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Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning

$61,990 is the average starting salary for community and regional planning graduates, 2024

Program details

Iowa State’s accredited Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning (BSCRP) is a professional degree where classroom and studio-based instruction combine to provide students with an understanding of the theory, methods, and applications of planning practice. The College’s Department of Community and Regional Planning believes strongly in grounded education; studios and other classes often work with local communities or governments to explore genuine planning problems and solutions.

The BSCRP program provides the foundation for becoming a certified professional planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners, or for more specialized study through graduate study.

  • 100% graduates

    employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

Curriculum

The BSCRP curriculum helps prepare students to address a broad range of planning challenges involved in managing the social, economic, and physical change of neighborhoods, small towns, cities, suburbs, metropolitan areas, regions and states. The curriculum provides courses in principles of planning, planning methods, and related topics. Studios provide synthesizing experiences in a range of applications through practical, hands-on experience working with communities, or other organizations.

Incoming undergraduate students may enter directly into the professional BSCRP degree program without participating in the Core Design Program.

Undergraduate BSCRP majors can choose from five different areas of focus for your studies, or you can be a generalist. Focus areas include:

  • Community Development and Social Policy
  • Ecological and Environmental Planning
  • Regional and International Planning
  • Physical Planning and Urban Design
  • Transportation and Land Use
  • Student Working on GIS Lab computer.

    Geographic Information Science

    The Department of Community and Regional Planning offers both a minor in geographic information science (GISC) and a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) graduate certificate. When combined with the BSCRP program, students have access to leading-edge GIS technology and gain skills that open new career and educational pathways.

Iowa State’s BSCRP is a professional degree accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

The College of Design offers or participates in eight undergraduate minors that are available to all undergraduate design students. In addition, many minors throughout the university can be combined with a design degree program.

View College of Design minors
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Beyond meeting the minimum high school requirements for admission to Iowa State University and the College of Design, students intending to major in Community and Regional Planning may find the below classes very helpful in preparing for college coursework:

  • Sociology
  • Economics
  • Political science or government
  • Environmental science

Because planners typically work with many (sometimes competing) groups and often make presentations to city councils or other decision-making bodies, courses in public speaking, debate, writing, and graphic communication are also recommended.

Recent student work

Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Martensdale, Iowa

CRP 4320, Fall 2023

The City of Martensdale, Iowa (population 421, 2022) requested the CRP 4320 studio to update their comprehensive land-use plan. As part of their scope of work, studio members prepared a community profile; conducted a community survey; led two community engagement workshops; met routinely with the city clerk, the mayor and members of the city council; prepared land-use map updates; and developed strategies for growth that included a new residential and commercial neighborhood and industry options. The students designed creative visuals that demonstrated trail connectivity to a residential development district and new municipal and recreational facilities.

Comprehensive Land-Use Plan and Capital Improvement Plan for Center Point, Iowa

CRP 4320, Fall 2023

The City of Center Point, Iowa (population 2579, 2020) requested the CRP 4320 studio to update its comprehensive land-use plan and to create a complementary capital improvement plan. Students prepared a community profile; conducted a community survey; led two community engagement workshops; met routinely with the city administrator and members of the city council; prepared land-use map updates; developed strategies for growth that included a downtown economic node; designed expanded trail connectivity to downtown and proposed new residential development districts.

Yocom Park and Mobility Plan, Chariton, Iowa

CRP 4320, Spring 2023

In collaboration with Lucas County Economic Development, this Iowa State University Community and Regional Planning Studio project aims to enhance Yocom Park and the Mobility Plans for Chariton, improving quality of life and economic vitality. The project includes developing new park features, improving amenities, safety, and accessibility, and integrating the community’s feedback and history into the park’s design and function.

Roland Comprehensive Plan

CRP 4320, Spring 2022

In this class students were tasked with updating the comprehensive plan for the City of Roland. This involved activities such as conducting data collection, leading community engagement sessions, meeting with city officials and stakeholders, updating land use maps, and proposing strategic growth initiatives. Throughout the project, students created a comprehensive profile of the community, analyzed survey data, and designed plans for downtown economic revitalization, enhanced trail connectivity, and new residential development zones.

Prairie View Industrial Center: A Visioning Plan for Ames, Iowa

CRP 4320, Fall 2021

This fall 2021 course involved students collaborating with Alliant Energy and the Ames Economic Development Commission to craft a visioning plan for the Prairie View Industrial Center (PVIC) in Ames, Iowa. Engaging with professionals and community members, students integrated their insights into the planning process through research, focus groups, and open house sessions. The resulting recommendations for the PVIC site prioritize innovative workspace designs, green spaces, and community integration, aiming to enhance work-life balance and establish a cutting-edge hub for both work and community engagement.

Engaging Residents in Urban Planning: Focus on Ames, Iowa

CRP 4320, Fall 2020

This project showcased the studio’s collaboration with the City of Ames and insights from various professionals and experts, including city officials, university professors, and industry specialists. Their research focused on engaging underrepresented groups in community planning, incorporating novel methods like Photovoice, and leveraging online platforms for broader community involvement. Key themes of the project included making engagement playful, utilizing social media and technology, adapting methodologies to different populations, and emphasizing transparency and cultural recognition in community engagement. Finally, strategic recommendations were made for effectively engaging underrepresented communities in city planning processes to create more inclusive and responsive urban environments.

Two students conversing in the College of Design atrium.

Success in Design

Students graduate career-ready with internships, capstone projects, professional practice and portfolio classes integrated into the Design programs, and support from the Design Career Services Office. The college also hosts an annual Design Career Fair focused only on design majors. It attracts more than 125 firms recruiting for jobs and internships, with College of Design alumni making up more than half of the recruiters in attendance.

Possible career paths

We make it easy for students explore career opportunities. Some recent graduates of Iowa State’s community and regional planning program have pursued careers in the following:

  • Comprehensive planning
  • Economic development
  • Environmental planning
  • Historic preservation
  • Land-use planning
  • Neighborhood planning
  • Planning management
  • Urban revitalization
  • Zoning administration and coordination
  • Transportation planning/analyst
  • Conservation and economic recovery

  • 95

    different companies recruited our students since 2019.

Two design students working on a project and communicating their design on a whiteboard.

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.