City & Regional Planning, MCP: Urban Design

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.

The Urban Design concentration focuses on understanding the links between the physical form and structure of cities and regions and the economic, social and political forces that shape them. It provides knowledge about alternative theories and methods for the physical improvement of urban places and includes courses in graphic communication, the history and theory of design, and the context and operation of development incentives and controls. Graduates from the Urban Design concentration typically work in local government or for private design firms developing urban design plans, neighborhood and district plans, public space and street plans, and, increasingly, plans for new communities. 

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.

City & Regional Planning Requirements
Core Requirements
CPLN 5000Introduction to City Planning: History, Theory and Practice1
CPLN 5010Quantitative Planning Analysis Methods1
CPLN 5020Urban Economics and Public Finance1
or CPLN 5090 Law of Planning and Urban Development
CPLN 6000Studio I2
CPLN 7010Planning Studio (or other CPLN 70x0 Studio)2
Spatial Analysis Requirement
CPLN 5030Modeling Geographical Objects1
Electives
Select 3 CPLN Electives (CPLN courses or with FMCP attribute)3
Select 2 General Electives (must be 5000-level or higher)2
Urban Design Requirements
CPLN 6600Fundamentals of Urban Design2
CPLN 5040Site Planning1
CPLN 7600Urban Design Capstone Studio2
Other UDE-related course with permission of advisor
Total Course Units18

Internship Requirement

Because a planning education extends beyond the classroom, all MCP students are required to complete a planning internship, usually between their first and second years. Internships may be paid or unpaid, for at least six weeks. Internships can be completed at any government agency or commission, private consulting firm, or non-profit or advocacy organization involved in planning practice, or research.
 

Plan of Study

Standard Course of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCourse 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 6600 Fundamentals of Urban Design 2
 Course Units5.00
Spring
CPLN 6000 Studio I 2
CPLN 5040 Site Planning (or Elective) 1
Choose 1 Elective 1 1
 Course Units4.00
Second Year
Fall
CPLN 5020 Urban Economics and Public Finance (or Elective) 2 1
CPLN 7010 Planning Studio (or other 70x0 Planning Studio) 2
Choose 2 Electives 1 2
 Course Units5.00
Spring
CPLN 5090 Law of Planning and Urban Development (or Elective) 2 1
CPLN 7600 Urban Design Capstone Studio 2
Choose 1 Elective 1 1
 Course Units4.00
 Total Course Units18.00
1

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.

2

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.