Community & Regional Planning

Founded 2001

Deborah Howe, F.A.I.C.P., Ph.D.

Chair
West Hall 210
267-468-8300
crp@temple.edu
www.ambler.temple.edu/crp

There is an urgent need in this region and throughout the nation for professionals involved in developing plans for the growth and revitalization of urban, suburban, and rural communities. Students with degrees in planning have many employment options in the public and private sectors.

The mission of the Department of Community and Regional Planning at Temple University is to strengthen the effectiveness of planning practice in creating healthy, sustainable communities. Our educational programs prepare students with the understanding, values and skills that enable positive contributions in a rapidly changing world. Our research and service seek to advance knowledge and guide public decision making.  Our place is metropolitan Philadelphia. We have a responsibility for articulating public interests that are important not only to Philadelphia, but to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region.  (Adopted by the faculty, Department of Community and Regional Planning, February 2008)

The Community and Regional Planning program helps students understand how to create and evaluate plans that make the best use of a community’s land and resources for commercial, institutional, residential, and recreational purposes. Through classroom experience, team projects, and a required internship, students learn about the economic issues of planning and develop sensitivity to the social and environmental impact of planning decisions. They acquire communication and problem-solving skills through knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), site planning, planning and zoning law, research and design methods, American political institutions, negotiation, and mediation. Students in Community and Regional Planning have the opportunity to take advantage of the Center for Sustainable Communities to obtain practical experience on campus.

The Department of Community and Regional Planning offers a four-year baccalaureate program (B.S.), an undergraduate minor in Community in Regional Planning, a master’s program (M.S.), and two graduate certificates.  The Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning offered on the Ambler Campus is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Regional Planning may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major. A grade of C- or higher is required in all required General Education courses and in the required courses for the major.  At least half of the courses required for the major must be completed at Temple University.

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

1.  University requirements

• Math 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or English 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.

• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major.  See below for a list of the specific courses that are required for Community and Regional Planning majors.
• Students must complete requirements of the university General Education (GenEd) program (35-36 s.h.)  

2.  Community and Regional Planning (CRP) major requirements (14 courses with minimum of 42 s.h.)

• Eleven (11) Required Community and Regional Planning Courses (33 s.h.):

        CRP 1017, 1027, 2014, 2114, 2213, 2496, 2513, 2524, 3889, 4885, and 4896.

• Three (3) Community and Regional Planning Electives: CRP courses at the 2000-level or higher (9 s.h.)
  

3.  Electives (approximately 46-47 s.h.)

• Students should consult with their advisor for recommended electives.

Suggested Semester By Semester Plan

Note: The symbol (F) or (S) after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated: (F) = offered only in fall semester; (S) = offered only in spring semester.

Minor in Community & Regional Planning

Students in the School of Environmental Design (except for CRP majors) as well as students in other colleges, schools, and departments may choose to minor in Community and Regional Planning. Through this minor students undertake formal studies about public planning, thereby preparing themselves for contributions as informed citizens, civically engaged professionals, or ultimately as professional planners. The minor provides students with the background and with stronger credentials to apply for graduate level work in planning.

In this 18 credit minor, the required courses provide common background in the basics of planning, including history, theory, comprehensive planning and its components, ethics and principles of planning practice with particular emphasis on citizen participation, and exposure to a range of analytical methods for understanding community planning issues. The four electives allow students to explore interests in different facets of community planning: land use; housing; economic development; transportation; sustainability and environmental planning.

A student may not double count any course for the Minor in CRP toward any other major, minor, or certificate. At least half of the courses for the minor must be taken at Temple University. Students must complete successfully each of the following courses with a grade of C- or better and a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher for all courses in the minor: