TYLER SCHOOL OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Learn more about the Master of Science in City and Regional Planning.
About the Program
This program is not accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The MS in City and Regional Planning is the terminal degree for the planning profession. The primary purpose of the program is to develop skilled practitioners for dynamic career opportunities in the government, nonprofit and private sectors. The program’s areas of strength are in sustainability, environmental planning and community engagement. The program provides a broad-based understanding and awareness of the physical and economic aspects of planning, sensitivity to the social and environmental impact of planning decisions, and a knowledge of governmental structures as they apply to planning.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program is designed for full-time study, allowing students to complete the program in two years. Students may elect, however, to complete the program on a part-time basis.
Affiliation(s): The Department of Environmental Design is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).
Study Abroad: The department has a formal agreement with Beijing Forestry University, where study abroad is possible.
Accreditation: The MS program in City and Regional Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The PAB accredits university programs in North America leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in planning. The accreditation process is based on standards approved by the PAB with input from the public and our sponsoring organizations: the American Planning Association (APA); the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), which is the professional planners’ institute within the American Planning Association; and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).
Areas of Specialization: The program is structured so students can choose course that lead to a concentration. See course requirements in the graduate bulletin.
Graduate certificates in Transportation Planning and Sustainability and Climate Resilience are available to non-matriculated students and students in other Temple University graduate programs, with the approval of their graduate advisor.
Job Prospects: A graduate degree in city planning is recognized by the profession as the terminal degree. The majority of students graduating from the program find employment in the greater Philadelphia region, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and beyond. The majority of the program’s graduates have found employment in planning or a related field within one year of graduation. Private, public and nonprofit employment opportunities in planning are strong for graduate degree holders based on current need and projected growth over the next decade.
Licensure/Certification: The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) provides nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications. While not required to practice, AICP certification ensures academic qualifications, work experience, mastery of essential skills, and commitment to a professional code of ethics. As a Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredited program, Temple University’s Master of Science in City and Regional Planning provides the fastest path to AICP certification, with two years' professional planning experience required. To be eligible for the certification exam, graduates must also be a current member of the American Planning Association (APA) and be engaged in professional planning, either currently or in the past, as defined by AICP. For more information, visit https://www.planning.org/certification/eligible/.
New Jersey offers its own license for professional planners. This is in addition to, not instead of, the national AICP. Graduates who plan on working in New Jersey can opt to sit for the Professional Planner (PP) exam. Details can be found at https://njplanning.org/professional-development/exam-prep/pp-pit/.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are permitted to take a maximum of 9 graduate credits at Temple University prior to applying to the program. Please contact the Department of Environmental Design for details.
Financing Opportunities: The Department of Environmental Design has a limited number of scholarships for graduate students. Students should also check the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and Student Financial Services websites for financial aid opportunities. Students should complete a FAFSA application to determine eligibility for student financial aid, work-study employment within the department, or other on-campus jobs.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
This program is not accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Fall: January 6
Spring: November 1
Applications are reviewed as they are received up through the priority deadline. Applications received after these dates may be considered for admission. See the Tyler School of Art and Architecture website for the most up-to-date application information.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members, planning professionals and others in a position to evaluate the applicant's past work and/or ability to do graduate work. The letters should be submitted with the application at https://apply.temple.edu/Tyler/, along with the statement of goals.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, but the bachelor's degree need not be in a related field of study. Official transcripts from all universities/colleges attended, whether or not a degree was awarded, must be sent to the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Graduate Admissions Office, 2001 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6016.
Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, share your reason for pursuing a degree in City and Regional Planning, interest in Temple's program in particular, and future career goals.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE optional. If you wish to submit scores as a supplemental item, your official scores should be sent directly from the Educational Testing Agency. Temple's institutional code is 2906.
For international applicants, the minimum scores for a standardized test of English are:
- TOEFL iBT: 79
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 53
- Duolingo: 110
Applicants who completed an undergraduate degree in the United States or other English-speaking country are waived of the English-language testing requirements. Please contact Tyler Admissions to learn more.
Resume: Current resume required.
Transfer Credit: The City and Regional Planning Admissions Committee recommends the awarding of transfer credits on a case-by-case basis as applications are reviewed. The student may not receive transfer credit for coursework taken as part of any other awarded graduate degree. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 9.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 48
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CTRP 5011 | Planning Practice and Equity | 3 |
| CTRP 5256 | Sustainable Climate Resilience | 3 |
| CTRP 5513 | Planning Analysis | 3 |
| CTRP 5461 | Graphic Communications and Design | 3 |
| CTRP 5413 | Public Participation and Collaboration | 3 |
| CTRP 5115 | Comprehensive Land Use Planning | 3 |
| CTRP 5524 | Spatial Analysis Techniques/Geographic Information Systems 1 | 3 |
| CTRP 8016 | Planning Law | 3 |
| Electives 2 | 18 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| CTRP 9889 | Planning Studio | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
- 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 four transcripted optional concentrations in fulfilling the coursework requirements for the MS degree:
Equitable Community Development
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Regional Development | ||
| Nonprofit Management | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems Planning | ||
| Community Development Finance | ||
| Community Engagement and Empowerment | ||
| Placemaking: Revitalizing Urban Communities | ||
| Gentrification and Equitable Development | ||
| Topics in Equitable Community Development | ||
| Architecture Research Seminar 4 - Urban Innovations: Technology, Environment and Health in Society | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Sustainability and Climate Resilience
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Environmental Planning | ||
| Regional Development | ||
| Introduction to Emergency Management Planning | ||
| After the Disaster: Effective Planning for Continuity, Recovery and Restoration | ||
| Topics in Sustainability and Climate Resilience | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Land Use and Transportation Planning
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Concentration Course | ||
| CTRP 8656 | Integrated Transportation and Land-Use Planning: Context-Sensitive Design Solutions | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Non-motorized Transportation Planning | ||
| Advanced Techniques in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | ||
| Topics in Land Use and Transportation Planning | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Physical Planning and Design
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Concentration Course | ||
| CTRP 8114 | Urban Form and Design | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Techniques in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | ||
| Placemaking: Revitalizing Urban Communities | ||
| Topics in Physical Planning and Design | ||
| Elective Architecture Design Studio | ||
| Arch Research Seminar 1 | ||
| Landscape Design Studio II | ||
| Public Lands Design Studio | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
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.
Accelerated Programs
Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The accelerated pathway for the City and Regional Planning MS is available to any qualified undergraduate student.
Cohort Code: XMSCRP
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CTRP 5013 | 3 | |
| CTRP 5014 | Planning Politics and Administration | 3 |
| CTRP 5413 | Public Participation and Collaboration | 3 |
| CTRP 5513 | Planning Analysis | 3 |
Suggested Academic Plan
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CTRP 5513 | Planning Analysis | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| CTRP 5413 | Public Participation and Collaboration | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CTRP 5014 | Planning Politics and Administration | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| CTRP 5013 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Admissions Criteria
Candidates for the +1 program must:
- have a 3.25 undergraduate GPA average and be able to complete their baccalaureate degree in a total of four years.
- have two letters of support from full-time faulty who can vouch for the student's readiness for graduate work.
- be able to complete the graduate degree in one additional year, including two summer sessions of graduate work.
Contact and Application Information
Anh Nguyen, Professional Programs Administrator
anh.nguyen0010@temple.edu
Learn more about the accelerated program in City and Regional Planning.
Contacts
Program Web Address:
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/city-and-regional-planning-ms-ta-ctrp-ms
Department Information:
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Graduate Admissions Office
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6016
215-777-9090
Mailing Address for Official Transcripts:
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Graduate Admissions Office
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6016
Submission Address for All Other Application Materials:
Department Contacts:
Graduate Admissions Office:
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
215-777-9090
Planning and Community Development Program Head:
Jeffrey P. Doshna, PhD, AICP
213 Architecture Building
215-204-1213