City and Regional Planning Department
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
California Polytechnic State University
Student Handbook
Master of City and Regional Planning
2009-2010
City and Regional Planning Department
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
Hemalata C. Dandekar
Department Head
Mailing Address
City and Regional Planning Department
California Polytechnic State University
1 Grand Ave.
San Luis Obispo CA 93407-0283
Phone & Internet
Phone
Fax
E-mail
Web
805.756.1315
805.756.1340
crp@calpoly.edu
www.planning.calpoly.edu
Contacts
For Admissions and General Information:
Kathy Lehmkuhl, Administrative Support Coordinator
Phone: 805.756.1315
E-mail: klehmkuh@calpoly.edu
For MCRP program information:
Dr. Michael R. Boswell, Graduate Program Coordinator
Phone: 805.756.2496
E-mail: mboswell@calpoly.edu
Table of Contents
Welcome! ..............................................................................................................................1
MCRP Program ...................................................................................................................3
Mission
Description
Units and Courses
Emphasis Areas....................................................................................................................5
Environmental Planning
Urban Development & Design Planning
Transportation Policy and Planning
Sustainable Environments
Special Programs .................................................................................................................6
Advising Track (5+1) MCRP for BLA or BArch Students
Joint MCRP/MS Engineering with Specialization in Transportation Planning
International Programs .......................................................................................................8
Student Exchange Programs
Field Study Courses
Field Research Opportunities
Course Descriptions .............................................................................................................9
MCRP Core Courses
MCRP Emphasis Area Courses
MCRP Elective Courses
Graduation Requirements...................................................................................................15
Graduation Requirement in Writing Proficiency (GWR)
Formal Study Plan (FSP)
The MCRP/ME Engineering Dual Degree
Exit Documentation
Culminating Experience
Internships and Employment..............................................................................................18
Internship Requirements
Faculty and Staff ..................................................................................................................20
Other Information ...............................................................................................................29
Student and Professional Organizations
Support for National Conference Attendance
Competitions
E-mail & My Cal Poly Portal
Style Manual
Admissions ............................................................................................................................31
Admission Deadlines
Admission Materials
Admission Criteria
Prerequisites
Departmental Financial Aid
Contacts
Welcome!
Welcome to the City & Regional Planning (CRP) program at Cal Poly! CRP is an integral part of
the nationally recognized College of Architecture and Environmental Design. The program
began in 1968 and has over 1,000 graduates (Bachelors and Masters level). The program evolved
in the College where the planning laboratory (studio) has been the core of the curriculum. We are
proud of the program's strengths in land use planning, environmental planning, urban design,
transportation, and community sustainability.
Students often use the phrase “get an education, get a job, make a difference” when talking about
being at Cal Poly. Students take at least one internship in a planning public agency, private firm,
or non-profit organization. This gives all students real-world experience, and many times a head
start on getting a job in the field after graduation. Students get to work with a faculty that has an
excellent balance of professional experience and academic preparation, and more importantly are
exceptional instructors.
The strength of the Cal Poly MCRP program is its focus on community-based studios that
provide students a “real world” planning experience and an opportunity to make a difference in
California communities. CRP partners with communities to develop and deliver consultantquality plans and designs. This planning and design work usually includes meeting with local
government staff, conducting workshops with the public, presenting to elected officials,
gathering and analyzing community data, and field work. Recent community partners include:
San Luis Obispo County, King City, City of Guadalupe, City of Grover Beach, City of Ventura,
and the City of San Francisco.
The award winning CRP Department is recognized locally and nationally for its educational
excellence. Since 2000, the American Planning Association has chosen three Cal Poly CRP
students to receive the Outstanding Planning Award for Distinguished Leadership by a student
planner; this achievement is unique among planning schools. In addition, the Department
regularly wins awards for student projects and studios from the American Planning Association
and our students have twice won the annual Bank of America Low Cost Housing Challenge
competing against Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of
California, Davis.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's MCRP program in City and Regional Planning ranks among the best
urban planning programs nationwide in Planetizen's 2009 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning
Programs. Professional planners ranked Cal Poly MCRP as the #15 program in the country, with
a #25 ranking overall. For programs that only offer a Master’s degree and no Ph.D., Cal Poly
ranked #1 in the country. In specialty areas, Cal Poly ranked in the top ten in the growth
management and technology. In addition, the MCRP program is among the least expensive in the
nation, making it a exceptional educational value. The program is 4th in the nation for financial
aid and tuition for programs with under $6,500 resident tuition and 2nd for programs with under
$15,000 out-of-state tuition. For more information, see: http://www.planetizen.com/guide.
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Cal Poly MCRP Student Handbook
Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) is committed to being the
premier college of the design and building industry in the United States. The five disciplines-City and Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Architectural Engineering,
and Construction Management--are a unique combination of environmental design fields. The
organization of the CAED reflects the logical affinity among these fields. The CAED offers
excellent opportunities to integrate computer technology into coursework.
San Luis Obispo is a pleasant, progressive city of about 44,000 on California’s Central Coast,
midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The city and university share a neighborly,
small-campus, small-town feeling and one of the finest natural environments anywhere.
Sparkling-clear air and a climate that’s temperate year-round blend with majestic peaks, quiet
valleys, and the nearby ocean to create an exhilarating environment that is ideal for learning and
growing.
The long term professional outlook for city and regional planning is good. US News & World
Report, January 2009, lists “urban planner” as one if it’s Best Careers for 2009. E/The
Environmental Magazine lists “Sustainability Stewards: Planning and Land Use” as one of its 10
Great Green Opportunities. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that employment of
urban and regional planners is expected to grow 15 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than the
average for all occupations.
MCRP Class of 2009 field reconnaissance to Bayview Heights for their site planning studio.
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MCRP Program
Mission
Our mission is to educate talented, civic-minded, diverse students about planning and
environmental design, and cultivate in them the principles of leadership, innovation, and
action-oriented research.
We are a graduate program providing an applied, comprehensive, professionally-based
education in city and regional planning within a context of state, national, and global
awareness.
We prepare planners to develop communities and regions that are economically, ecologically,
and socially sustainable.
Description
The Master of City and Regional Planning degree program (MCRP) is professionally oriented
and is open to students with high standards of academic achievement who wish to pursue careers
in city and regional planning. It is structured to prepare graduates with competence to function in
a general context of planning, as well as in a particular area of emphasis. The MCRP core
courses cover planning theory, methods, law, and the formulation and implementation of plans.
Two principal areas of study are emphasized: urban development and design, focused on
comprehensive physical planning and urban design; and environmental planning, focused on
natural systems and development impacts. In addition, the City and Regional Planning
Department jointly offers an MCRP degree with the Master of Science in Engineering with a
specialization in transportation planning (see Special Programs below).
The master's program is structured to meet the needs of those who have earned baccalaureate
degrees in a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, economics, geography,
architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, political science, environmental or urban
studies, natural resources management, and ecology. The program is six quarters (two years) in
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duration and consists of 72 approved units (not including courses necessary to compensate for
deficiencies). Because of the sequencing of courses, students admitted to the program are
generally expected to begin their studies in the fall quarter. Students with prerequisite
coursework deficiencies and those with backgrounds allowing waivers of selected first-year core
courses may be admitted in other quarters. The degree culminates in a thesis (CRP 599),
professional project (CRP 596), or Community and Regional Planning Studio III (CRP 556).
Units and Courses
Core Courses (55-57 units)
First Year
CRP 501 Foundations of Cities and Planning (4)
CRP 510 Planning Theory (4)
CRP 512 Introduction to Visual Communication and GIS (4)
CRP 516 Methods of Data Analysis (4)
CRP 518 Public Policy Analysis (4)
CRP 525 Plan Implementation (4)
CRP 553 Project Planning Lab (4)
Second Year
CRP 409 Planning Internship (4)
CRP 513 Planning Research Methods (4)
CRP 530 Planning Agency Management (3)
CRP 535 Land Use and Planning Law (4)
CRP 552 Community and Regional Planning Studio I (4)
CRP 554 Community and Regional Planning Studio II (4)
CRP 596 Prof Project (2)(2)(2) or
CRP 599 Thesis/Project (2)(2)(2) or
CRP 556 Community and Regional Planning Studio III (4)
Emphasis Area (select one) (11 units)
Urban Development and Design
CRP 520 Feasibility Studies in Planning (4)
CRP 548 Principles of Urban Development and Design (4)
Advisor approved urban electives (3)
Environmental Planning
CRP 545 Principles of Environmental Planning (4)
Advisor approved environmental electives (7)
Adviser approved electives (4-6 units)
Total Units in Program: 72
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Emphasis Areas
Students must choose either the Environmental Planning or the Urban Development and Design
emphasis area before enrolling for the first-year Spring Quarter. In addition, students may select
an additional “option” area in Transportation Policy and Planning or Sustainable Environments.
Environmental Planning
In the Environmental Planning emphasis, students focus on the management of human impacts
on the natural environment. Students are required to take:
CRP 545 Principles of Environmental Planning (4 units), and
2 advisor approved environmental planning electives (7 units)
Urban Development & Design
In the Urban Development and Design emphasis, students focus on planning the built/physical
environment of urban places. Students are required to take:
CRP 548 Principles of Urban Development and Design (4 units), and
CRP 520 Feasibility Studies in Planning (4 units), and
1 advisor approved urban development and design elective (3 units)
Transportation Policy & Planning
In the Transportation Policy and Planning option, students specialize in the movement of people
and goods in cities and regions. Students may add the Transportation option to their program by
taking two classes:
CRP 435: Transportation Theory (3 units),
and either,
CE 523: Transportation Systems Planning (4 units), or
CE 528: Transportation Analysis (4 units).
The CE classes are offered by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and require
one quarter of calculus as a prerequisite. Students choosing the Transportation Option are asked
to focus on the transportation segment of the client oriented project for both CRP 552 and CRP
554. Also, if CRP 556 is used to satisfy the thesis or professional project requirement, it is also
asked that the student focus on the transportation segment.
Sustainable Environments
In the Sustainable Environments option, students specialize in the integration and application of
environmental, social, and economic knowledge to human and natural systems. Students may
add the Sustainable Environments option to their program by taking two classes:
EDES 406 Sustainable Environments (4 units), and
EDES 408 Implementing Sustainable Principles (3 units)
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Special Programs
Advising Track (5+1) MCRP for BLA or BArch Students
Architecture and Landscape Architecture students at Cal Poly may pursue an accelerated route to
a graduate professional degree through enrollment in MCRP courses during their fourth and fifth
year of undergraduate study and an additional year of graduate study after completion of their
undergraduate degree. Prior to beginning the MCRP courses in their last two undergraduate
years, students will request a pre-acceptance evaluation from the MCRP Graduate Program
Coordinator (must be submitted no later than the 4th year of their program). This screening
process will alert prospective MCRP students to the need for at least a 3.0 GPA in their last 90
units of work. Students who do not have a 3.0 GPA will be required to take the Graduate Record
Exam. As a pre-requisite to the program, students must have completed CRP 212 Introduction to
Urban Planning with a “C” grade or better. Students will begin the admissions process during
their last year of undergraduate study and will be subject to the standard MCRP admission
procedures and requirements. Students who complete the first year of the Advising Track (5+1)
MCRP are not guaranteed admission to the MCRP program. Please contact the Department for
additional information.
Joint MCRP/MS Engineering with Specialization in Transportation Planning
The Transportation Planning Specialization is a joint interdisciplinary program between the
College of Engineering and the City and Regional Planning Department of the College of
Architecture and Environmental Design. Participation in the program requires enrollment in both
Colleges. Participants successfully completing the program are awarded both the MCRP and the
MS in Engineering, each with a Specialization in Transportation Planning.
The major objectives of this joint program are to:
(a)
Provide an interdisciplinary graduate program which combines elements of transportation
planning with city and regional planning to address a need for professionals who understand the
technology of transportation planning and the importance of transportation within the urban
environment. The required master's project enables students to integrate their work through
directed study applied to special areas of their choosing.
(b)
Provide planners with courses essential to understanding the technologies of
transportation planning. Provide engineers with a broad background in urban studies and
knowledge of contemporary environmental issues.
(c)
Take advantage of the backgrounds of program participants. The graduate students of
both sponsoring departments include both mature professionals returning for advanced degrees
and recent graduates with diversity of specializations.
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Curriculum
Core Courses (64 units)
CE 523 Transportation System Planning (4)
CE 528 Transportation Analysis or
CE 421 Traffic Engineering (4)
CE 591 Graduate Seminar I (1)
CE 599 Design Project (Thesis) (2,2,2) or CRP 599 Thesis (2)(2)(2) or CRP 596
Professional Project (2)(2)(2) or CRP 556 Community and Regional Planning
Studio III (4)
CRP 409 Planning Internship (4)
CRP 435 Transportation Theory (3)
CRP 501 Foundations of Cities and Planning (4)
CRP 510 Planning Theory (4)
CRP 513 Planning Research Methods (4)
CRP 516 Methods of Data Analysis (4)
CRP 518 Policy Analysis for Planners (4)
CRP 525 Plan Implementation (4)
CRP 530 Planning Agency Management (3)
CRP 535 Land Use and Planning Law (4)
CRP 552 Community & Reg’l Planng Studio I (4)
CRP 554 Community & Reg’l Planng Studio II (4)
Advisor approved elective (3) or (5)
Emphasis Area (select one of the following) ( 11 units)
Urban Development and Design Emphasis
CRP 520 Feasibility Studies in Planning (4)
CRP 548 Principles of Urban Dev. and Design (4)
Urban Development and Design elective (3)
Environmental Planning Emphasis
CRP 545 Principles of Env. Planning (4)
Environmental Planning electives (7)
Approved CE/ENVE electives (15 units)
Select from: CE 421, 422, 423, 424, 500, 521,522, 525, 527, 528, 529, 573, ENVE 411,
or other advisor approved CE/ENVE courses
Total Units in Program: 90
Joint MCRP/MS Engineering Prerequisites
Applicants must have completed courses that cover the following or equivalent subject areas:
CE 221 Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering or CRP 435 Transportation Theory
COMS 101 Public Speaking
ECON 201 Survey of Economics or ECON 222 Macroeconomics
ENGL 148 Reasoning, Argumentation and Professional Writing or ENGL 149 Technical
Writing for Engineers
MATH 142 Calculus
PHYS 141 General Physics IA
STAT 321 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists or STAT 221 Intro to
Probability and Statistics or STAT 312 Statistical Methods for Engineers
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International Programs
Students pursuing the MCRP degree may choose to participate in international programs to
broaden their educational experience. The City and Regional Planning Department offers two
types of international experience: student exchange programs and field study courses.
Student Exchange Programs
The City and Regional Planning Department has exchange agreements with the following
universities:
• Centro de Diseno, Arquitectura Y Constuccion (Tegucigalpa, Honduras)
• Hochschule Fuer Technik Rapperswil (Zurich, Switzerland)
• Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (Puebla, Mexico)
• Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janiero, Brazil)
• Universidade Lusofona (Lisbon, Portugal)
Students pay Cal Poly tuition for the quarters they are abroad and are responsible for all
expenses. Skill in the appropriate language is generally necessary, but there are some exceptions
for each program. If you are interested in a student exchange, we recommend that you pursue
appropriate language training
Field Study Courses
The Department encourages global engagement through on campus courses and off-campus
experiences, and periodically offers field study courses in foreign countries. Most recently, we
have studied and applied our planning skills in Puebla, Mexico and Tegucigalpa and the Mayan
city of Copan, Honduras. Typically the class lasts for one to two weeks and is offered during one
of the quarter breaks or the summer. We usually partner with other Cal Poly College of
Architecture and Environmental Design students and faculty and with students and faculty in the
foreign community, thus creating a true multi-discipline, multi-cultural experience. The field
studies include cultural travel as well as applied learning. We anticipate classes to Puebla,
Mexico and New Zealand in the near future.
Field Research Opportunities
Working with faculty on research projects is a productive way to become globally engaged.
Students have worked on disaster recovery research projects in Central America, and
comparative sustainability research in Canada/Mexico/US. Students are encouraged to talk with
faculty about international research opportunities.
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Core Courses
Course Descriptions
MCRP Core Courses
CRP 501 Foundations of Cities and Planning (4)
Origins and evolutionary stages of settlement patterns and the use of land and natural
environment. Changing spatial structure in the development of cities and regions. Beginnings
and the historical development of the planning profession. 4 lectures.
CRP 510 Planning Theory (4)
Theory of planning. Development of contemporary planning thought from varying sources and
perspectives. Political and social context of planning. Alternative professional roles, and
planning processes. Values and ethical issues in planning. 4 seminars.
CRP 512 Introduction to Visual Communication and GIS (4)
Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool for analyzing and managing
spatial information pertinent to planning. Introduction to various drawing media and delineation
techniques for planners, including three-dimensional and visualization and graphic skills.
Integration of visual and digital media in presentations. Credit/No Credit grading only. 4
laboratories.
CRP 513 Planning Research Methods (4)
Application of research design to planning issues. Comparison of case study, comparative and
problem-solving methods. Primary and secondary data sources, including field survey
techniques. 3 seminars and supervised work. Prerequisite: STAT 221 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor.
CRP 516 Methods of Data Analysis (4)
Problem recognition, data selection, analysis and synthesis with applications of system design,
statistical techniques and symbolic modeling to urban design and regional growth and
development policies. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory.
CRP 518 Public Policy Analysis (4)
Analysis of the social, economic, environmental, political contexts of public policy decisions.
Public policy issues and use of concepts and tools related to monitoring and assessment. 4
lectures. Prerequisite: CRP 501, POLS 360 or consent of instructor.
CRP 525 Plan Implementation (4)
Theory and practice of plan implementation. Regulatory and non-regulatory frameworks for plan
implementation. Growth management, development regulation, capital improvement programs,
redevelopment. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
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CRP 530 Planning Agency Management (3)
Preparation for mid-level and higher positions in public planning agencies and private firms.
Applications of organization theory to planning agencies and firms. Work programs, staff
development, budgets, contracting, proposal preparation, conflict management. Relationships
with other agencies and firms, clients, public and media. 3 seminars. Prerequisite: CRP 501, CRP
510 or consent of instructor.
CRP 535 Land Use and Planning Law (4)
The role of law in the planning and regulation of land use. Constitutional constraints of land use
regulation. Legal and policy issues for environmental protection and public administration.
Relevant legislation and case law. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or consent of
instructor.
CRP 552 Community and Regional Planning Studio I (4)
Application of planning theory and methods to community and regional projects. Structured for
research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation practice. Interrelationships of natural and built
environments, transportation systems, and economic and social conditions at various planning
scales. Includes field trips and individual, team, and interdisciplinary approaches. 2 seminars, 2
laboratories. Prerequisite: CRP 501, CRP 525, or consent of instructor.
CRP 553 Project Planning Laboratory (4)
Project-scale planning problems. Arranging structures, circulation systems, utilities and plant
material on natural and urban sites to support human activity while minimizing disruption to
natural systems. Includes planned unit developments, waterfronts, hillsides, campuses and
commercial centers. Field trips. 4 laboratories. Prerequisite CRP 512 or consent of instructor.
CRP 554 Community and Regional Planning Studio II (4)
Application of planning theory and methods to community and regional planning projects.
Structured for research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation practice. Interrelationships of
natural and built environments, transportation systems, and economic and social conditions at
various planning scales. Includes field trips, and individual, team and inter-disciplinary
approaches. 2 seminars, 2 laboratories. Prerequisite: CRP 552.
CRP 556 Community and Regional Planning Studio III (4)
Application of planning theory and methods to community and regional planning projects.
Individual faculty-assigned laboratory work leading to the completion of a professional quality
project focused on a real-world planning task. Structured for research, analysis, synthesis and
implementation practice. 3 seminars and supervised work. Prerequisite: CRP 554, or consent of
instructor.
CRP 596 Professional Project (2-4)
Individual research under the supervision of the faculty, leading to completion of a professional
project based on a real world planning task or carefully constructed simulation. Must be taken in
all quarters requiring supervision; minimum of 6 units required for degree. Total credit limited to
8 units. Prerequisite: CRP 513, and consent of the graduate program coordinator.
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CRP 599 Thesis (2-4)
Individual research under the general supervision of the faculty, leading to a graduate thesis.
Must be taken in all quarters requiring supervision; minimum of 6 units required for degree.
Total credit limited to 8 units. Prerequisite: CRP 513, and consent of the graduate program
coordinator.
CRP 409 Planning Internship (2–4) (CR/NC)
Work experience as a supervised employee in a planning-related agency or private firm. Prior
contract specifying the product of internship required between student, agency and faculty.
Thirty hours work experience per unit of credit. Total credit limited to 4 units. Credit/No Credit
grading. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
MCRP Emphasis Area Courses
CRP 520 Feasibility Studies in Planning (4)
Fundamental analysis for assessing feasibility of public and private development projects.
Principles and techniques for analyzing markets and assessing cash flow for individual projects.
Economic, fiscal and tax impacts as factors determining public participation in private projects. 4
seminars. Prerequisite: CRP 501 or consent of instructor.
CRP 548 Principles of Urban Development and Design (4)
Introduction to the philosophy and theory particular to urban development and design.
Exploration of evaluation criteria and critical analysis of the human environment related to
physical design requirements. Spatial and form relationships, scale, human activities, concept
formation, visual organization of the city, landscaping and architecture. 4 seminars. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
CRP 545 Principles of Environmental Planning (4)
Environmental planning as a field of inquiry and action. Review and application of policies and
techniques used in environmental planning, especially within the land use planning context.
Application of California Environmental Quality Act and environmental impact assessment
methods. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
MCRP Elective Courses (Graduate and Available Undergraduate)
In addition to the courses listed below, MCRP students may take other courses in the University
subject to MCRP Program Director approval.
CRP 500 Individual Study (2–3)
Independent research, studies, or surveys of selected subjects. Total credit limited to 9 units.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing with minimum of 12 core units.
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CRP 505 Principles of Regional Planning (4)
History, development and major philosophical approaches of regions and regional planning, both
in urban-centered and resource-based regions. Effects of relaxing natural, economic and
infrastructure limiting factors on growth and development of regions. Normative hierarchical
emphasis of contemporary regional planning compared to emerging paradigms that alter the
regional/local planning relationship. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of
instructor.
CRP 402 Contemporary Urban Design in the Americas (4)
Study of contemporary urban design in North, Central and South America through the detailed
examination of major cities and country case studies. Analysis of the cultural, social and political
factors influencing the practice of urban design and its major trends in different countries. 4
lectures. Prerequisite: ENGL 134.
CRP 404 Environmental Law (3) (Also listed as FNR 404)
Analysis and critique of the law governing use and protection of natural resources with focus on
the legal institutions entrusted with the public duty of protecting the environment. 3 lectures.
Prerequisite: Senior standing, or graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
CRP 408 Water Resource Law and Policy (3) (Also listed as FNR 408)
Detailed examinations of the various legal systems of water use, regulation and management in
California and the United States. Discussion of the key concepts and principles of state, federal
and interstate water quantity and quality control; focusing on issues and problems, why conflicts
occur and how solutions evolve. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: FNR 302 or instructor approval, senior
standing or graduate standing.
CRP 427 Local Economic Development Planning (3)
Processes, skills and approaches for planning local economic development. Analysis of
theoretical principles and assumptions underlying local economic development programs.
Practical applications of alternative strategies and techniques for implementing economic
development. 3 seminars. Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of instructor.
CRP 435 Transportation Theory (3)
Circulation and transportation elements of the General Plan. Transportation planning theory,
methods and tools related to systematic analysis of city and regional transportation problems
including environmental impact assessment. Application of techniques for assessing
transportation systems, gravity models, route selections, land use models and relationship to
transportation. 3 seminars. Prerequisite: CRP 212, senior standing, or graduate standing, or
consent of instructor.
CRP 436 Collaborative Planning (4)
Focus on processes and skills of citizen participation and consensus building. Application of
mediation and negotiation techniques. Use of collaboration in forming visions of the future and
reaching agreements among multiple interests. Use of group process skills to establish effective
communication and agreements. Organizing and operating public meetings. 3 lectures, 1
laboratory. Prerequisite: CRP 212 or graduate standing or consent of instructor.
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CRP 438 Pollution Prevention and Control (4)
Interdisciplinary exploration of policy and planning associated with pollution prevention and
control, including institutional, legal, economic, political, social, and technology-related aspects.
Includes hands-on activity in small groups. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Senior standing, or graduate
standing, or consent of instructor.
CRP 442 Housing and Planning (3)
Understanding housing issues, policies and programs from a planning perspective. Analysis of
the economic underpinnings of land markets and housing markets, housing plans, finance, public
programs, affordable housing. 3 seminars. Prerequisite: Upper division standing or graduate
standing.
CRP 444 Infrastructure and Planning Management (4)
Basic infrastructure systems necessary to support urban development. Basic components of
systems and how they are planned, financed and managed. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Senior
standing.
CRP 445 Planning and Urban Ecology (4)
An introduction to urban ecology as an organizing framework for assessing environmental
problems through an applied research project studying the social and ecological function of an
urban stream. Students conduct morphological stream assessment, collect social surveys, analyze
data, and report findings. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Junior, senior or graduate
standing.
CRP 446 Development Review and Entitlement (4)
Application of zoning regulations, subdivision ordinances, design standards, building codes,
exactions, fees, and related requirements within the development review process leading to land
use entitlement. Land development is evaluated from permit application submittal to condition
compliance during the plan check, construction, and operational phases of a project. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: Upper division standing or graduate standing.
CRP 447 Design Regulations (4) (Also listed as ARCH 447)
Practical application of fundamental zoning, subdivision, design/development standards, and
building codes in the design review process, either in the form of a proposed development
project or preparation of ordinances, codes, standards, and/or guidelines to apply to a project. 4
lectures. Prerequisite: Fourth year standing, or consent of instructor.
CRP 452 Community Design Methods (4)
Introduction to community design as an interdisciplinary subject. Focus on the active
involvement of end-users in the creation and management of built environments. Principles and
techniques of participatory design and planning, including community workshops, design games,
charrettes and participatory technologies. Demonstration of participatory techniques through case
studies and application.
CRP 457 Planning Information Systems (3)
GIS applications using computer-based systems in gathering, managing and analyzing
information pertinent to planning. Development of skills in systematic data acquisition,
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processing and maintenance with applied planning problems within the convenient medium of
GIS and general information systems. 2 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Upper-division
standing and completion of a basic GIS course (FNR 318, GEOG 310, or LA 318), and consent
of instructor.
CRP 458 Community Safety and Design (4)
Emphasizes creation of resilient, sustainable cities through systematic application of planning
principles and strategies focused on mitigation of natural and human-caused hazards, risks, and
vulnerability in the design of communities, neighborhoods, buildings, and infrastructure.
Integrates insights from the design, resource management, and urban administration professions
for reducing disaster losses and improving post-disaster recovery outcomes. Hands-on problemsolving is offered through individual and joint case studies assessing local safety planning and
design practices and outcomes.
CRP 483 Special Studies in City and Regional Planning (1-12)
Study of special issues and problems through field research and other forms of investigation and
involvement in an off-campus setting. Requirements determined prior to individual project
through contractual arrangement between the student and the department. Departmental OffCampus Study Program guidelines apply. The Schedule of Classes will list topic selected.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.
EDES 406 Sustainable Environments (4)
Collaboration of interdisciplinary faculty and guest speakers/panelists. Introduction, illustration
and analysis of concepts and principles for sustainability to be used in all aspects of
environmental design. Integration and application of knowledge of human and natural systems
with environmental, social and economic concerns, from a global-to-local perspective. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: Fourth year or graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
EDES 408 Implementing Sustainable Principles (4)
A primarily project-based course, intended to aid students who wish to collaborate with the
purpose of implementing sustainability principles by developing tools, process or designs, for
community-based projects and proposals at various scales of planning, architecture and design of
the human environment to address social, environmental and economic issues. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: EDES 406 or consent of instructor.
EDES 410 Advanced Implementation of Sustainable Principles (4)
Advanced continuation of community-based projects defined and initiated in EDES 408.
Ongoing projects, individual and group, address variable scales of planning, architecture, and
environmental design, with required completion at the end of the course. 2 seminars and
supervised work. Prerequisite: EDES 408.
EDES 420 Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse in the Built Environment (4)
Historic preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation issues in the built environment. Focus on the
process and issues of preserving cultural heritage through preserving environmental artifacts
(i.e., structure and landscape). The importance of preserving historical districts, buildings and
landscapes as well as techniques for accomplishing preservation goals within the existing
regulatory environments. Total credit limited to 8 units. 2 lectures, 2 seminars.
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Graduation Requirements
The following is a summary of the most critical Cal Poly graduation requirements. Students
should examine the Graduate Programs section of the Cal Poly Catalog for additional
requirements and details of the subjects below. When questions arise on these forms or
procedures, it is the responsibility of the student to discuss them first with the Graduate Program
Coordinator (GPC). There are also forms which the CRP department is responsible for
completing.
Graduation Requirement in Writing Proficiency (GWR)
Completed by the student. Each graduate student is required to have completed the GWR by the
end of spring quarter of their first year. This requirement can be met by demonstrating to the
Writing Skills office that an appropriate writing course was taken at a California Sate University
campus, another University or at Cal Poly (see http://writingskills.calpoly.edu/gwr/) or an exam
completed and passed at Cal Poly during the first year. We recommend that the student address
the GWR during the first two quarters of the first year. No student shall be allowed to register for
second year fall classes without completion of the GWR.
Formal Study Plan (FSP)
Completed by the student and the GPC. Each graduate student shall have an FSP, approved by
the GPC (forms are available in the CRP Department office). The student should begin working
on the FSP in the second quarter of their first year in the program. After the GPC signs the FSP,
the student forwards it to the CRP Office. All students need to have a signed and filed FSP in
place before the end of spring quarter of their first year. No student shall be allowed to register
for second year fall classes without an FSP on file.
For students in the 5+1 program, the FSP shall be filed by the end of the first quarter after they
are awarded a bachelor’s degree.
The MCRP/MS Engineering Dual Degree
Completed by the student, GPC and CRP office staff. For students who wish to apply to the dual
master’s degree in transportation planning offered by the City and Regional Planning and the
Civil Engineering and Environmental Department some additional paper work is required. An
MCRP admitted student needs to apply to the CEEV for admission into their program. This is
done by completing a Change of Objective Form
(http://www.calpoly.edu/~rgp/docs/changeobjective.doc).
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Once the Change of Objective form is filled out, signed by the student and reviewed by the GPC,
turn it into the CRP office. The CRP Administrative Assistant will copy the MCRP admissions
materials, and get the CRP department head’s or GPC’s and CAED Dean’s signatures. The form
and a copy of your file will then be forwarded to CEEV.
It is recommended that this process be completed in the winter quarter of the first year of the
MCRP program. If admission is granted by spring quarter, then a single FSP with all courses
needed for the dual degree is to be completed, signed and filed in the CRP office. This is a
lengthy process, so the student needs to meet with the GPC to get all of this filed on a timely
basis.
If the MCRP student is admitted to the dual degree program after they have filed an FSP, a new
FSP for the dual degree needs to be completed, signed by the GPC and filed with the CRP office.
This shall be done the quarter they are admitted into the dual degree program. Failure to do so
can delay registration for the next quarter.
Exit Documentation
Advancement to Candidacy
Completed by CRP office and GPC. The Advancement to Candidacy form is completed by the
CRP Administrative Assistant and certifies that the GWR and FSP have been completed and are
on file. The GPC approves and signs the form. The form is then sent to the Graduate Programs
Office.
Request for Graduation Evaluation
Completed by the student. The Request for Graduation Evaluation form
(http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_records/forms/Grad_Eval.pdf) needs to be completed by the
student and filed with the Graduate Programs Office at least two quarters before graduation. An
Advancement To Candidacy form must be completed before submitting the Request for
Graduation Evaluation form. At the time of filing the Request for Graduation Evaluation form,
the student must give a copy of the form to the CRP office to place in the student’s file.
Culminating Experience
Students are required to complete a “culminating experience” which must be satisfied through
one of three options: (1) a master’s thesis, (2) a professional project, or (3) a community-based
studio (this is independent work that satisfies the university’s “exam” option).
Master’s Thesis
Students who select the Master’s Thesis option must register for CRP 599 for three quarters with
the faculty member chairing the thesis committee. The Master’s Thesis is a scholarly research
paper which thoroughly investigates the selected subject, based upon the published theoretical
and empirical literature, and which is extended further by the researcher to answer a specific
research question(s). The Master’s Thesis is driven by a research method that describes how the
student will test/answer the research question. The Master’s Thesis should conclude by relating
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the research contributions back to the relevant theory and to planning practice. The Master’s
Thesis requires detailed knowledge of a chosen sub-field (not exhaustive knowledge of the
broader field), it may be based on primary or secondary sources of data, and may (but is not
required to) result in a publishable contribution to the development of knowledge in the field.
The thesis is conducted under the direction of a three-member thesis committee. For more
information, see the MCRP Thesis & Professional Project Guidelines available from the CRP
Department or webpage.
Professional Project
Students who select the Master’s Professional Project option must register for CRP 596 for three
quarters with the faculty member chairing the project committee. The Master’s Professional
Project is an applied research effort that incorporates practice-based methods or approaches to
address a contemporary planning issue of concern to typical planning clients (e.g., cities,
developers, housing authorities, transportation agencies). The student must diagnose a problem
situation, select appropriate analytic methods, evaluate alternative approaches, and recommend
an approach or solution. It is carried out in a manner that demonstrates professional judgment
and competence. The primary product of the Master’s Professional Project is a professional
plan/report. The Master’s Professional Project must be directed to a specific client such as a city,
county, or private company, although it is not required that the client cooperate in development
of the project. The project is conducted under the direction of a three-member project committee.
For more information, see the MCRP Thesis & Professional Project Guidelines available from
the CRP Department or webpage.
CRP 556 Community and Regional Planning Studio III (4)
Students who select the Community and Regional Planning Studio III option must register for
CRP 596 in the Spring Quarter following CRP 554. This studio is an individual (rather than
group) project based on the project began in CRP 552/554. It is an application of planning theory
and methods to community and regional planning projects. Students have no choice over the
project since the instructor consults with the client and assigns work leading to the completion of
a professional quality project focused on a real-world planning task. The class is structured for
research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation practice.
MCRP students facilitate a community meeting in the City of Guadalupe.
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Internships and Employment
Students are required to complete an internship (CRP 409) as preparation for professional
practice. Faculty and staff assist in internship and job placement and the numerous alumni of Cal
Poly’s MCRP program regularly contact us looking for quality students. Students often find that
internships evolve into full-time professional positions upon graduation. For more information
on student placement and salaries, see:
http://www.careerservices.calpoly.edu/students/career_planning/gsr.htm
Recent Job & Internship Placement
Americorps
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
California Coastal Commission
Caltrans
Calthorpe Associates
Camp, Dresser, & McKee
Central Coast Salmon Enhancement.
Chispa (low cost housing)
Chevron Land Development Group
City of Anchorage (Alaska)
City of Laguna Niguel
City of Los Angeles
City of Malibu
City of Petaluma
City of Sacramento
City of San Francisco
City of San Luis Obispo
City of Sausalito
City of Sonoma
Contra Costa County
Crawford, Multari & Clark Associates
Ecology & Environment, Inc.
Form Tomorrow
Greenberg Farrow Architects
Kern Council of Governments
KTGY Group
Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo
Los Angeles County
Marin County
MIG
Monterey County
Palm Beach County
Parsons Brinkerhoff
Port of Stockton
Penfield & Smith Engineers, Inc.
PMC
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
RRM Design Group
Robert Bein Frost Consulting
San Diego County
San Mateo County
San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
Santa Barbara County
The Planning Center
U.S. Peace Corps
W-2 Transportation Engineers
Job Titles of Recent Graduates
Assistant Planner
Associate Planner
Cartographer
City Planner
Coastal Program Analyst
Code Compliance Planner
Community Development Coordinator
Development Specialist
Environmental Management Consultant
Environmental Planner
GIS Analyst
Land Use Coordinator
Planner/Environmental Analyst
Redevelopment Planner
Regional Planner
Research Specialist
Resource Protection Specialist I
Transportation Planner
Transportation Systems Analyst
Urban Planner/Designer
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Internship Requirements
All MCRP students are required to take an internship. The main objective is for the student to
have an actual professional experience prior to graduation. Other benefits include using the
experience to get a permanent job, and to learn what this type of planning setting has to offer.
Guidelines for the Internship are posted on the CRP website, and these should be consulted and
followed. The internship has two parts: field placement and seminar. Sometimes students take
more than one internship as this broadens their experience and strengthens the personal resume.
The field placement is with a public planning agency, a private planning consulting firm, a
design/development firm, or a non-profit that is engaged in community development or housing
development activities. The placement can occur during school time, but is normally done after
the first year of classes. International placements are also allowed. If placed during the summer,
the student then enrolls in the seminar course (CRP 409) in the fall or winter quarters of the
upcoming academic year. The student can also take the seminar course at the same time as a
placement, during the normal school year. MCRP students must take the seminar for 4 credits.
The purpose of the seminar is to strengthen the students understanding of professional practice
and also to learn and share with other students what their experience was like, and what was
learned.
Finding a placement is always the first question asked by students. The key strategies are
networking and referral, followed by web-site announcements (many times forwarded by the
department). Starting early is also part of a successful strategy. The student should begin
thinking about an internship in January of the first academic year. Each February the department
sends out a call for internships to a list of agencies and firms across the state. The responses to
this call are emailed to students and posted outside the department offices. All local city planning
agencies in San Luis Obispo and the country provide internships. The department office also
keeps an internship “Black Book” of previous placements. This is a good placement search
beginning point, and should be examined early in the search process. While most internships are
paid, the department does not require a paid internship. CRP has a faculty field placement
coordinator that will talk with students about their needs.
CRP and L.Arch students on field study in Puebla, Mexico.
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Faculty and Staff
Faculty
Michael R. Boswell; Associate Professor; BA Political Science (1989), University of Central
Florida; MSP (1991) and Ph.D. (2000) Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University.
Member APA & AICP. Environmental and natural resources planning, sustainable development,
planning theory, natural hazards policy, and public participation in planning.
Dr. Boswell joined the City and Regional Planning Department in 1998. He teaches classes in
environmental planning, environmental impact assessment, mediation and public participation,
policy analysis, and planning theory. In addition, he is the Master of City & Regional Planning
program coordinator. His doctoral dissertation examined the integration of sustainable
development and ecosystem management principles into the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan, generally considered the world’s largest restoration project. Dr. Boswell
worked as a professional planner for the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, and Brevard County, Florida. He worked primarily on
issues of local land use and environmental protection.
Recently, Dr. Boswell served a five-year term on the City of San Luis Obispo Planning
commission, including one-year as Chair. While on the Commission, Dr. Boswell contributed to
review of two of the city’s largest commercial development projects and a complete overhaul of
the Housing Element which won a statewide award. In addition, Dr. Boswell, while chair,
successfully shepherded the Conservation & Open Space Element through a highly contentious
public review process. Dr. Boswell’s most recent research has been examining the effectiveness
of a nation-wide Clean Water Act program (NPDES Phase II) aimed at addressing non-point
source pollution. Along with a colleague, Dr. Boswell has completed two studies which show the
flaws in the implementation of the program and suggests changes to increase the effectiveness of
the program. Currently, Dr. Boswell is a co-director of a project to update the State of
California’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and is writing a book on climate action planning.
Chris W. Clark; Lecturer, BA (1976), MA (1977), University of Oregon; JD, Franklin Pierce
Law Center (1982). Member APA and AICP. Land use, environmental, planning, growth
management and land use and water law.
Mr. Clark has been teaching classes in environmental, planning, and water law through the CRP
Department since 1992. Mr. Clark is a principal of the San Luis Obispo-based planning conulting
firm, Crawford Multari and Clark. Prior to this Mr. Clark worked for ten years with FugroMcClelland, an international environmental consulting firm. He has extensive experience in land
use regulation and environmental and community planning, and is licensed to practice law in
California, Massachusetts, and the Federal District Court system. Mr. Clark recently co-authored
a chapter entitled “Environmental Science for Lawyers” published in Massachusetts
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Environmental Law. He has directed the preparation of the environmental components for
several university master plans. He has taught at the University of Barcelona.
W. David Conn; Professor; Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Undergraduate Education;
BA (1968), M.A. Worcester College, Oxford University (1972); D.Phil., Linacre College,
Oxford University (1973). Environmental policy and planning.
Dr. Conn taught and conducted research in environmental policy and planning at UCLA and
Virginia Tech before joining Cal Poly in January 1999. With more than thirty years of
experience focused primarily in the fields of pollution prevention and pollution control, he has
served as a consultant to federal, state, and local agencies, and has published widely in such
journals as the Journal of the American Planning Association, Resources Policy, Journal of
Environmental Systems, The Environmental Professional, Journal of Resource Management and
Technology, Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, Policy Studies Journal, and Risk Analysis.
He currently chairs the Doctoral Committee of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
(ACSP) and co-chairs the Planning Education Track for the 2003 ACSP-AESOP International
Joint Congress in Belgium. As a Vice Provost at Cal Poly, he has broad responsibility for
curricular development and review, and for promoting student academic success.
Hemalata C. Dandekar; Professor; Department Head; B.Arch., University of Bombay;
M.Arch., University of Michigan; Ph.D., Urban & Regional Planning, UCLA. Member APA.
International planning, gender and planning, rural planning, housing, urban design, sociology of
planning, and planning methods.
Dr. Dandekar joined Cal Poly CRP as Department Head in 2009. Prior to this she was professor
of planning at Arizona State University where she served as director of the School of Planning
from 2002-2007. Before ASU, Dr. Dandekar was professor of planning at the University of
Michigan in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and held senior posts at
the university including Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Center for
South and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Dandekar is the author of six books and numerous book chapters, including the popular
Planner’s Use of Information. She has recently worked on planning along the U.S. Mexico
border and on rural community development and family farms and farm buildings. Dr. Dandekar
is a licensed architect in California.
Vicente del Rio; Professor; architect and urbanist (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1978),
graduate degree in urban and regional planning (State University of Rio de Janeiro, 1979),
Master in Urban Design (Oxford Polytechnic, 1981), Doctor in Architecture and Urbanism (State
University of São Paulo, 1991), post-doctorate at the University of Cincinnati (1992/3). Urban
design, sustainable urbanism, environment-behavior studies, participatory design, revitalization,
housing, and international development.
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Before joining CRP in September 2001, Dr. del Rio was professor of architecture and urbanism
at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil since 1979, where he was vice-director and
graduate coordinator. He was Senior International Fellow at the Center for Metropolitan
Planning, Johns Hopkins University (1984), and Visiting Scholar at the Center for Urban Design,
University of Cincinnati (1992/3). He has guest-lectured on several occasions in the United
States, England, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. He is a visiting professor at the graduate
program in urbanism, Universidade Lusofona, Lisbon, Portugal.
Dr. del Rio worked at the state agency for metropolitan planning and at the municipal department
for urbanism in Rio de Janeiro. As a private consultant he coordinated several urban design and
new communities projects in Brazil. In 1984, as visiting urban designer at the City of Baltimore,
he was responsible for the urban design project for Fells Point waterfront. In San Luis Obispo, he
has been an allied professional at R2L Architects and Parallel Studio. He has published more
than fifty titles in Brazil and abroad, in professional and peer-reviewed journals and conference
proceedings. In Brazil he authored and edited five books - including the best seller "Introduction
to Urban Design in the Planning Process" - and the proceedings of an international seminar on
psychology and the design of the built-environment. In the US he co-edited and co-authored the
book "Contemporary Urbanism in Brazil: Beyond Brasilia" (University Press of Florida, 2008).
Adrienne Greve; Assistant Professor; BA, Cornell University (1996), MS Bioresource
Engineering, Colorado State University (1999), Ph.D. in Urban Design and Planning & Urban
Ecology, University of Washington (2006). Environmental planning, urban ecology, research
methods, and sustainability.
Before focusing on planning, Adrienne worked for three years as a Surface-Water Hydrologist
with the US Geological Survey in Denver, CO. She was part of the National Water Quality
Assessment Program, Upper Colorado River and South Platte River Study Unit teams. Adrienne
received a Masters of Science degree in Bioresource Engineering from Colorado State University
in Fort Collins, CO and a Bachelors of Science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in
Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Adrienne Greve is currently an Assistant Professor in the City and Regional Planning
Department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She joined the
faculty in the fall of 2006 and currently teaches courses in environmental planning, research
methods, and sustainability. Her research focuses on sustainable city design, planning for climate
change, low impact development, and urban stream function.
Prior to arriving in San Luis Obispo, she completed her doctoral work at the University of
Washington in Seattle as part of the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Urban Design and
Planning and the Urban Ecology Program. Her doctoral work was funded by the National
Science Foundation, Integrated Graduate Education and Research Training Fellowship. While in
Seattle, Adrienne also worked for the Seattle Public Utilities as part of the Sustainability and
Watersheds Group.
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Zeljka Pavlovich Howard; Lecturer, Diploma Engineer Architect, University of Belgrade,
Yugoslavia (1964); M. Sc. Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University (1972).
Member APA. Community planning, urban design, history of urbanization, graphic
communication.
Mrs. Howard joined the City and Regional Planning Department faculty as a full-time lecturer in
1986 after 15 years of working as a planner and architect in both public and private sectors. She
teaches courses in community planning, urban design, the history of urban form, and the
fundamentals of planning, design, and graphic communication. Mrs. Howard also teaches
interdisciplinary courses in planning and urban design and has taught courses in site analysis and
design in the Landscape Architecture Department. She serves as Chairman of the Scholarships
and Awards Committee of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design as well as the
City and Regional Planning Department.
Mrs. Howard’s professional experience includes comprehensive and community planning,
strategic planning, downtown design, waterfront development, land use planning, housing need
analysis, urban design and site development studies, general plan implementation, urban design
guidelines, and community involvement programming. Mrs. Howard has guest-lectured at the
University of Belgrade and in several cities in Yugoslavia and Bosnia. Several student projects
developed under her leadership received awards from the American Planning Association as well
as a national award from the American Institute of Certified Planners for the “best student
project”. Her teaching and research interests include cooperative approach to community
planning and design, changes in the urban centers of the countries in transition, and the effect of
globalization on the form and function of cities. Mrs. Howard is a member of the City of San
Luis Obispo’s Architectural Review Commission.
Kelly Main; Assistant Professor. BA Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara
(1972); M.A. Economics, Brown University (1983); Ph.D., University of California, Los
Angeles (2007). Member APA and AICP. Community planning, public space, and cultural
aspects of planning.
Dr. Main recently completed her Ph.D. in urban planning from the University of California, Los
Angeles and joined the City & Regional Planning Department in 2007. Prior to this, she was a
public planner in Southern California for more than fifteen years. She recently published
“Playing Out Democracy in MacArthur Park: Spatial Struggles in the Everyday Use of Public
Space” in Progressive Planning. Dr. Main studies the use of public space in the U.S. and
Mexico.
Cornelius Nuworsoo; Assistant Professor; BS (1981), MS (1986), MCP (2002), Ph.D.,
Transportation Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (2004). Member ITE, APA and
AICP. Population, housing and economic studies, transportation and land use, transportation
theory, geographic information systems applications in planning, methods of planning data
analysis, and community planning studios (I&II).
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Cal Poly MCRP Student Handbook
Dr. Nuworsoo joined the City and Regional Planning Department in 2005 as an assistant
professor. He came to Cal Poly from the University of California Transportation Center, in
Berkeley. Adding to Dr. Nuworsoo’s extensive experience includes working for De Lapide &
Associates, Inc., in Baltimore MD as a principal transportation engineer & planner (1999-2004);
Institute of Transportation Studios, in Berkeley, CA, as a research assistant (1999-2003);
Whitman Requard & Associates, in Baltimore MD, as a senior transportation planner (19921996); Baltimore Metro Council, in Baltimore MD, as a senior planner (1992-1996); and finally,
the A/E Group Consulting Engineers, in Owings Mills, MD, as a transportation planner / traffic
engineer (1988-1992).
Finally, Dr. Nuworsoo has about twenty years of experience in the practice, research and
teaching within the field of Transportation Engineering and Urban/Regional Planning. Areas of
extensive experience and expertise include development of transportation master plans; urban
traffic impact and congestion management studies; safety and multi-modal corridor studies;
public transportation studies; and travel demand forecasting by manual methods or simulation
models.
William J. Siembieda; Professor and Department Head; BA (1965) and MCRP (1967),
University of California-Berkeley; MPA, California State University-San Diego (1970); Ph.D.,
University of California, Los Angeles (1990). Member AICP, APA and ULI. Land use planning
feasibility and international planning, housing and land use policy in Latin America and disaster
mitigation planning.
Dr. Siembieda joined the City and Regional Planning Department in 1997 as tenured professor
and Department Head. He came to Cal Poly from the University of New Mexico where he was
Professor of Planning and Director of the Center for Research and Development in the School of
Architecture and Planning. He has held regular academic posts at the University of California,
San Diego and Tuskegee Institute, Alabama; and Visiting Professorships at MIT and the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Siembieda is an internationally experienced land use
planner and a nationally recognized planning educator. He understands the land development
process from the public and private viewpoints and has special expertise in designing solutions to
complex planning problems. His professional experience includes planning studies for cities and
towns in the American Southwest, large-scale land planning in California, Texas and New
Mexico; and master planning in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Dr. Siembieda is an editorial
Board Member of the Journal of the American Planning Association, the Journal of Planning
Education and Research, and the Carta Economica Regional, Guadalajara, Mexico.
He has published his research findings in the Journal of Planning Education and Research,
Planning Magazine, Urban Law and Policy, and the Journal of Architectural Research. He is on
the Editorial Board for the HUD supported journal Cityscape, and is a member of the Advisory
Board for the Edward Blakeley Center for Sustainable Suburban Development, University of
California-Riverside.
His research and applied work in disaster mitigation and preparedness planning includes the
State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Plan for Metropolitan Caracas, Venezuela,
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the Amarteca Valley in Honduras, a study of community disaster recovery in four Central and
Latin American countries, and comparative studies of US and Japanese disaster and recovery
practices.
Umut Toker; Assistant Professor, BArch (1996), M Urban Design (1999), Ph.D., North
Carolina State University, Raleigh (2003). Participatory planning and design methods, urban
design studios and computer applications
Umut joined Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Department in 2005. His educational
background covers a master's degree in urban design and a bachelor of architecture degree,
which were followed by his PhD at NC State University, and post-doctoral studies at Imperial
College London. His areas of interest cover environment-behavior studies, participatory methods
in planning and design, urban design, research methods, and computer applications.
He has been involved in several participatory planning and design projects with multidisciplinary
teams, such as the Concept Plans for Downtown Delano, CA and Traver, CA; Revitalization
Studies of Downtown Mebane, NC; Sandhills Community Center Project in Spring Lake, NC;
and Laguna Child and Family Education Center Project in Laguna, NM.
In summer 2007, he completed the 3D Digital Model of City of San Luis Obispo, a tool that will
create potential for enhanced community input for municipal urban design decisions. His
teaching experience includes participatory planning and design methods, urban design studios
and computer applications. Umut’s research experience covers projects on the relationships
between human behavior and the built environment in various settings, including R&D
environments such as technology parks, university campus environments, urban plazas and
streets.
Paul Wack; Associate Professor, BA (1969), MA (1974), California State University,
Northridge; MPA, University of Southern California (1976). Member AEP, APA, and AICP.
General plan implementation, coastal planning, regional planning, environmental assessment,
politics and planning, global environmental issues, sustainability, zoning.
Mr. Wack has nearly 25 years of teaching experience with the City and Regional Planning
Department at Cal Poly and the Environmental Studies Program at the University of California,
Santa Barbara (UCSB). He also has over 30 years of professional practice in both the private and
public planning sectors. Mr. Wack’s experience includes: county planning, administration,
consulting, education, and community service as a planning commissioner. Mr. Wack has
received the California Chapter American Planning Association Donald G. Hagman Meritorious
Award and UCSB Mortar Board Professor of the Year and UCSB Alumni Association
Outstanding Teacher awards for his teaching. His consulting firm of Jacobson and Wack
prepared the San Bernardino City Development Code which won a California Chapter and
national American Planning Association Outstanding Planning Award. At Cal Poly Mr. Wack’s
current research interests include sustainable communities, international green planning,
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Cal Poly MCRP Student Handbook
agricultural land preservation, and innovative zoning applications.
Lecturers
Bob Hill; BA Politics, UC Santa Cruz (1998); MCRP, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2004). Public
policy analysis.
Mr. Hill has been teaching Public policy analysis through the City and Regional Planning
Department since 2006. Prior to joining The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County in
2001 (first as a planning associate, then as the Conservation Director since 2004), Mr. Hill
worked as a real estate loan specialist for Coast Commercial Bank. He has extensive experience
in land conservation, natural resource planning, public policy, and regional settlement patterns.
His personal interests include: hiking, hiking, backpacking, climbing, skiing, canoeing, live
music, and good food.
Michael Jencks; B.A. (1969), Williams College; J.D., University of California at Berkeley,
(Boalt Hall), 1972. Municipal, environmental, and water law.
Mr. Jencks has been teaching at Cal Poly since 1997, and has been teaching environmental law
through the City and Regional Planning Department and the Natural Resources Management
Department since 2000. Mr. Jencks is a principal and founding member of Municipal Advocates
Group, which provides legal counsel to cities and public entities throughout the State of
California on a wide range of municipal, planning and environmental issues, as well as serving
as city attorney for a number of cities, including King City, Solvang and Pacific Grove.
Following a federal judicial clerkship with the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California, Mr. Jencks embarked on a career which has blended representation of
public entities with teaching, writing, and trial and appellate practice. Mr. Jencks served as the
articles editor and a founding member of the Ecology Law Quarterly, and as special counsel to
the California Energy Commission.
Mr. Jencks has served in a variety of public positions, including as a member of a county board
of supervisors, a county housing authority, a regional air quality control board, and a regional
council of governments. Mr. Jencks has been counsel in a number of reported decisions,
including Kokkonen v. Guardian Life, 511 US 375 (1994); ILWU et al. v. San Bernardino
County Board of Supervisors 116 Cal.App3d 265 (1981), and State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission v. Pacific Gas & Electric, 659 F.2d 903 (1981). Mr.
Jencks is a member of the State Bar of California, of the Ninth and Sixth Federal Circuit Courts
of Appeal, and of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Recent publications which
Mr. Jencks has authored or co-authored have appeared in 88 Kentucky Law Journal 183 (2000),
Tort Source, a publication of the tort insurance practice section of the American Bar Association
(Fall 1999), Legal Assistant Today, and the Denning Law Journal (2000).
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Doreen Liberto Blank;.BA (1978) University of California, Riverside; Master in Dispute
Resolution (2003) Pepperdine University Law School. Member APA and AICP. Land use
planning, small town planning and annexation, environmental analysis, specific plans,
facilitation, mediation, arbitration., growth management.
Ms. Liberto Blank has been teaching part-time for over five years, mainly in the area of
collaborative planning and mediation/negotiation. She also has taught community planning
studios, and has been on the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission. She is principal of
Earth Design Inc., a private consulting firm that works with small towns in the areas of
environmental planning and community development. Prior to starting her firm Ms. LibertoBlank was Community Development Director for the City of Arroyo Grande.
Kenneth Topping, FAICP; BA, Sociology (1956) University of Redlands; MS Public
Administration (1972) California State University, Los Angeles. Member APA and AICP. City,
county and regional planning, infrastructure development, international city development,
disaster management, geographic information system (GIS).
Mr. Topping is a lecturer in the department and he is also president of Topping Associates
International, a city planning firm. Mr. Topping is former director of city planning for the City of
Los Angeles (1986-1990). Mr. Topping is internationally recognized for his leadership in
integrating disaster mitigation and recovery into city planning. Mr. Topping has written
extensively about disaster mitigation and recovery. His is co-author with James Schwab and
others of Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction, PAS Report 483/484,
published by FEMA and the American Planning Association (APA), December 1998. Mr.
Topping has been directly involved with mitigation and recovery issues emerging following
Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. He recently served as Project Director for the 2007 update of
the California State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Lisa Wise; MCRP, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2001). MSA,
DePaul University, Chicago, IL (1990); BBA, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (1987).
Member APA and AEP. Urban and fiscal planning.
Ms. Wise began teaching classes on a part-time basis during the 2001-2002 academic year. She
is founder and principal of Lisa Wise Consulting, which specializes in assisting public agencies
with land-use planning and related policy issues. Prior to this she was with the firm of Crawford,
Multari & Clark. While attending graduate classes at Cal Poly, Ms. Wise worked for the County
of San Luis Obispo in the Housing and Economic Development Division and the California
Governor's Office of Planning and Research. From 1990 to 1999, she worked in Chicago and
New York at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP, an international firm providing financial services
and management consulting.
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Staff
Kathy Lehmkuhl, Administrative Support Coordinator. San Jose State University, BA
Mathematics with Physics minor. Kathy came to CRP with 25 years experience as an Industrial
Engineer in pet food, medical products and defense electronics manufacturing. She has been
employed at Cal Poly since 2001 and with the CRP department since 2004. She is responsible for
the administrative support of the department, dissemination of technical and procedural
information, along with management of the department office and various projects. She also
assists the department head with personnel, budget and class scheduling analyses.
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Other Information
Student and Professional Organizations
Students are encouraged to join two organizations when they enter the program. The Associated
Students in Planning (ASP) is the CRP Department’s official student organization. ASP is
governed and administered by students and engages in community service, professional
development, and social activities. The American Planning Association (APA) is a non-profit
public interest and research organization representing 30,000 practicing planners, officials, and
citizens involved with urban and rural planning issues. Students are eligible for substantially
reduced APA dues and receive Planning magazine (see:
http://www.planning.org/audiences/students/). Students are also encouraged to get involved with
the Central Coast Section of the APA California Chapter. These meetings are held regionally and
are a great way to meet other planners and to network for internships and jobs.
Support for National Conference Attendance
The department encourages all MCRP students to attend meetings sponsored by professional
planning organizations. This is a great opportunity to meet people in practice, to network and to
learn from the many presentations, panels and local events. To find out what the program for the
year includes go to the APA web site: http://www.planning.org.
To support this activity the department, uses its College Based Fee (CBF) funds offer each
MCRP student the opportunity to attend one (1) national meeting of the American Planning
Association (APA). These meetings are normally held in the spring, and alternate between the
east coast, mid-west and west coast. Each student is eligible once for the student registration fee,
½ of a hotel room (for 4 people) for up to five nights; and ½ the air fare (or mileage). These
amounts vary per year and are be established by the department in the winter quarter. This is a
voluntary activity and the student is not obligated to attend the APA meeting.
In order to take advantage of this support the student needs to enroll in one unit of CRP 400 APA
Conference Study course for the spring, attend a minimum number of hours of the conference,
write up a conference report, and present this report to other students and the instructor for the
CRP 400 course. First year MCRP students should talk with the second year students to gain a
better understanding of the benefits of participation, as well as the process to participate and get
costs reimbursed.
There also is a state meeting of the APA California chapter each year that generally occurs in the
fall. The department encourages attending this meeting and provides a limited number of student
registrations fellowships to attend.
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Competitions
Each year MCRP students have the opportunity to enter competitions. The Bank of American
Low Cost Housing Challenges begins in the winter quarter and ends in early May. This is an
opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary team to locate, design, design and develop and
affordable housing project. It is a wonderful learn-by-doing experience. There is a faculty coach
for this project. Check with CRP Graduate Program Coordinator for information on whom to
contact. Also, the Gerald Hines Urban Development Competition occurs each fall.
Interdisciplinary students teams (MCRP, Architecture and MBA students) work on a site design
project somewhere in the US. Vicente del Rio is the faculty coach for this competition.
E-mail & My Cal Poly Portal
Students automatically receive two accounts at Cal Poly: (1) an email account; and, (2) a Central
UNIX account for a personal Web page. The CRP Department requires students to regularly
access their Cal Poly email account or set the Cal Poly email account to forward to the account
they regularly access (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, etc.).
My Cal Poly (https://my.calpoly.edu/) is a web portal that features information and services in a
format that you can personalize. It is your main access for:
• My Course Info Class Registration
• Blackboard Web-Based Courses
• Single Click Access to many widely used campus applications and computing services
such as email and calendar.
• Campus Announcements & Events
• College, Department, and Club Information
Style Manual
The CRP Department requires that all assignments follow the APA style for manuscript
preparation, editing, and citation. The APA style is documented in (available in El Corral
Bookstore):
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Cal Poly MCRP Student Handbook
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Admissions
The following information concerns admission procedures for the Master of City and Regional
Planning degree program.
Admission Deadlines
Fall Quarter Admission
On-line application deadline:
Receipt of all other documents by:
FEBRUARY 1
MARCH 1
Winter Quarter Admission
On-line application deadline:
Receipt of all other documents by:
NOVEMBER 1
DECEMBER 1
Spring & Summer Quarter Admission
No Admissions
Fall Quarter admission is preferred by the Department. We have limited admission for Winter
Quarter, which is usually restricted to students transferring from other accredited planning
programs or students who have prior planning experience. There is no admission for Spring or
Summer Quarters.
Admission Materials
Cal Poly Admissions requires the following:
(see http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/grad/index.html)
1. Complete an on-line CSU graduate application with application fee.
Æ http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/grad_apply.asp
2. Once you have submitted your on-line application, have ALL the colleges and universities
that you have attended send Cal Poly Admissions one official copy of your transcripts,
certifications or degrees received.
Æ http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/grad/transcripts.html
3. If you are an international student, there are additional requirements and deadlines. Please
see:
Æ http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/international/index.html
In addition to the Cal Poly requirements, City and Regional Planning requires these items be sent
directly to the City and Regional Planning Department (Attn: MCRP Program Assistant):
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1. Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE scores are required only in cases of borderline
grade point average—generally below 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate work);
2. Three letters of reference reflecting your motivation, maturity, and academic performance
(any letter format acceptable);
3. A paper, project, or other writing sample;
4. A brief statement of purpose (300-500 words) addressing your understanding of, and areas of
interest in city and regional planning, from the perspective of your career and educational
objectives;
5. A résumé;
6. Indication of how you will satisfy (or have satisfied) the prerequisite listed below.
Admission Criteria
Applicants for admission to the Master of City and Regional Planning Program are expected to:
1. Have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college (no specific degree
is required);
2. Demonstrate academic excellence by earning at least a 3.0 (out of 4.0) grade point average in
the last 90 quarter (60 semester) units of undergraduate work, and in cases of borderline
grade point average, by earning quality scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
3. Show evidence of motivation, maturity, work ethic, academic excellence, and intellectual
ability through references, work experience, and other life experiences;
4. Demonstrate a cogent and concise writing ability; and
5. Demonstrate your understanding of, and areas of interest in city and regional planning, from
the perspective of your career and educational objectives, through the statement of purpose.
Applicants lacking prerequisites or other background requirements for classified standing may be
admitted on a conditionally classified basis, depending on the results of an individual analysis of
their application.
Prerequisites
Students entering the MCRP Program are required to bring with them a background in computers
and computer applications equivalent to the Cal Poly course CSC 110 Computers and Computer
Applications. This includes knowledge of Microsoft Windows, word processing, and
spreadsheets.
In addition, it is strongly recommended that you read William Fulton’s Guide to California
Planning, 2nd ed. (Solano Press Books 1999) prior to matriculation.
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Departmental Financial Aid
Students who wish to be considered for financial aid administered by the CRP Department must
complete an Application for Departmental Financial Aid available from the CRP Department.
Department aid is usually in the form of Graduate Assistantships (GAs) that require either
research or teaching assistance to faculty in the department. Departmental financial aid is
awarded on the basis of academic credentials and demonstrated need.
Contacts
For Cal Poly admissions information (primarily for on-line application and transcripts), contact
the Admissions Office at:
Phone:
805.756.2311
Email:
admissions@calpoly.edu
Web:
http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/index.html
For federal and state financial aid information, contact the Financial Aid Office at:
Phone:
805.756.2927
Fax:
805.756.7243
Email:
financialaid@calpoly.edu
Web:
http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_finaid/
For MCRP-specific admissions information, contact the City & Regional Planning Department
at:
Phone:
805.756.1315
Email:
crp@calpoly.edu
Web:
http://planning.calpoly.edu/masters/index.html
MCRP students from the classes of ’08, ’09, & ‘10.
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