About the School of Planning
The programs of the School of Planning prepare students from a variety of backgrounds for careers in the professional practice of planning and various allied fields at the entry level (Bachelors), the more advanced (Master's)and the mid-career (accelerated Master's). The US Peace Corps Master's International Program and Fellows/USA Program provide Master's opportunities for those who wish to enter the Peace Corps and for those who have already completed Peace Corps service respectively.
Graduates work at local, regional, state, national and international levels in both the public and private sectors. Typical employers of planners are municipal governments, regional planning agencies, development authorities, NGOs, engineering consultancies, land developers and legal organizations. Planning education integrates a wide range of disciplines (e.g., design, economics, geography, sociology, political science, engineering, etc.), producing professionals of great flexibility. Specializations are offered in urban design, physical planning, economic and/or international development and environmental planning, and graduate certificates are offered in historic preservation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
The PhD program in regional development planning provides advanced training for those contemplating careers in university teaching and research, while the School's exchange program provides opportunities for Master's and doctoral study in Belgium, Scotland, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Of the School's 300 students, approximately 151 are enrolled in the unique Bachelor of Urban Planning (BUP) program. This studio based 5-year professional degree requires 6 quarters of professional employment prior to graduation as well as a major research project. Another 34 study in the Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies, which is a 4-year liberal arts program allowing students great leeway to develop their own course of study.
Approximately 103 students are enrolled for the Master of Community Planning (MCP) degree, which has been ranked 4th in the Midwest (12 states) and 18th nationwide by The Planetizen 2007 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs in the United States and Canada. For the 2009 Guide, the MCP degree was ranked 2oth in North America and 5th in the Midwest. It was also ranked 6th in the education of international students and 9th in the best financial aid category. Finally, it was rated among the best programs for in international development, urban design and public health. The MCP can be obtained with one of five specializations.
Both undergraduate and graduate students may earn certificates in either historic preservation or geographic information systems (GIS) simultaneously with their degrees. In addition, undergraduate students from other colleges or programs may pursue the Certificate in Urban Planning.
The School's PhD in Regional Development Planning enrolls a small number of highly qualified scholars - 12 at present - preparing for research and leadership careers in academia and in both the public and private sectors.
The University of Cincinnati is one of only three universities in the country to have accredited undergraduate and graduate professional degrees and a PhD, and it is the only one of them with co-op.