Master of Regional Planning - Community Development and Cultural Preservation in Boston United States | University of Massachusetts Amherst

The graduate programs in regional planning allow you to integrate studies of the physical, environmental, social, cultural, economic, and political facets of planning at all scales and densities: urban, suburban, small town, and rural. The practice-oriented MRP degree prepares you for a professional career promoting sustainable development as the balance of ecology, economy, and equity achieved through a participatory planning process. This status provides our MRP graduates with multiple benefits, such as reduced time to American Institute of Certified Planners eligibility, higher likely career earning potential, and improved job market competitiveness. Our current accreditation runs through December 2026. The goal of the Regional Planning Program is to stimulate creative and systematic approaches for addressing and resolving the physical, economic, and social problems of towns, cities, and larger regions.

The program is based on combining theoretical, historical, social, political, and technical dimensions of planning practice with strong emphasis on practice through studio and service to communities in our region, with opportunities for international work as well. We engage both the intellectual and the professional aspects of regional planning. Our alumni can be found in all levels of government as well as in consulting practice, real estate development, private industry, and in academic and research activities. They have been involved on the frontiers of social change since the 1960s such as urban revitalization, environmental protection, advocacy planning, historic preservation, growth management, economic development and geographic information systems.

The master's degree program offers a rich educational experience in many areas of regional planning, including the underlying theories in planning, urban form, urbanization, elements of the planning and decision-making processes, policy analysis and implementation, social planning, information technology and planning tools and techniques.