About

Are you a professional planner looking to move up in your career? Are you seeking a new career through which you can impact your community and society? Are you interested in the convenience of an online degree? If your answer is yes to any of these, then the Master of Science in planning and development is for you. Professionals in the planning field are in high demand and can enter the profession from a variety of backgrounds.

This 30-hour, fully online degree program has been designed to serve the needs of working professionals. Students can attend full or part time and have the flexibility to take courses in any order, provided that prerequisites are met. The DE format means that you can select the course load that best fits your circumstances.

ECU Advantage

ECU's community and regional planning program has a long history with strong alumni support. With a mix of academic and credentialed professional instructors, the Master of Science in planning and development degree offers students a balanced education between theory and practice that enhances success in their professional careers. Graduates gain a wide range of professional skills and develop knowledge in planning and development. The department actively collaborates with eastern North Carolina communities on internships, service-learning opportunities, community outreach projects and engaged research. The MS in planning and development provides opportunities for both students and local communities, contributing to regional transformation in eastern North Carolina.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Anuradha Mukherji (211-A Brewster Building; 252-328-5357; mukherjia@ecu.edu)

The Planning and Development, MS offers students both the theoretical background and practical skills and experience applicable to the planning profession at all levels of public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

There are three concentrations in the degree from which students can choose: coastal and environmental planning; rural and regional planning; and urban and community planning.

The degree requires a minimum of 30 s.h. as follows:

1. Core - 15 s.h.
  • GEOG 6401 - Geographic Information Systems OR
  • PLAN 6301 - Computer Applications for Planning and Development

  • MPH 6027 - Mixed-Methods Research OR
  • PLAN 6150 - Quantitative Methods in Planning

  • PLAN 6003 - City Planning and Design
  • PLAN 6065 - Growth Management
  • PLAN 6110 - Research Design in Planning
2. Concentrations - 9 s.h.

Select one concentration from the following: 

    a. Coastal and environmental planning

    Select three courses from the following: 

    • PLAN 6015 - Disaster Planning, Policy, and Practice
    • PLAN 6020 - Seminar in Environmental Planning
    • PLAN 6029 - Research in Coastal and Environmental Planning
    • PLAN 6032 - Administrative and Legislative Aspects of Planning
    • PLAN 6045 - Environmental Planning and Policy
    • PLAN 6055 - Coastal Planning and Policy
    • PLAN 6270 - Advanced Water Resources Management and Planning
    b. Rural and regional planning

    Select three courses from the following: 

    • GEOG 6350 - Seminar in Rural Development
    • PADM 6123 - Economic Development
    • PLAN 6010 - Seminar in Regional Planning
    • PLAN 6019 - Research in Rural and Regional Planning
    • PLAN 6032 - Administrative and Legislative Aspects of Planning
    • PLAN 6035 - Economic Development Techniques
    • PLAN 6045 - Environmental Planning and Policy
    • PLAN 6075 - Transportation Planning and Policy
    c. Urban and community planning

    Select three courses from the following: 

    • PLAN 5985 - Historic Preservation Planning
    • PLAN 6000 - Seminar in Urban Planning
    • PLAN 6009 - Research in Urban and Community Planning
    • PLAN 6025 - Housing and Community Development
    • PLAN 6032 - Administrative and Legislative Aspects of Planning
    • PLAN 6035 - Economic Development Techniques
    • PLAN 6040 - Community Facilities and Capital Budgeting
    • PLAN 6075 - Transportation Planning and Policy
3. Electives - 6 s.h.

Select two courses that do not count towards the core or concentration requirements from the following: 

  • GEOG 6350 - Seminar in Rural Development
  • GEOG 6355 - Rural Development Practicum
  • MPH 6027 - Mixed-Methods Research
  • PADM 6123 - Economic Development
  • PLAN 5985 - Historic Preservation Planning
  • PLAN 6000 - Seminar in Urban Planning
  • PLAN 6010 - Seminar in Regional Planning
  • PLAN 6015 - Disaster Planning, Policy, and Practice
  • PLAN 6018 - Internship in Planning
  • PLAN 6020 - Seminar in Environmental Planning
  • PLAN 6025 - Housing and Community Development
  • PLAN 6028 - Internship in Planning
  • PLAN 6032 - Administrative and Legislative Aspects of Planning
  • PLAN 6035 - Economic Development Techniques
  • PLAN 6038 - Internship in Planning
  • PLAN 6040 - Community Facilities and Capital Budgeting
  • PLAN 6045 - Environmental Planning and Policy
  • PLAN 6046 - Advanced Planning and Design Studio
  • PLAN 6050 - Seminar on World Architecture and Urbanism
  • PLAN 6055 - Coastal Planning and Policy
  • PLAN 6075 - Transportation Planning and Policy
  • PLAN 6150 - Quantitative Methods in Planning
  • PLAN 6250 - Advanced Environmental Impact Analysis
  • PLAN 6270 - Advanced Water Resources Management and Planning
  • PLAN 6305 - Developmental Planning and the Environment
Comprehensive assessment requirement

All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for this non-thesis program includes a curated portfolio submitted by students that showcase their work over the course of their degree program. The portfolio may include research papers/posters, professional reports, and design posters. All submitted portfolios must follow the degree program's portfolio guidelines.

    For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
    Request Revision