Course of Study + Degree Completion

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The MCRP degree program is a two-year course of study for which a minimum of 50 credits is required. This program requires three parts for the completion of this degree: 50 hours of course work as indicated in the program of study; the Graduate Review; and a thesis or professional project to be presented in public.

Students enrolled in this program are allowed to take up to12 hours at the graduate level in other UNM programs. Students also may request to have up to 9 hours of upper level undergraduate coursework applied towards their elective degree requirements.

Incoming graduate students are required to have taken statistics and economics as prerequisites for this program. If a student has not taken these courses, they may take them simultaneously with their graduate course work, but must have the prerequisites completed to graduate from the program.

Core Course Requirements
CRP 500 Planning Theory and Process 4 credits
CRP 510 Planning Communications Techniques 2 credits
CRP 511 Analytical Methods for Planning 4 credits
CRP 521 Advanced Planning Studio 5 credits
CRP 545 Land Use Controls 3 credits
–or– CRP 580 Community Growth and Land Use Planning 3 credits

Total of 18 hours to meet Core Course Requirements

Concentrations Course Requirements
Students are required to select an area of concentration in Community Development, Natural Resources and Environmental Planning, or Physical Planning and Design.

Students are required to take a concentration Foundations course (3 credits) and a second methods course (3 credits) from a cluster of course options in their concentration area.

Total of 6 hours of Concentrations Requirements

Elective Course Requirements
Students must take 18 hours of approved elective course work.

Total of 18 hours of Electives

Exit Course Requirements
CRP 588 Professional Project/Thesis Preparation Seminar 2 credits
Plan I– CRP 599 Master’s Thesis 6 credits
–or– Plan II– CRP 589 Professional Project 6 credits
Total of 8 hours to meet Exit Requirements

Total of 50 hours required for completion of the MCRP Degree

Graduate Review

The Graduate Review should take place at the student’s request after the completion of 12 hours of graduate study but must take place before the student can enroll in the thesis/professional project preparation course. A faculty committee consisting of the student’s advisor and one other CRP faculty member will review the student’s prior academic records, proposed program of studies, evidence of courses focused in a concentration, a “self-assessment” filled out by the student, and the thesis or professional project proposal. Assessment of the student’s performance in the program to date and proposals for future work will guide the committee’s recommendations for the student’s remaining efforts to complete the MCRP degree and the approval of the Program of Studies Form.

Thesis or Professional Project

The thesis/professional project is a formal document prepared in consultation with the student’s faculty committee and presented in public. The thesis/professional project committee, which is nominated by the candidate, evaluates the scope of the work, the quality of analysis and the content of the findings and/or recommendations. The committee also evaluates the student’s understanding of his or her chosen field of study and area of concentration, as well as strengths in accomplishing graduate studies.

Licensing for Planners.

There are no licensing requirements for planners in New Mexico. Planners can be certified through the American Institute for Certified Planners (AICP).

Sample Course Plan

Time to work on research for Thesis or Professional Project
Avoid course overload during semester in which the Thesis or Professional Project will be defended

For specific course descriptions, see the UNM Course Catalog here.

Click here for information regarding part-time status.