Master of City and Regional Planning

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Georgia Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) at the Georgia Institute of Technology is a two-year, in-person professional program designed for students who want to understand and address complex urban and regional planning challenges through a combination of theory, analytical methods, and practical planning skills. Students build expertise through core planning courses, specialized study, electives, an applied studio, and professional work experience, with opportunities to collaborate across areas such as geographic information science, urban analytics, architecture, civil engineering, public policy, and law.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a strong foundation in planning theory, community engagement, analytical methods, GIS, planning law, and economic analysis through courses such as CP 6035 Theory and History of Planning, CP 6036 Community Dynamics and Engagement, and CP 6514 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. They also begin developing practical planning capabilities through CP 6025 Advanced Planning Methods and the program's applied studio options.

Year 2: The second year allows students to develop a focused area of expertise through specialization coursework while applying their knowledge to substantial planning problems. Courses such as CP 6213 Urban Environmental Planning and Design, CP 6552 Design of Smart Urban Systems, or CP 6630 Government and Housing Markets can support specialization-based study, followed by either CP 8990 Applied Research Paper or CP 7000 Master's Thesis as the culminating academic experience.

Focus areas: Economic Development, Environment, Climate and Design, Global Development, Housing and Community Development, Transportation and Land Use, and Urban Analytics.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the theoretical knowledge, analytical methods, GIS capabilities, community engagement skills, legal and economic understanding, and practical planning experience needed to address complex urban and regional challenges.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The MCRP is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), a joint accrediting body of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association, and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

Reputation (employability rankings): Georgia Tech states that its MCRP is ranked 10th nationally by Planetizen, while the School also highlights the program as consistently ranked among Planetizen's Top 10 planning schools.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Georgia Tech’s Master of City and Regional Planning gives students substantial practical exposure through its required Planning Studio, internship, applied research, GIS training, and community-focused projects. Students work on real planning challenges in Atlanta and other locations, often collaborating across disciplines and producing professional outputs such as GIS maps, planning alternatives, reports, presentations, and implementation strategies. The program also connects students with Georgia Tech’s spatial-planning research centers and specialized computing and studio facilities, creating a strong environment for applied urban planning work.

Applied Planning Studio: CP 6055 Planning Studio is a capstone experience in which students analyze and prepare alternatives for an existing neighborhood, community, or region, applying planning skills to real-world situations.
Real-World Studio Projects: Recent MCRP studios have addressed climate vulnerability, urban design, underused urban spaces, and climate-change planning. The 2023 Climate Vulnerability Assessment Studio, for example, involved collaboration with Georgia Tech offices and external organizations and produced an interactive GIS map, vulnerability matrix, academic paper, poster, and presentation.
Collaborative Projects: MCRP studios bring together students with different areas of expertise, including students from architecture, civil and environmental engineering, public policy, law, and Geographic Information Science and Technology.
Internship: An internship is a required component of the MCRP program. Students can undertake internships during the fall, spring, or summer, with many completing a full-time internship during the summer; Georgia Tech also notes that students may continue working with organizations where they intern.
GIS & Spatial Analysis: CP 6514 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and advanced courses such as CP 6521 Advanced Geographic Information Systems and CP 6541 Environmental Analysis Using GIS provide opportunities to apply spatial technologies to planning problems.
GIS Software & Tools: Georgia Tech’s planning work uses GIS-based planning support systems for collecting information, evaluating alternatives, modeling scenarios, and monitoring outcomes. MCRP-related studio work has also used GIS for interactive mapping and spatial analysis.
Urban Data Analytics: Students can develop applied data skills through urban analytics work involving APIs, web scraping, and the R programming language, with applications to urban planning questions such as pedestrian safety.
Advanced Visualization: CP 6006 Visualization for Planners introduces computer applications and visual representation techniques used to communicate physical planning concepts, while CP 6053 Urban Design Studio focuses on visual representation, performance evaluation, and sustainable urban systems.
International Studio Experience: Georgia Tech’s Tokyo Smart City Studio brings MCRP students together with architecture students and international partners to work on urban data analytics, mapping, 3D modeling, and ecological urban performance. Students use GIS and Rhino and present their final work to local stakeholders.
Spatial Planning Research: The Center for Spatial Planning Analytics and Visualization (CSPAV) develops and applies geospatial technologies for urban planning, transportation, conservation, infrastructure, and environmental challenges. Its research includes the Friendly Cities Lab and IMAGINE Lab, providing a research environment closely connected to planning and spatial analytics.
Planning Computing Facilities: Georgia Tech’s planning facilities include computer labs equipped with software for statistical analysis, computer-aided design, and GIS, along with networked printers and dedicated student computing spaces.
Planning Studio & Commons: The School provides dedicated planning studio and student commons spaces for collaborative work, meetings, classes, labs, and student groups.
Design Studios & Review Areas: The College of Design provides open-plan studios and classrooms for collaborative design work and critique, together with review areas for presenting and evaluating student projects.
Applied Research: MCRP students can connect their planning education with research centers and projects involving communities, government agencies, infrastructure, transportation, resilience, and urban development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Georgia Tech’s Master of City and Regional Planning are prepared for professional roles in city planning, urban planning, regional planning, and related fields, supported by the program’s interdisciplinary curriculum and connections with public- and private-sector planning organizations. The School reports that 88% of graduates from the 2024 graduating class obtained professional planning, planning-related, or other positions within 12 months of graduation, while the MCRP’s professional focus also supports progression toward AICP certification.

Typical career roles: City Planner, Urban Planner, Regional Planner, Transportation Planner:

Career services: Georgia Tech’s Campus Career Center provides career counseling, job-search guidance, co-op and internship information, and salary-calculator tools. Students also have access to Georgia Tech Connect for mentorship and employment opportunities, while SCaRP maintains employer and job connections through its LinkedIn network and CareerBuzz.
Internships: MCRP students are required to complete an internship, with opportunities available during the fall, spring, or summer. Georgia Tech reports that many students work for organizations where they initially intern, providing a direct pathway from academic experience to professional employment.
Employment outcomes: 88% of the 2024 graduating class obtained professional planning, planning-related, or other positions within 12 months of graduation. The program also reports a 93% graduation rate within four years for students entering in 2021.
Salary figures: A program-specific graduate salary figure is not stated on Georgia Tech’s official MCRP public-information page, so no salary amount is provided here. The university does provide students with access to salary-calculator tools through the Campus Career Center.
University–industry connections: Georgia Tech highlights connections with international, federal, state, local, and private-sector urban planning and development organizations. The School also operates a Cooperative Work-Study/Research Experience pathway in which graduate students can work part-time for agencies and firms in the Atlanta metropolitan region while completing their studies.
Professional certification: The MCRP is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), a joint specialized accrediting body associated with the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, and Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. Georgia Tech reports that 90% of master’s graduates from the 2021 graduating class who took the AICP exam within three years passed, providing a documented professional progression outcome.
Graduation outcomes: The MCRP awarded 22 degrees in the 2024–2025 academic year, with the program reporting the 88% employment outcome for the 2024 graduating class. Students also complete a final capstone requirement involving a master’s thesis or applied research paper alongside a studio course.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MCRP, students can continue into Georgia Tech’s Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning, which develops advanced research expertise in areas such as urban climate change management, transportation, economic and community development, housing, land use, and urban design. Georgia Tech also offers MCRP dual-degree pathways with programs including the M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology, Master of Architecture, M.S. in Civil Engineering, M.S. in Public Policy, and Juris Doctor, allowing students to combine planning with another specialized discipline.