Master of Community and Regional Planning
The Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree prepares students with the education and practical skills to be leaders in the practice of planning. The program concentrates on land use and transportation, community design and development, and rural and environmental planning. Students may design their own area of concentration with the assistance of their major professor.
Curriculum
Degree requirements include completion of a two-year, 48-credit program, including a required core (22 credits), electives (20-23 credits) and one of the following: comprehensive exam (3 credits), or thesis (6 credits).
We are pleased to offer the unique opportunity for you to pursue a double degree between our MCRP and programs within and outside the College of Design. Earn the MCRP and a second degree simultaneously while maintaining the high standards of both programs. In many cases, the time to degree completion is lengthened only by one or two semesters.
The MCRP degree program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), which accredits university programs in North America leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in planning.
PAB standards are developed with input from the stakeholders in the planning community and sponsoring organizations: the American Planning Association (APA); APA’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP); and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).
This degree program has been officially designated as STEM degree program, which refers to the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). STEM major designation is determined by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost and the Iowa Board of Regents.
With this designation, international students are eligible to extend their F-1 visas for up to three years after graduation to work in the United States.
Recent student work
Proximity Analysis of Toxic Sites to the Vulnerable Populace: A Case Study of Mason City, Iowa
Ayodele Fadoju
CRP 551, Fall 2022
The US Military Bases and Decay of Defense Communities in South Korea
Hyunsik Son
CRP 551, Fall 2022
Use of Generalized Spatial Data in Cultural Resource Management and Hazard Assessment Planning
Marci Snow-Perry
CRP 551, Spring 2022
Socio-Economic Characteristics as Determinants of Poverty Amongst Minority Population in Ankeny City, Iowa
Morenike Atejioye
CRP 551, Fall 2022
Rethinking Campus Mobility
CRP 532, Spring 2023
Iowa State University, established as the country’s first land-grant institution in 1858, hosts over 30,000 students on a campus spanning over 2,000 acres. Faced with unsustainable traditional transportation methods for its stable campus population, graduate students in the Community and Regional Planning department began a project to rethink campus mobility. Their work supplemented the Strategic Facilities Plan of 2021, aiming to create a more inclusive transportation system. Through stakeholder engagement, precedent studies, and data collection, including surveys and interviews, the students aimed to address mobility challenges on campus. The project report presented the findings and recommendations and served as a resource for the university’s facilities planning and management team.
The Danish Villages’ Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism Plan
CRP 532, Spring 2023
Students developed a plan to enhance historic preservation and heritage tourism in the Danish Villages. The plan outlined three visions with action steps spanning short to long-term timelines, aimed at boosting tourism and community engagement with the cultural and historic assets of Elk Horn and Kimballton. A survey informed the development of the visions, which focused on landscape storytelling, improving local and international connections, and revitalizing Main Street. The overarching goal was to celebrate the unique identity of these communities, increase awareness, and encourage resident participation in cultural preservation. This document served as a guide to engage with and promote the rich cultural traditions of the Danish Villages.
City of Adel: Downtown Plan 2020-2040
CRP 432, Fall 2019
The project outlined the development of a downtown plan for Adel, Iowa, a city experiencing rapid growth with a quaint downtown area. Collaborating with local officials and Confluence, a planning firm, the focus was on revitalizing Adel’s downtown. Students applied their program-acquired skills to analyze and plan for Adel’s downtown, resulting in the finalized plan. Informed by local expertise and a dedication to preserving Adel’s history and nature, the plan strategically envisions and guides the downtown’s development as a cultural, social, and economic center.
City of Huxley – Comprehensive Plan Update 2019
CRP 532, Fall 2018
A comprehensive plan is a critical municipal document that shapes a city’s future physical, social, and economic development by aligning short-term actions with long-term goals. The 2019 Huxley Comprehensive Plan Update, created by Iowa State University’s Community and Regional Planning graduate studio class, aims to address the changes since the 2013 plan, including population growth and city expansion. The students were split into three teams to develop the plan, focusing on creating a Community Profile, gathering community input through an Advisory Council, and conducting a wide-ranging survey. These efforts culminated in a collective vision for Huxley’s future, with set goals, objectives, and strategic recommendations presented in the plan. The comprehensive planning process is detailed in the document, providing a blueprint for future actions to be undertaken by the city.
Application requirements
Anyone applying for admission to the Master of Community and Regional Planning program must complete the Iowa State University Graduate College online application. As part of the application, you will be asked to provide:
- Official academic transcripts indicating a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals from your educational or professional background who can most directly speak about your ability to complete graduate level course work and teaching duties
- You will be asked within the application to provide the names and email addresses for your three references; when you submit the application, the three individuals will receive an email notification from ISU Admissions with a link to the recommendation form
- English Proficiency Exam (international applicants only)
- Financial statement (international applicants only)
Consideration date
The priority application submission date is February 1, and applications received after the deadline will be reviewed only as program resources permit.
Additional resources
A Planner in the Making
Find your place at Iowa State University’s College of Design, where we like to ask questions, poke and prod, create something new, and make a difference through design.