for Master’s and Doctoral students will be competitively awarded based on consideration of all admission criteria assessed by their admitting programs.

Curriculum

The MCRP (Advanced Standing) requires completion of 30 hours of study. The required courses are organized into three knowledge tiers: theory, analysis and techniques, and implementation and plan making, plus a professional report (3 hrs) and an elective chosen in consultation with an advisor or thesis (6 hrs).

Foundations
PLAN 5303	PLANNING HISTORY, THEORY AND ETHICS	3
PLAN 5304	PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, ZONING, AND REGULATIONS	3
PLAN 5310	PLANNING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE	3
PLAN 5316	LAND USE PLANNING AND THE LAW	3
PLAN 5318	TECHNIQUES OF PLANNING ANALYSIS I	3
PLAN 5332	PROJECT STUDIO	3
PLAN 5363	LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS	3
PLAN 5380	RESEARCH QUESTIONS IN PLANNING	3
Select an elective in consultation with an advisor.		3
PLAN 5397	PROFESSIONAL REPORT	3
Total Hours		30

Suggested Course Sequence

First Year
		Fall Semester	Hours	Spring Semester	Hours
		PLAN 5304	3	PLAN 53031	3
		PLAN 53101	3	PLAN 5363	3
		PLAN 53181	3	PLAN 5332	3
		PLAN 5380	3
	12		9
Second Year
Summer Semester	Hours	Fall Semester	Hours
	0	PLAN 5316	3
		Elective	3
		PLAN 5397	3
	0		9
Total Hours: 30

¹

 Core course.

Program Completion

CAPPA Inadequate Academic Progress Point System

A student may be subject to dismissal from the program if they accumulate 4 deficiency points during their graduate degree. Students who complete a master’s degree at CAPPA will not carry deficiency points into their PhD work. Deficiency points may not be removed from a student’s record by repeating a course or additional coursework.

D = 2 deficiency points
F = 3 deficiency points
I = 1 deficiency point
W = 0.5 deficiency point

A graduate student, whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below a 3.000 in all graduate courses, be they graduate or undergraduate level and taken while enrolled as a UT Arlington graduate student, may be subject to dismissal from the program. (See academic standing policy.)

Advising Resources

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at UT Arlington equips students with skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges in design, public policy, and research. Our Advising Office supports academic and career success. Explore our Future Students page to connect with an Academic Advisor and shape your future.

Location:

203 CAPPA Building

Email:

cappa.advising@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-2801

Web:

General advising

Future students