Resources for Current URS Students
Resources for Current Master’s Students
Curriculum
Policies for Conference Funding
CRP has limited travel funds to support students for conference travel. To receive funding students must provide proof of a paper abstract or poster that has been accepted for the conference. We will prioritize requests for conference funding as follows:
- Conferences that are key to our field: ACSP; UAA; AAG; Upstate or National APA
- $250 is given for in-state (NY) conferences, $500 is given for out of state/international conferences.
Ph.D. and HPP students should apply for conference funding from the Graduate School via the Conference Grant – Application Form (Online) before applying for CRP conference funding.
Exit Project Guidelines
M.R.P. exit projects can be research papers, professional reports, or with an advisor’s approval, a master’s thesis.
Research papers (CRP 8901 and 8902) are generally not more than 40 pages in length, plus notes and bibliography, and constitute the written product resulting from the student’s independent research effort. A research paper may expand significantly on research previously initiated by the student in a particular class or be new independent work.
In a professional report (CRP 8901 and 8904) students work to solve a practical, real-world planning problem. Under most circumstances, the professional report will take the form of a report, study, or other document prepared for a client (e.g., a municipality, a community organization, a research firm, a consulting firm, or a developer, or a federal, state, international, or nongovernmental agency). Under special circumstances, the professional report may have a hypothetical client or be aimed more generally at the public, representing the student’s creative solution to an important planning problem. The professional report may include but must extend beyond work a student does for a client during a summer internship or during a fieldwork class.
A student may earn 4–10 credits for the professional report (including research and writing credits), with the actual number of credits determined by the student’s graduate committee.
Master’s theses are generally 75–125 pages in length, plus notes and bibliography. A master’s thesis constitutes the written product resulting from the student’s independent research effort. A student may earn between 6 and 10 credits for the master’s thesis (including both the research and writing credits), with the actual number of credits to be determined by the student’s graduate committee. The thesis should make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of planning and demonstrate the student’s familiarity with the literature and current debates in the field.
Students must use the Add/Drop form to enroll in Exit Project research and Exit Project writing credits. When using the Add/Drop form, you will need to indicate your course number, as well as your desired number of credits. Your course number will be dependent upon your primary exit project advisor and your exit project format (research paper, professional report, or thesis). Your desired number of credits should be decided during a conversation with your primary exit project advisor. This number will depend on the format of your paper, as well as the anticipated amount of work necessary to complete your exit project.
Defense Procedure
Final examinations to defend exit projects are scheduled at the discretion of the committee, based on the project’s level of completion. The defense is a discussion between the student and the special committee about the student’s project. At least one week (7 days minimum) prior to the defense date, complete a Schedule of Examination Request form (visit the Academic Forms page to fill out). Submit the form to the academic programs coordinator with all required signatures.
Publishing on eCommons
Publishing your exit project is done through Cornell Library’s eCommons. This is a digital archiving space that is a permanent online repository for academic work of students and faculty. Documents uploaded to eCommons are searchable through the university catalog and Google Scholar and can be accessed by anyone, including those not affiliated with Cornell. Any format is allowed, but for archival purposes, PDF is highly recommended.
To view previously submitted exit projects and other student work see CRP collection on eCommons.
How to submit to eCommons
Competitive Funding Opportunities
Research Awards
Each spring, the Department of City and Regional Planning grants research awards to students in the various programs within the department. These awards will fund research and exit project work.
Stein Awards
The department also awards smaller research grants to encourage student research in the fields of urbanism, historic preservation, landscape architecture, land use, urban design, regional planning, residential development, and more. These research grants continue Clarence Stein’s legacy by furthering his work on the built environment.
CRP Professional Development Opportunity Program
All first-year Master’s of Regional Planning and Master’s of Historic Preservation Planning students are eligible to receive a stipend for securing a summer internship, project, or opportunity related to their career goals.
AAP Career Development works with the cohort throughout the academic year to set goals and activate networking and search strategies. Learn more information about the program.
Resources for Current Ph.D. Students
Ph.D. Field Handbook
Refer to these guidelines for CRP Ph.D. students and their advisors.
Competitive Funding Opportunities
Research Awards
Each spring, the Department of City and Regional Planning grants research awards to students in the various programs within the department. These awards will fund research and exit project work.
Stein Awards
The department also awards smaller research grants to encourage student research in the fields of urbanism, historic preservation, landscape architecture, land use, urban design, regional planning, residential development, and more. These research grants continue Clarence Stein’s legacy by furthering his work on the built environment.