AGRO
475/875
Water Quality Strategy LINKCrosslisted as POLS 475/875, SOCI 475/875, GEOL 475/875, CIVE 475/875, SOIL 475, NRES 475/875, WATS 475, MSYM 475/875, CRPL 475/875
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
| ACE Outcomes: |
10 |
Prereqs:
Senior standing or permission.
Holistic approach to the selection and analysis of planning strategies for protecting water quality from nonpoint sources of contamination. Introduction to the use of methods of analyzing the impact of strategies on whole systems and subsystems; for selecting strategies; and for evaluating present strategies.
AGRO
489/889
Urbanization of Rural Landscapes LINKCrosslisted as HORT 489/889, CRPL 489/889
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing, graduate standing, or permission.
Development converts rural landscapes into housing, roads, malls, parks, and commercial uses. This process fragments landscapes and changes ecosystem functions, drives up land prices, and pushes agriculture into more marginal areas.This multi-disciplinary, experiential course guides students in learning about the urbanization process, the impacts on landscapes, people, and the community, and the choices that are available to informed citizens.
ARCH
560/860
Environmental Survey and Analysis LINKCrosslisted as CRPL 872
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Comprehensive review of contemporary methods and theories of environmental survey and analysis in the fields of landscape architecture, regional planning, conservation, and related areas, with emphasis on interrelationships between human and natural systems.
CRPL
400/800
Introduction to Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
| ACE Outcomes: |
8 |
Field of community and regional planning introduced and studied in relation to the history of cities, urbanization, and regionalization. Origins and evolution of American urban and regional planning practice. The planning process as a response to social, political, physical, and economic factors is analyzed. Introduces the community comprehensive planning process, plan implementation, and functional areas of planning.
CRPL
415/815
Housing, Renewal, and Development LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Comprehensive analysis of public policies and programs for housing, urban renewal, and large-scale development and a consideration of their social, political, and environmental implications at the neighborhood, community, and regional scale. Formulation of housing and renewal policy and programs as a part of the community and regional planning process and related regulation and stimulation efforts, and to the design, construction, and marketing processes as they affect or are affected by public housing policies and the private sector. The methodology, processes, results, problems, and changing nature of the federal urban renewal program considered in detail.
CRPL
420/820
Grant Writing and Fund-raising LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Introduces and familiarizes the student with the theory and practice of fund-raising and grant writing. Overview of the principles and concepts of philanthropy and the basic issues of fund-raising. Skills of writing a case statement, conducting a donor search and analysis, designing a fund-raising vehicle, and writing grant applications in "real world" situations.
CRPL
431/831
Computer Graphics Applications in Physical and Environmental Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Opportunity for acquiring skill and working experience in the use of microcomputer- and minicomputer-based CADD systems as applied to physical and environmental planning, urban design, and computer cartography. Productive techniques of using CADD equipment and software to perform site planning, mapping, site analysis, and site selection tasks.
CRPL
432/832
Advanced Spatial Analysis with GIS LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 1, Lab 2 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
CRPL 830 or introductory level GIS or equivalent or permission.
Provides advanced level instruction on the knowledge and methods needed for the complex spatial analysis in developing and utilizing geographic information in planning. The main subjects to be covered are advanced analysis with raster, network analysis, 3D modelling and visualization, spatial-statistical analysis, and geodatabase management. This course also includes wide variety of real world settings for GIS analysis and spatial decision making in planning - from a broad and practical perspective.
CRPL
433/833
GIS in Environmental Design and Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 1, Lab 2 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
This course provides an introduction of contemporary theories, principles, and methods of environmental survey and analysis in environmental design and planning. It includes an analysis of the critical environmental elements, their interrelationships, and human interactions in environmental design and planning. This course emphasizes synthesizing Geographical Information System (GIS) spatial analysis skills and environmental analysis knowledge into a coherent concept for practical applications. By the end of the course, it is expected that students will have the ability to use GIS to perform environmental spatial analysis and site analysis.
CRPL
441/841
Researching Quality of Life LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
The central goal of the course is to help students think critically about issues related to people's quality of life in contemporary communities. How the quality of life of individuals and groups is influenced by the social, psychological, physical, economic and demographic conditions in their environment. It teaches how to systematically carry out an applied research project--how to study a research problem, analyze data, and effectively communicate the results of the research.
CRPL
450/850
Social Planning and Policy LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Social planning and policy introduced and studied through a historical presentation of US social welfare policy, an exploration of models and methods utilized by government and human service agencies in the planning of social programs, and an analysis of contemporary social policy issues. Includes privatization, universalism vs. selectivity, race and ethnicity, homelessness, and poverty.
CRPL
460/860
Planning and Design in the Built Environment LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Introduces principles and practices of planning, design, and implementation for multiple-structure built environments. Influences of physical, social, environmental, and economic factors upon planned and designed environments. Various planning and design methods, processes, and products introduced. Means of project implementation explored, and examples of existing and proposed projects studied.
CRPL
470/870
Environmental Planning and Policy LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Introduces environmental planning, including its history and origins. Major environmental issues throughout the world, and the roles of planning in addressing these problems. Environmental planning process and environmental legislation.
CRPL
471/871
Environmental Impact Assessment LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
This class provides an overview of “environmental impact assessment” in the United States. This course explores how to conduct environmental impact assessments, environmental impact analysis, review of environmental impact statements, and use of various regulatory review processes. It emphasizes the significant environmental legislation - National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA applies to all federal agencies and most of the projects and decisions. This class introduces the background and implementation of the NEPA, and explains the preparation of environmental impact statements (EISs). This class covers the major themes of environmental impacts assessment, including air pollution, water quality, land resources, cultural resources, archaeology, traffic, noise, transportation, and so on. This interdisciplinary class fits students in all departments, including Natural Resources Management, Environmental Studies, Civil Engineering, Wildlife and Fisheries, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Public Policy, and others.
CRPL
477/877
Recreation and Park Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Exploration, analysis, and application of recreation and park planning principles and practices. An understanding of park planning at the local, regional, and national level developed.
CRPL
480/880
Economic Development Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Introduces the theory and principles of economic development planning. Concepts, analytical approaches, and theories of economic growth of local communities introduced. Consideration of local economic development plans for small communities. International perspectives of economic development.
CRPL
495/895
Selected Topics in Community and Regional Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
1-9 |
| Max credits per degree: |
9 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing.
Aspects of community and regional planning not covered elsewhere in the curriculum are presented as the need arises.
CRPL
496/896
Special Problems in Community and Regional Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
1-6 |
| Max credits per degree: |
9 |
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Senior standing and permission.
Individual or group investigations of problems relating to community and regional planning.
CRPL
802
Planning Theory LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture 3 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Linkages between knowledge and organized action in planning practice are analyzed in terms of philosophical underpinnings, decision theory, programming, policy formulation, politics, goals, values, and social change. Historical traditions of contemporary planning theory. The identities, roles, and relationships of planners with society.
CRPL
804
Legal Aspects of Planning LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Applications of constitutional, common, administrative, and statutory law in the planning process are studied. Roles of the branches of American government in the regulation and control of land use and development, as well as in the planning, development, and delivery of public services and facilities. Legal theories, issues, cases, and applications relevant to professional planning practice, as well as the legal responsibilities of participants in the planning process.
CRPL
810
Qualitative Techniques for Planners LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Applied qualitative research techniques. Interpret verbal data generated by the community. Organize, categorize, and analyze the words (data) into critical empirical comparable units of analysis. Optimize “active” listening skills; techniques to incorporate qualitative community concerns into the planning process; and epistemological insights on how to combine data obtained from divergent research methods into a single research project.
CRPL
830
Planning with GIS LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lab, Lecture |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Admission to the MCRP program or permission
Theory and practice of geographic information systems use in planning. Selection and use of computer software and data for problem solving and decision making in community and regional planning. Specific planning-related applications of geographic information systems, spreadsheet modeling, and data base management.
CRPL
840
Planning Methods and Analysis LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lab, Lecture |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Principles of statistics course;
CRPL 800; CRPL *830; community and regional planning major
Analytical methods and techniques for research, problem solving, and decision making are studied and applied within the context of the planning process. Statistical analyses; forecasting methods; optimization techniques; models and simulation techniques; and methods of demographic, economic, land use, and policy analyses are studied in relation to community and regional planning.
CRPL
881
Planning in Developing Countries LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Introduction to the comparative study of urbanization and planning in developing countries. Social, economic, and spatial organization of Third World cities, including international trends, theories of development, life in these cities, and how the people and governments of Third World countries attempt to cope with their problems and plan for a better future.
CRPL
890
Professional Seminar LINK
| Credit Hours: |
1 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Community and regional planning major
Diverse issues relating to contemporary professional planning practice are studied through abbreviated case studies and presentations by visiting specialists and participants in the planning process. Interrelated social, economic, political, and physical factors affecting specific planning situations. Current and emerging roles for professional planners.
CRPL
897
Planning Internship LINK
| Credit Hours: |
1-4 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Community and regional planning major and permission
Supervised practical experience in a planning-related organization.
CRPL
898
Professional Project LINK
| Credit Hours: |
1-6 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
MCRP degree candidate and permission of department graduate committee
Professional project is a non-thesis culmination of the MCRP degree program. The professional project emulates professional planning practice and is pursued individually by the student with supervision by a faculty advisory committee.
CRPL
899
Masters Thesis LINK
| Credit Hours: |
6 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
Admission to MCRP degree program and permission of major adviser
CRPL
900
Professional Planning Practice LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lecture |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Current concepts, ideas, and issues relating to professional planning practice are studied. Contexts of planning practice, the professional planner’s relationship to society, ethics in professional planning practice, and political and organizational behavior in plan making and policy implementation. Roles of citizens, client groups, and consultants in the planning process. Forms of collaborative problem solving, including mediation and negotiation. Planning office and project management issues and approaches, including personnel administration and project financing and budgeting.
CRPL
913
Planning and the Natural Environment LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Occasional field trips and practical exercises. Interdisciplinary examinations of regional ecological problems and consideration of the theories, principles, techniques, and strategies utilized in planning for the conservation and development of the natural environment. Ecological emphasis with case studies of environmental deterioration and suggested or implemented solutions.
CRPL
990
Planning Studio LINK
| Credit Hours: |
3 |
| Course Format: |
Lab, Lecture |
| Campus: |
|
| Course Delivery: |
Classroom |
Prereqs:
CRPL 800, *830, *840; MCRP degree candidate
Application and synthesis of multi-disciplinary philosophies, theories, methods, analyses, and techniques of planning in the context of contemporary complex planning projects. Individual and team approaches pursued in specific project contexts for survey research, definition of research questions and hypotheses, analyses, creative problem solving, formulation and evaluation of alternatives, plan making, and development of implementation strategies.
Description
For a brief description of the program, application requirements and contact information, view the graduate program summary.
Program Director: Kim Wilson
Graduate Committee: Professors Scholz (chair), Mutunayagam; Associate Professor Cantarero; Assistant Professors Nam, Tang
Application for Admission.
Applications for admission to the MCRP degree program must include the following: 1) Application for Admission to the Graduate College form, submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies; 2) two official copies of all college transcripts, submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies; 3) official score report for the Graduate Record Exam General Test, submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies; 4) three letters of recommendation on standard Graduate Studies forms, submitted to the program office; and 5) an essay responding to program application questions, submitted to the program office.
Applications are accepted for admision in fall and spring semesters, as well as summer sessions.
Degree Program.
The master of community and regional planning (MCRP) degree program provides preparation for professional planning practice in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Planning is an interdisciplinary problem-solving profession that influences a broad range of future-oriented decision making. Planners work with individuals, groups, and organizations to formulate plans, policies, and strategies through which desired change can be achieved. Planners utilize a wide variety of methods and techniques to identify problems and needs and to formulate plans of action that effectively address those needs. Planners often need to accommodate differing viewpoints in the process of formulating desirable and compatible plan and policy recommendations.
The MCRP degree program emphasizes understanding of the importance and interrelationships among human resources, natural resources, sociocultural characteristics, economic activity, political and institutional roles, and characteristics of the natural and built environment. The program provides students with a sound foundation in planning theory, methods, process, and application-a background which enables graduates to formulate, initiate, and coordinate a broad range of planning and development actions.
Students with diverse undergraduate, graduate, and professional backgrounds are encouraged to enter the MCRP degree program. No prior course work in planning is required.
The MCRP degree program requires completion of 48 graduate credit hours, 24 of which are in the following required core courses:
800. Introduction to Planning (3 cr)
802. Planning Theory (3 cr)
804. Legal Aspects of Planning (3 cr)
810. Qualitative Techniques for Planners (3 cr)
830. Planning with GIS (3 cr)
840. Planning Methods and Analysis (3 cr)
900. Professional Planning Practice (3 cr)
990. Planning Studio (3 cr)
Each student consults with a faculty adviser in the MCRP program to select elective courses within and outside the program that will help the student achieve his or her academic and professional goals. Students are encouraged to select at least 9 credit hours of course work in an area of concentration defined in consultation with their faculty advisors.
Each student must pursue one of three possible completion tracks for the MCRP degree: 1) 6-credit-hour masters thesis and oral examination; 2) 6-credit-hour professional project and oral examination; or 3) comprehensive written examination and oral examination. The program schedules the written comprehensive examination for track 3 typically no more than once each semester.
Dual Degree Programs.
The MCRP degree may be pursued within three dual degree programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
The MCRP/JD dual degree program is offered in collaboration with the College of Law. This program enables completion of both the MCRP degree and the juris doctor degree in a four-year period.
The MCRP/MArch dual degree program is offered in collaboration with the architecture program in the College of Architecture. This program enables completion of both the MCRP degree and the master of architecture degree in a three-year period. This program is intended for persons who hold the bachelor of science in design (BSD) or equivalent undergraduate degree.
The MCRP/MS in civil engineering, with a transportation engineering emphasis, is intended for persons holding the bachelor of science in civil engineering degree.
Persons interested in the MCRP/JD, MCRP/MArch or MCRP/MS (transportation engineering) dual degree programs should inquire with the Community and Regional Planning program director.
Interdepartmental Programs.
The MCRP program cooperates with other disciplines in offering courses for the Environmental Studies Interdepartmental Area, the Great Plains Studies Interdepartmental Area, and the Water Resources Planning and Management Interdepartmental Area. See "Environmental Studies," "Great Plains Studies," and "Water Resources Planning and Management" sections for separate descriptions of these interdepartmental programs.
