Master of Regional Planning - Economic Development Planning (Communities and Regions) in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The M.R.P. program typically involves four residence units, sixty credits, a series of core courses, and a successful thesis, professional report, or research paper. With faculty approval, students may petition to transfer up to one residence unit and 15 credits from previous graduate work at other institutions, including Cornell-supervised field experience. While many doctoral candidates start in Cornell's Master of Regional Planning program, external applicants are also encouraged to apply. Cornell's distinguished urban and regional planning program offers a robust curriculum blending theoretical foundations with practical applications across domestic and global contexts. With exceptional internship and workshop opportunities, M.R.P. students apply their coursework and research in real-world settings while bringing practical challenges back to the classroom for analysis.

Cornell's planning education thrives on collaboration: faculty members work closely together and actively seek student perspectives. Each cohort of roughly 40 students designs personalized programs, starting with the department's core requirements and choosing electives aligned with their professional aspirations.

Economic development planning graduates pursue careers in policy creation, analytical roles, and program assessment across various sectors. Employment opportunities include municipal, regional, or state government agencies, policy research institutions, private development companies, and public-private collaborations like business improvement districts. Those focusing on community development often work with nonprofit development organizations or manage infrastructure and community finance initiatives.