City & Regional Planning, MCP: Land Use & Environmental Planning
The Master of City Planning core curriculum encompasses the basic skills and knowledge required of all planners regardless of their specialization, and is a hallmark of our cutting-edge and practical approach to educating city planners. Students who complete the core will understand the legal and historical basis of city planning; they will know how to use a wide variety of population and economic data to understand local communities; and they will understand the form and arrangement of cities and metropolitan areas around the world. Most important, they will understand which planning approaches work best in which contexts and circumstances.
Land use and environmental planning are at the core of city planning. With the U.S. forecast to add more than 80 million new residents over the next forty years (and the world forecast to add 3 billion), land use and environmental planners will have to figure out new ways to accommodate population and economic growth while strengthening existing cities and towns; preserving precious and irreplaceable farm and resource lands; promoting new urban forms such as transit-oriented and mixed-use development; taking advantage of new water, land, telecom, and transportation infrastructure systems; promoting clean air and water, and robust ecologies; and reducing the carbon footprint of cities and suburbs alike. Students who complete the Land Use and Environmental Planning concentration work for local and municipal governments, for land use and environmental planning consultants, for and regional growth management agencies, and for smart growth, land conservation, and sustainable development policy and advocacy organizations.
For more information: https://www.design.upenn.edu/city-regional-planning
Curriculum
A total of 18 course units are required for graduation. 15 course units must be in City Planning (CPLN) courses.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| City & Regional Planning Requirements | ||
| Core Requirements | ||
| CPLN 5000 | Introduction to City Planning: History, Theory and Practice | 1 |
| CPLN 5010 | Quantitative Planning Analysis Methods | 1 |
| CPLN 5020 | Urban Economics and Public Finance | 1 |
| or CPLN 5090 | Law of Planning and Urban Development | |
| CPLN 6000 | Studio I | 2 |
| CPLN 7010 | Planning Studio (or other CPLN 70x0 Studio) | 2 |
| Spatial Analysis Requirement | ||
| CPLN 5030 | Modeling Geographical Objects | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 3 CPLN Electives (CPLN courses or with FMCP attribute) | 3 | |
| Select 3 General Electives (must be 5000-level or higher) | 3 | |
| Land Use-Environmental Planning Requirements | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| CPLN 5300 | Introduction to Land Use Planning | 1 |
| CPLN 5310 | Sustainability and Environmental Planning | 1 |
| Concentration Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 2 | |
| Site Planning | ||
| Innovations in Growth Management | ||
| Planning for Land Conservation | ||
| Climate Change: Plng for Mitigation and Adaptation | ||
| Water Policy | ||
| Sustainable Cities | ||
| Land Use and Environmental Modeling | ||
| Other LEP-related course with permission of advisor | ||
| Total Course Units | 18 | |
Internship Requirement
Plan of Study
Standard Course of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Course Units | |
| CPLN 5000 | Introduction to City Planning: History, Theory and Practice | 1 |
| CPLN 5010 | Quantitative Planning Analysis Methods | 1 |
| CPLN 5030 | Modeling Geographical Objects | 1 |
| CPLN 5300 | Introduction to Land Use Planning | 1 |
| Course Units | 4.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPLN 6000 | Studio I | 2 |
| Concentration Requirement 1 | 1 | |
| Choose 2 Electives 1, 2 | 2 | |
| Course Units | 5.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CPLN 7010 | Planning Studio (or other 70x0 Planning Studio) | 2 |
| CPLN 5020 | Urban Economics and Public Finance (or Elective at 5000-level or higher) 3 | 1 |
| Concentration Requirement 1 | 1 | |
| Choose 1 Elective 1, 2 | 1 | |
| Course Units | 5.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPLN 5090 | Law of Planning and Urban Development (or Elective at 5000-level or higher) 3 | 1 |
| Concentration Requirement 1 | 1 | |
| Choose 2 Electives 1, 2 | 2 | |
| Course Units | 4.00 | |
| Total Course Units | 18.00 | |
- 1
The scheduling of concentration courses and general electives is flexible and can be taken in the order that best works for the student. Note that some requirements are only offered in Fall or Spring and registration should be planned accordingly.
- 2
Electives must be 5000-level or higher. Undergraduate courses do not count towards CPLN degree requirements. Only 3 non-CPLN courses may be counted towards the degree; students must have 15 CUs under the CPLN subject heading.
- 3
Students must take either CPLN 5020 (only offered in the Fall) or CPLN 5090 (only offered in the Spring). In the term when not registered for this requirement, register for a general elective.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.