The Master’s in Regional + City Planning (RCPL) prepares students to shape communities through inclusive and sustainable design. As one of the oldest planning programs in the US, RCPL offers a legacy of excellence combined with hands-on learning, small class sizes, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students explore housing, transportation, public health, environmental resilience, and other key areas while building the skills to lead in government, nonprofit, and private sectors. With both traditional and accelerated degree options, RCPL provides a clear path to meaningful impact and professional growth.
Plan communities. Shape futures. Find belonging.
Regional and City Planning (RCPL) is a dynamic and multifaceted field that draws individuals passionate about shaping the future of communities through thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable design. Whether your interests lie in housing, transportation, environmental resilience, public health, economic development, or historic preservation, planning offers a meaningful way to engage with the systems and spaces that define everyday life. What binds this diversity is a shared commitment to working collaboratively with residents, leaders, and organizations to anticipate challenges and create solutions that serve the public good. Planners find careers across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private firms, contributing to projects that range from neighborhood revitalization to regional infrastructure. For those curious to explore further, the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners offer valuable resources and professional pathways into this impactful field.
Norman, Oklahoma
The Master’s Degree in Regional + City Planning (RCPL) at the University of Oklahoma offers a powerful blend of legacy, innovation, and community impact. As one of the oldest planning programs in the US, RCPL combines decades of expertise with a forward-looking approach to preparing students for meaningful careers in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Rooted in a philosophy of “learning by doing,” the program emphasizes hands-on experience, interdisciplinary collaboration, and deep engagement with real-world challenges facing cities, towns, and rural communities. With small class sizes and a low student-faculty ratio, students receive personalized guidance and the flexibility to shape their own academic journey. More than a degree, RCPL fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, equipping graduates to lead with empathy, insight, and a future-oriented mindset.
The OU RCPL program offers a strong foundation for launching a meaningful career in planning:
Proven Career Outcomes: Over the past decade, 85–95% of graduates have secured positions in planning or related fields within six months of graduation.
Diverse Career Pathways: Alumni work in city planning departments, community and economic development offices, private consulting firms, real estate, and nonprofit organizations.
Enduring Professional Network: Join a community of more than 800 graduates with a legacy of impact and innovation.
How Long You'll Be Here
On average, 2 years
Faculty-to-Student Ratio
15 students per faculty member
Median Salary
$81,640
Salary information obtained from: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,
Urban and Regional Planners
Students are required to complete 44 credits for non-thesis students and 48 credits for thesis students. Broken down as follows:
Students will select one of the two specializations:
Each student chooses three courses within their selected specialization (9 hours) and one course (3 credits) within the non-selected specialization is also required.
Non-Thesis Option:
Thesis Option:
Requires a minimum of 48 credit hours, including 23 credits in the core curriculum, and 4 thesis credits. A thesis is the product of individual research. It should represent an original contribution to the academic field of knowledge; and it must represent original research by the student. Students considering a thesis should discuss their ideas with faculty members sometime during their first year of study.
We have “rolling” admissions. This means that you can apply anytime for the term of your choosing and be considered. However, the deadline for applicants to be considered for financial support for the following fall term is February 15 of each year for international applicants and March 1 for US-based applicants. The GRE is not required.
Typically, a bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete and Master’s degree in Regional & City Planning takes two years, for a total of six years for the two degrees. Our accelerated programs enable students to complete both degrees in just five years.
The Master’s of Regional & City Planning offers accelerated degree options with several undergraduate majors at the University of Oklahoma. These programs allow exemplary students to pursue their B.A. or B.S. in Environmental Sustainability, Geographic Information Systems, Geography, or Environmental Design and a Masters in Regional & City Planning in shorter period.
Students with skills in Environmental Sustainability, Geographic Information Systems, Geography, and Environmental Design who earn a Master’s in Regional & City Planning are more marketable for positions in government work, urban planning, nonprofits, consulting firms and other multidisciplinary jobs.
The following undergraduate degrees can be paired with the Master’s in Regional & City Planning (M.R.C.P.) as part of an accelerated program:
Undergraduate students who are interested in this program should contact their academic advisor as soon as possible to begin mapping out their plan. Interested students should also verify and provide the below information to the RCPL Graduate Liaison using the GEOG RCPL Accelerated Program form (pdf)
The RCPL program I think is uniquely positioned in a way that is very well connected to a lot of like local practitioners and it has a lot of kind of practical experiences, assignments, a lot of things I was doing, like, while I was pursuing my master’s degree, were not just like theoretical things, we’re doing a lot of hands on projects, going to visit some small towns, not so small towns, talking to other planners who are already practicing..
Anna Siprikova
Class of 2015
The Master’s Degree in Regional and City Planning is accredited by The Planning Accreditation Board. Below are some vital statistics that prospective students should know about any PAB accredited programs.
In addition to course grades, student achievement is measured through:
2024-2025 Tuition and Fees:
Student Retention Rate: Percentage of students who began studies in fall 2023 and continued into fall 2024 = 97%
Student Graduation Rate: Percentage of students graduating within 4 years, entering class of 2020 = 92%
Number of Degrees Awarded: Number of degrees awarded for 2023-2024 Academic Year = 21
AICP Pass Rate: Percentage of master’s graduates taking the AICP exam within 3 years who pass, graduating class of 2020 = 50%
Employment: Percentage of all graduates obtaining professional planning, planning-related, or other positions within 12 months of graduation, graduating class of 2023 = 88%
