Urban and Regional Planning Rowan University

Overview

The Urban and Regional Planning programme at Rowan University offers students a professional pathway into a rapidly expanding field that shapes the development of modern communities. This Master of Science degree equips graduates with the essential problem-solving skills required to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing 21st-century neighbourhoods and cities.

The curriculum is strictly aligned with national planning education standards, ensuring students gain proficiency in environmental sustainability, law, and justice. By combining theoretical frameworks with practical case studies, the university prepares individuals to contribute meaningful solutions to diverse regions across the country.

Why Urban and Regional Planning at Rowan University?

The institution is ideally situated to provide a unique learning environment, offering students direct access to rural, suburban, and urban settings. Located equidistant from the urban centres of Philadelphia and Camden, the campus serves as a living laboratory for experiential learning and the study of complex community issues.

Teaching is led by dedicated faculty members who prioritise applied skill building and client-based studio courses. Students benefit from a challenging academic environment that allows for the curation of personalised specialisations, drawing from graduate-level expertise across various university departments to match specific professional interests.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 877 per credit
• National fee: USD 877 per credit
• Local fee: USD 877 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires the completion of 14 courses totalling 46 semester hours. Modules may include:

Required Courses

• Planning: Past, Present, and Future
• Community Planning and Site Design
• Research Methods in Planning
• Environmental and Sustainability Planning
• Planning, Practice, Law, and Ethics
• Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems
• Planning Communication
• Geovisualization
• Planning Studio

Elective Courses

• Perspectives on Environmental Regulation, Policy, and Law
• Sustainability Assessment
• Topics in Sustainability Innovation and Problem Solving
• Sustainable Commerce
• Selected Topics in Geography, Planning, and Sustainability
• Historic Preservation
• Food Systems Planning
• Mapping and GIS
• Geographic Information Systems Topics and Applications
• Remote Sensing of Environment
• Independent Study
• Environmental Management
• Urban Environmental Health
• Social Experience of City Life and Urban Inequalities
• Environmental Policy
• Social Determinants of Health: Theory and Intervention in Urban Settings
• Critical Race Theory: Application and Intervention

Careers with Urban and Regional Planning

Graduates are prepared for a growing profession that directly impacts the physical and social development of towns and regions. The programme trains the next generation of planners to create resilient, place-based solutions within the public and private sectors.

The skills acquired in digital mapping, spatial analysis, and sustainability planning are highly sought after by local government agencies, environmental organisations, and urban development firms. Professionals in this field play a critical role in responding to the evolving needs of diverse communities.