Admission
Admission to CRP and to the Joint Program may be arranged subsequent to undertaking the Law School program. For students in the Joint Program, Law School Aptitude Test Data will be acceptable for admission to the CRP department in place of the Graduate Record Examinations.
Students enrolled in the Joint Program will normally study during the first year of the program in the Law School. Starting in the second year of their Law School program, Joint Program students in good standing will take courses in the Law School in order to complete a minimum of four Law School electives related to the Joint Program (see below) and take one course during each of their remaining four Law school semesters in the Department of City and Regional Planning. Following completion of their third year in the Law School (and their J.D. requirements), Joint Program students will spend the fourth year of the program in CRP.
While most students in the Joint Program follow the sequence outlined above, it is possible for students to study in CRP before completing the J.D. requirements and complete the J.D. requirements later.
Degrees
Two separate degrees are awarded upon completion of all requirements: Master of Regional Planning (M.R.P.) and Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Course Requirements
Course requirements for the Joint Program are determined by a committee consisting of faculty members from the Law School and from CRP.
Joint Program students must complete the requirements for a J.D. degree as established by the Law School. A minimum of four Law School electives relevant to the study of planning must be completed for the Joint Program. Examples of the types of Law School subjects that will be acceptable for credit in the Joint Program include: Economics for the Lawyer, Environmental Law, Land Financing, Land Use Planning, Local Government, Water Law, Welfare Law, Legislation, Urban Development, and Energy Regulation.
Joint Program students will be required to complete the M.R.P. core requirements. These requirements may be varied for individual Joint Program students with the approval of the faculty committee (by petition). In order to obtain the M.R.P. degree, Joint Program students may take a wide selection of courses throughout the Department and the entire University beyond the core. These courses require consent of the Special Committee. Joint Program students will be expected to take courses for the M.R.P. degree in a variety of areas that will expand their knowledge and skill in utilizing planning concepts and tools.
Credit Hour Requirement
In order to satisfy the M.R.P. degree requirements, Joint Program students must complete 60 credit hours of coursework, including Law School electives acceptable for credit in the Joint Program and at least 30 credit hours in the Department of City and Regional Planning, and two registration units in the department.
