Dual Degree Option: Master of Regional Planning/Master of Science in Sustainability Science

Overview

The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a dual degree program that can be completed in two years, including summers, and provides aspiring professionals the opportunity to earn a Master of Regional Planning (MRP) degree and a Master of Science in Sustainability Science (MS3) degree. This dual degree program is jointly offered by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning and the Department of Environmental Conservation, in the School of Earth & Sustainability.

The professions of planning and sustainability science are intertwined in numerous ways. Competitive positions in government and in the private and nonprofit sectors can best be filled by individuals with technical knowledge and skills of systems analysts, consultants, and planners. For example, sustainability planners in local governments often aim to be researchers/analysts in government agencies and organizations. Conversely, sustainability analysts, especially in rapidly-growing enterprises or organizations, are better positioned for success with the skills to formulate and implement plans in a municipal or regional context.

Curriculum

Students spend two semesters of full-time study in each program, then distribute remaining coursework between the two programs. The MRP core focuses on combining theoretical, historical, social, political, economic and technical dimensions of planning practice, with emphasis on practice through studio and service to area communities. The MS3 core curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong analytical foundation, applicable to a range of sustainability issues. Core teachings are focused on ecological systems, urban and social systems, and policy and economics. This 2+ years dual degree program offers a rich educational experience in many areas of science, management and planning, including systems analysis and implementation, ecological science, policy and planning, information technology, infrastructural development, and sustainability tools and techniques. Graduates from the MRP/MS3 degree program are uniquely prepared for successful professional careers in a range of settings, including policy, management, development and planning at the national, regional, state, or local level.

Degree Requirements

Taken separately, the conventional MRP and MS3 programs would require 48 credits and 33 credits respectively. Because of the natural synergies between the two programs, dual degree candidates are required to fulfill the coursework equivalent of 36 credits in the MRP program and 30 credits in the MS3 program, for a total of 66 credits. Students will be required to complete the full core curricula of both programs. MS3 core and program elective courses will be considered as an equivalent substitute for the nine concentration credits required by the MRP program. Likewise, MRP core and elective planning courses will be accepted as fulfilling MS3 general elective credits. Students will also fulfill the joint requirements for the MS3 practicum, and MRP thesis, project, or 3-course option on a topic of relevance to both programs.

For More Information

Additional information about MRP program options is available in the Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning section of this Bulletin.

Additional information about the MS3 program is available in the Sustainability Science section of this Bulletin.