Overview
www.design.iastate.edu/community-and-regional-planning
Community and regional planning is a field of study aimed at understanding the ever-changing socioeconomic and physical environments of our communities and planning for their future. Planners evaluate and seize opportunities to solve problems. Planners work at multiple levels of government, as well as the private sector, and they are concerned with issues that affect every corner of the world: the preservation and enhancement of the quality of life in a community, the protection of the environment, the promotion of equitable economic opportunities; and the management of growth and change of all kinds.
Graduates of the Community and Regional Planning department are able to integrate planning knowledge and skills in a variety of practical applications, and can communicate effectively in written and oral form. Graduates will be qualified for a variety of entry-level positions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. They will also be well prepared for graduate study in a variety of fields, including urban planning, law, public policy, public health, environmental science, geography, sociology, urban design, historic preservation, data science, and architecture.
Graduates of the Community and Regional Planning department are expected to understand the structure and functions of urban settlements, including the history of planning and urban development and the processes for plan and policy making. Graduates should have skills in problem formulation, quantitative analysis, written/oral and graphic communications, and collaboration, and in synthesizing and applying knowledge to practice. Graduates are expected to be able to assess the impact of plans and alternatives based on principles of equity and social justice, economic welfare and efficiency, environmental sustainability, and cultural heritage in the context of citizen involvement in decision making.
The department is a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. The curriculum is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Our students gain an education that, when combined with experience, supports eligibility for membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners.
The department administers two undergraduate minors: Urban Studies and Geographic Information Science (GISC). The department cooperates in the undergraduate minors in Design Studies, Digital Media, Critical Studies in Design, Environmental Studies, and Sustainability.
Student Learning Outcomes
We educate students to be critical thinkers and engaged global citizens who have the ability to contribute to a better world. Graduates of the Community and Regional Planning program at Iowa State University will be skilled in understanding and articulating community problems and issues and be able to apply planning knowledge in a diverse and democratic setting, to the standards of conduct outlined by the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Graduates of the program will:
- demonstrate essential knowledge of the purpose and history of planning;
- demonstrate knowledge of planning ethics, equity and social justice and be capable of making sound ethical judgments;
- demonstrate knowledge of planning law and local government institutions regarding how plans and policies are developed and implemented;
- be knowledgeable about the planning process; understand how social, cultural and economic forces influence land use changes; be able to develop alternative scenarios for the future; and have experience applying these ideas through active learning and real life experiences;
- have a working knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative methods and demonstrate their ability to apply these methods in order to analyze a planning problem or situation;
- 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;
- demonstrate professional written, oral and visual communication skills within a variety of educational and community settings;
- be knowledgeable about the natural environment and understand the factors that create sustainable and resilient communities;
- be knowledgeable about diverse ideas, cultures and societies; and
- have a basic knowledge about global issues that affect planning, urbanization, and societies.
Degree Requirements
The Department of Community and Regional Planning administers the 128-credit-hour undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science. Students have the opportunity to work with their faculty advisors to define their own areas of interest, which may include a minor.
The BS in Community and Regional Planning program can be completed in two to four years. Students can declare a major in CRP at any time during their enrollment at Iowa State University. If applying by transfer from another program or institution, admission is based on the student's cumulative GPA and a departmental review of course work. Transfer applications from students in programs in anthropology, sociology, political science, history, geography, engineering, and other related disciplines are encouraged. Community and Regional Planning emphasizes responsibility and citizenship, writing and analytical ability, and critical thinking.
Total Degree Requirement: 128 credits
Only 65 credits from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 16 technical credits; 9 P-NP credits of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA; completion of all requirements listed below.
International Perspective: 3 credits
U.S. Diversity: 3 credits
Communication: 13 credits
(C or better grade in ENGL 150 and ENGL 250)
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 309 | Proposal and Report Writing | 3 |
| or ENGL 314 | Technical Communication | |
| SP CM 212 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Humanities: 9 credits; 6 credits 300-level or above
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHIL 206 | Introduction to Logic and Scientific Reasoning | |
| or PHIL 230 | Moral Theory and Practice | |
| Six credits from program curriculum sheet | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Social Sciences: 18 credits 300 level or above
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| POL S 111 | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| SOC 134 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Nine credits from program curriculum sheet. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Math/Physics/Biol. Sciences: 13 credits
STAT 101 Principles of Statistics, 6 credits in Natural Sciences, 3 credits in Math
Design Core: 3 credits
| DSN S 102 | Design Studio I | 3-4 |
| or DSN S 183 | Design in Context | |
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
Community and Regional Planning Core: 25 credits
| C R P 201 | The North American Metropolis | 3 |
| C R P 293 | Environmental Planning | 3 |
| C R P 301 | Urban Analytical Methods | 4 |
| C R P 383 | Theory of the Planning Process | 3 |
| C R P 391 | Field Travel | 1 |
| C R P 432 | Community Planning Studio | 6 |
| C R P 492 | Planning Law, Administration and Implementation | 3 |
| C R P 331 | Professional Practice Seminar | 2 |
| Total Credits | 25 | |
Planning Elective: 24 credits
24 credits from:
| C R P 251 | Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| C R P 291 | World Cities and Globalization | 3 |
| C R P 320 | Urban Geography | 3 |
| C R P 325 | Introduction to Housing | 3 |
| C R P 351 | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| C R P 376 | Rural, Urban and Regional Economics | 3 |
| C R P 416 | Urban Design and Practice | 6 |
| C R P 417 | Urban Revitalization | 3 |
| C R P 421 | Financing Historic Preservation Projects | 3 |
| C R P 429 | Planning in Developing Countries | 3 |
| C R P 435 | Planning in Small Towns | 3 |
| C R P 436 | Community Economic Development | 3 |
| C R P 437 | Public Participation in Planning | 3 |
| C R P 442 | Site Development | 3 |
| C R P 445 | Transportation Policy and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 449 | Geodesign: Planning for Sustainable Futures | 3 |
| C R P 452 | Geographic Data Management and Planning Analysis | 3 |
| C R P 457 | Geogames for Civic Engagement | 3 |
| C R P 460 | Social Justice and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 471 | Real Estate Development | 3 |
| C R P 455 | Smart and Sustainable Cities | 3 |
| C R P 479 | Public Finance and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 484 | Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| C R P 491 | Environmental Law and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 494 | Senior Seminar in Planning | 3 |
| C R P 511 | Documenting the Historic Built Environment | 3-4 |
| C R P 521 | Historic Preservation Planning: Theory and Practice | 3 |
General Electives: 23 credits
23 credits of general electives from program curriculum sheet
Community and Regional Planning. B.S.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DSN S 102 or 183 | 3-4 | Math/Science | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | SP CM 212 | 3 |
| ECON 101 or 102 | 3 | PHIL 201, 206, or 230 | 3 |
| SOC 134 | 3 | Natural Sciences | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 16-17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C R P 201 | 3 | C R P 293 | 3 |
| STAT 101 | 4 | C R P 301 | 4 |
| ENGL 250 | 3 | C R P 391 | 1-2 |
| POL S 111 | 3 | Soc. Science/Humanities Elective | 6 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 17-18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C R P 492 | 3 | Planning Electives | 6 |
| C R P 383 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| ENGL 309 or 314 | 3 | Social Science/Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Social Science/Humanities Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C R P 432 | 4-6 | Planning Elective or Option Studio | 6 |
| C R P 331 | 2 | Planning Elective | 3 |
| Planning Elective | 3 | Planning Elective | 3 |
| 300-400 Elective | 3 | Planning Elective | 3 |
| 300-400 Elective | 3 | 300-400 Elective | 3 |
| 15-17 | 18 | ||
Undergraduate Minors
The Department of Community and Regional Planning offers 15-credit minors in Urban Studies and Geographic Information Science (GISC).
Urban Studies
The Urban Studies minor is earned by completing both C R P 201 (The North American Metropolis) and C R P 291 (World Cities and Globalization), plus 9 additional credit hours from the approved list of courses. At least 6 credit hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above at Iowa State. The College of Design requires students to earn a C or higher in at least 6 of the required 300-level credits. The minor must include at least nine credits that are not used to meet any other department, college or university requirement except the credit requirement for graduation. The Urban Studies minor is open to students from any college and any major.
Introduction to Urban Studies: 6 credits
| C R P 201 | The North American Metropolis | 3 |
| C R P 291 | World Cities and Globalization | 3 |
Advanced Urban Studies: 9 credits
| ARCH 221 | Histories and Theories of Architecture to 1750 | 3 |
| ARCH 321 | History of the American City | 3 |
| ARCH 420 | Topics in American Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 429 | Topics in Italian Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 575 | Contemporary Urban Design Theory | 3 |
| C E 451 | Urban Transportation Planning Models | 3 |
| CL ST 275 | The Ancient City | 3 |
| C R P 251 | Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| C R P 293 | Environmental Planning | 3 |
| C R P 301 | Urban Analytical Methods | 4 |
| C R P 320 | Urban Geography | 3 |
| C R P 325 | Introduction to Housing | 3 |
| C R P 351 | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| C R P 376 | Rural, Urban and Regional Economics | 3 |
| or ECON 376 | Rural, Urban and Regional Economics | |
| C R P 383 | Theory of the Planning Process | 3 |
| C R P 417 | Urban Revitalization | 3 |
| C R P 421 | Financing Historic Preservation Projects | 3 |
| C R P 429 | Planning in Developing Countries | 3 |
| C R P 455 | Smart and Sustainable Cities | 3 |
| C R P 457 | Geogames for Civic Engagement | 3 |
| C R P 460 | Social Justice and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 471 | Real Estate Development | 3 |
| C R P 479 | Public Finance and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 484 | Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| C R P 492 | Planning Law, Administration and Implementation | 3 |
| C R P 573 | Contemporary Issues in Global Housing | 3 |
| HIST 429 | "Monstrous London": London's Histories 1500-1800 | 3-4 |
| HIST 465 | The American West | 3 |
| L A 274 | The Social and Behavioral Landscape | 3 |
| L A 371 | History of Modern Landscapes, 1750 to Present | 3 |
| L A 373 | Gardens and Landscapes from Antiquity to 1750 | 3 |
| POL S 271 | Public Organizations and Leadership | 3 |
| POL S 310 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POL S 334 | Politics and Society | 3 |
| POL S 480 | Ethics and Public Policy | 3 |
| SOC 310 | Community | 3 |
| SOC 331 | Social Class and Inequality | 3 |
| SOC 332 | The Latino/Latina Experience in U.S. Society | 3 |
| URB D 521 | Foundations of Urban Design | 3 |
| URB D 522 | Contemporary Urban Design Practices | 3 |
Geographic Information Science
The Geographic Information Science (GISC) minor is earned by taking CRP 251 and CRP 351, plus 9 additional credits from the approved list of courses. At least 6 credit hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above at Iowa State. The College of Design requires students to earn a C or higher in at least 6 of the required 300-level credits. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used in any other department, college or university requirement except the credit requirement for graduation. The GIS minor is open to students in any college and any major.
Foundations of GIS: 6 credits
| C R P 251: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 | |
| C R P 351: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems | 3 | |
GIS Tools and Techniques: 9 credits
| A B E 437 | Watershed Modeling and Policy | 3 |
| C R P 449 | Geodesign: Planning for Sustainable Futures | 3 |
| or C R P 549 | Geodesign: Planning for Sustainable Futures | |
| C R P 452 | Geographic Data Management and Planning Analysis | 3 |
| C R P 454 | Fundamentals of Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| C R P 455 | Smart and Sustainable Cities | 3 |
| or C R P 555 | Smart and Sustainable Cities | |
| C R P 456 | GIS Programming and Automation | 3 |
| C R P 457 | Geogames for Civic Engagement | 3 |
| or C R P 557 | Geogames for Civic Engagement | |
| C R P 558 | Web Mapping and Spatial Data Visualization | 3 |
| ENSCI 270 | Geospatial Technologies | 3 |
| GEOL 452 | Intro GIS for Geoscientists | 3 |
| GEOL 488 | Raster GIS for Geoscientists | 3 |
| GEOL 489 | Survey of Remote Sensing Technologies | 3 |
| NREM 345 | Natural Resource Photogrammetry and Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| NREM 446 | Integrating GPS and GIS for Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| URB D 532 | Urban Design Media Workshop | 3 |
Graduate Programs
The Department of Community and Regional Planning (CRP) offers three different graduate degree options for individuals interested in engaging with communities and helping to shape their future: a Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP), an interdisciplinary Master of Science with an emphasis in Community Development (CDEV), and a Master of Real Estate Development (MRED).
Master of Community and Regional Planning
The primary focus of the MCRP degree is to prepare students with the education and practical skills to be leaders in the practice of planning. The program of graduate study is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board of the American Institute of Certified Planners. The program is STEM-designated.
Degree requirements include completion of a 2-year, 48-credit program, including a required core (24 credits), electives (18-21 credits), and a capstone component consisting of either a comprehensive exam (C R P 598X Comprehensive Exam Preparation, 3 credits) or thesis (C R P 699 Research, 6 credits). The required core consists of C R P 532, 561, 563, 564, 566, 568 and 592. Students select electives in consultation with their Program of Study Committee (POSC). Students are encouraged to complete an internship in a planning office during their course of study.
| C R P 532 | Community Planning Studio | 6 |
| C R P 561 | Planning Theory | 3 |
| C R P 563 | Planning the American Metropolis | 3 |
| C R P 564 | Introduction to Analytical Methods for Planning | 3 |
| C R P 566 | Policy Analysis and Planning | 3 |
| C R P 568 | Planning and Development | 3 |
| C R P 592 | Land Use and Development Regulation Law | 3 |
Admission to the MCRP program is by application to the department and to the Graduate College. Students with a bachelor's degree in planning or students who have taken highly relevant coursework may be able to waive up to 9 credits of course requirements. Students must petition the department’s Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) in writing prior to the first day class of the student’s first semester in the program to have credits waived. No foreign language is required for the degree Master of Community and Regional Planning.
Double Degree Programs
Double degree programs are offered with architecture (MCRP/MArch), business administration (MCRP/MBA), landscape architecture (MCRP/MLA) and sustainable agriculture (MCRP/MS). Information about our programs and how to apply can be obtained from the department’s web page at: www.design.iastate.edu/community-and-regional-planning, or send an email to crp@iastate.edu.
Master of Science in Community Development
The Master of Community Development (MCD) program is an online degree designed to educate students to become community developers and civic leaders who could bring about positive community change. Graduates of the Community Development program at Iowa State University will be skilled in understanding and articulating community problems, issues, and opportunities. Students will have the knowledge and skills to plan and facilitate community action. The MCD degree is designed for working professionals and nontraditional students through online learning. Degree requirements included completion of a 2-year, 30-credit program including a required core (15 credits) and electives (15 credits). The required core includes a capstone 3-credit practicum (COMDV 530) and COMDV 502, COMDV 503, COMDV 504, and COMDV 505.
| COMDV 502 | Theories and Constructs of Community Change | 3 |
| COMDV 503 | Community Development Methods | 3 |
| COMDV 504 | Creating Community Change | 3 |
| COMDV 505 | Analysis of the Community Economy | 3 |
| COMDV 530 | Community Development Practicum | 3 |
Admission to the MCD program is through the Department of Community and Regional Planning and the Graduate College. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required. Up to nine credits of course requirements may be waived with relevant coursework. Students may petition the program’s Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) in writing prior to the first day of class in the student’s first semester in the program to have credits waived. Further information on the MCD program can be found on the department’s web site at: https://www.design.iastate.edu/community-and-regional-planning/degrees/master-of-community-development/
Master of Real Estate Development
In partnership with the Department of Finance in the College of Business, CRP offers a two-year, 33-credit Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) degree. The program is designed for working professionals, with coursework delivered in a blended online/on-campus format. During the academic year, students complete coursework remotely and come to campus for three, one-week intensive workshops throughout the two-year degree. More information on the MRED program is available on the program website: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/masters/mred/.
Graduate Certificates
The Certificate in Preservation and Cultural Heritage (P+CH) is a multidisciplinary graduate program that provides the practical skills and background needed to succeed in the fields of historic preservation and cultural resource management. The certificate program is open to Iowa State University graduate students in any College of Design major as well as those majoring in history, anthropology, and related disciplines. Interested students should visit https://www.design.iastate.edu/programs-minors/certificates/preservation-and-cultural-heritage/ or contact historicplaces@iastate.edu for guidance.
The department also offers a 13-credit graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in spatial analysis, GIS applications, and program management. The program is open to graduate students in all disciplines of the university. Information about the graduate certificate may be obtained from the department office and from the department’s web page at: www.design.iastate.edu/programs-minors/certificates/gis-certificate/