Master of Regional and City Planning

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Oklahoma

Program Overview

The Master of Regional and City Planning at the University of Oklahoma is a two-year professional program designed for students who want to shape cities, towns and regions through planning, policy, design and community engagement. Students can tailor their studies through Physical Planning or Community & Economic Development, while developing practical skills for careers in government, nonprofit organizations, private consulting, real estate and other planning-related fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by building a strong foundation in planning theory, research and analysis through courses such as RCPL 5013 History and Theory of Regional and City Planning, RCPL 5113 Research Methods, and RCPL 5173 Urban and Regional Analysis. They also develop technical planning capabilities through RCPL 5463 Computer Mapping and GIS in Planning and examine regulatory frameworks through RCPL 5203 Urban Land Use Controls.

Year 2: Students deepen their expertise through one of two specializations: Physical Planning or Community & Economic Development, selecting breadth and depth courses that match their professional interests. Depending on their pathway, coursework can include RCPL 5663 Sustainable Urban Design, RCPL 5483 Urban and Regional Transportation Planning, RCPL 5733 Real Estate Development in Planning, RCPL 5723 Community Development and Revitalization, or RCPL 5713 Urban Economic Development Planning, alongside the RCPL 5525/5523/5522 Comprehensive Planning Studio and either a comprehensive examination or thesis.

Focus areas: Physical Planning; Community & Economic Development; urban and regional planning; transportation planning; sustainable urban design; environmental planning; housing; real estate development; public health and the built environment; economic development; historic preservation; infrastructure planning; GIS and urban analysis.

Learning outcomes: Students develop professional skills in community engagement, data collection and analysis, GIS and computer mapping, planning research, comprehensive planning, urban and regional analysis, policy and development planning, and communicating recommendations to communities and stakeholders. The program also requires practical professional preparation through a community studio project and a learning portfolio for non-thesis students.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Master of Regional and City Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The University of Oklahoma announced a seven-year reaccreditation in 2023, the longest accreditation term available to the program, and states that the program prepares students for professional planning careers.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Oklahoma does not state a current QS or Guardian employability ranking specifically for the Master of Regional and City Planning on its official program page. Instead, OU reports program-level employment data: 91% of graduates from the 2024 graduating class obtained professional planning, planning-related or other positions within 12 months of graduation; the program also reports that 85–95% of graduates over the past decade secured planning or related positions within six months.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Regional and City Planning at the University of Oklahoma emphasizes learning by doing, with students developing practical planning skills through studio courses, community engagement, research, and training in current planning technologies. Students work with real communities and local agencies, conduct site visits and interviews, analyze planning data, and develop recommendations that can be presented to community stakeholders. The program also provides access to well-equipped computer laboratories with GIS technology, GPS equipment, scanners, printers, and plotters, while the Institute for Quality Communities creates additional opportunities for community-based planning projects.

Experiential learning opportunities include:

Comprehensive Planning Studio: Students undertake hands-on planning work through the program’s comprehensive planning studio, applying planning concepts to practical community and regional challenges.
Real-world community projects: RCPL students have worked directly with communities such as Taft, Oklahoma, conducting site visits, interviews, data gathering, and community engagement before developing a practical zoning framework for local officials and residents.
Team-based planning: The Taft studio involved students working collaboratively with residents, local leaders, and faculty over multiple semesters, progressing from research and analysis to actionable recommendations.
GIS and computer mapping: Students receive training through RCPL 5463 Computer Mapping and GIS in Planning, supported by computer laboratories equipped with ArcView and ArcMap, along with scanners, GPS receivers, color printers, and plotters.
Urban and regional analysis: RCPL 5173 Urban and Regional Analysis develops analytical skills that students can apply to planning, land-use, transportation, infrastructure, and community-development issues.
Field-based engagement: The program provides opportunities to work with local agencies and faculty research projects, while documented RCPL studio projects include visits to communities and direct interaction with practicing planners and residents.
Institute for Quality Communities: The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) works with governments, nonprofits, and community groups on community assistance projects. IQC projects have traditionally been incorporated into Regional and City Planning courses, giving students opportunities to contribute to real community planning work.
Planning specializations: Students can develop applied expertise through areas such as transportation planning, sustainable urban design, environmental planning, infrastructure planning, public health and the built environment, food systems planning, climate-change issues, and hazard/disaster planning.
Research experience: Students can gain practical experience by working with faculty on research projects, connecting classroom planning methods with active research and community issues.
Interdisciplinary environment: RCPL is part of the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture & Design, which brings together Regional and City Planning, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design, and Urban Design, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary work across planning and design.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Regional and City Planning at the University of Oklahoma combines professional planning preparation with hands-on community work, giving graduates experience relevant to government, nonprofit, consulting, economic development, and private-sector planning roles. OU reports that 85–95% of graduates over the past decade secured positions in planning or related fields within six months of graduation, while the program lists a median salary of $81,640 for urban and regional planners.

Typical career paths include city planner, regional planner, community development planner, and economic development planner:

Career support: OU Career Services provides career-development and job-search support and facilitates connections among students, alumni, faculty, and employers. Gibbs College also hosts dedicated Career and Internship Fairs for Planning and Design students, giving RCPL students opportunities to connect directly with professional firms.
Employment outcomes: OU reports 85–95% employment in planning or related fields within six months of graduation over the past decade. The program currently lists a median salary of $81,640, with the salary information attributed to Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Urban and Regional Planners.
Real-world employment experience: Recent RCPL students have gained positions with organizations including the City of Oklahoma City, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), City of Norman, Progress OKC, and Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.
University–community partnerships: OU's Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) works with communities on planning, revitalization, infrastructure, and public-health initiatives. Since 2008, Gibbs College faculty and IQC teams have partnered with communities in 60 Oklahoma counties, providing a substantial platform for applied planning experience.
Specific industry/community collaboration: The IQC has partnered with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments on community planning projects, including work in El Reno, Guthrie, and Harrah. RCPL students and faculty have also worked with MetaFund, an Oklahoma nonprofit focused on areas including affordable housing, community health, and community development.
Professional accreditation: The MRCP is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). OU's program successfully completed PAB reaccreditation in 2023, providing an established professional accreditation framework for graduates entering the planning field.
Professional preparation: The non-thesis pathway includes a comprehensive examination designed to mimic the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) examination and requires a professional learning portfolio containing students' work, reflections, and career goals.
Graduate outcomes: OU alumni have progressed into roles spanning city planning, transportation, land-use planning, economic development, community development, and private consulting. For example, OU documents alumni working with organizations such as the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City and the Institute for Quality Communities.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Master of Regional and City Planning, students can continue into advanced research or doctoral-level study in planning, urban studies, geography, public policy, environmental sustainability, or related interdisciplinary fields. Within OU, the program also provides a thesis pathway involving original research, offering a direct opportunity for students interested in developing research experience before pursuing further graduate study.