Graduate Degrees Offered

• Environmental Studies
• Great Plains Studies
• Water Resources Planning and Management

Required by the Office of Graduate Studies

• Online Application for Graduate Admission
• $45 non-refundable application processing fee
• Two (2) sets of official transcripts
• If your native language is not English: verification of English proficiency
• If you are not a US citizen and you expect to hold an F or J visa: financial resource information

Required by Community and Regional Planning

• Entrance exam(s): GRE
• Minimum TOEFL:  Paper-550  Internet-79
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement of professional and educational goals

Description of Program

The Master of Community and Regional Planning program is designed to provide students with an understanding of the economic, social, political, and physical characteristics of communities and regions, and to assist students in developing skills for application in the planning profession. Students interested in a Ph.D. may pursue the community and regional planning specialization within the geography doctoral program.

The master's program requires completion of 48 graduate credit hours, 24 of which are for required core courses. Each student works with a faculty advisor 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 hours of course work in an area of concentration defined in consultation with their faculty advisors.

Students in the M.C.R.P. program also may choose to complete requirements in three interdepartmental areas of specialization: environmental studies, Great Plains studies, and water resources planning and management. The following dual degree programs are available: M.C.R.P./J.D.; M.C.R.P./M.Arch.; and M.C.R.P./M.S. in civil engineering with a specialization in transportation engineering.

Students with diverse educational and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply for admission to the M.C.R.P. program, which is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. No prior course work in planning is required.

Faculty lead research and collaborative projects in the Quality of Life Team, Community Outreach Partnership Center, University of Nebraska Extension, Nebraska Lied Main Street Program, and in the countries of Costa Rica, Ireland, and Germany.