MSPlan Frequently Asked Questions | Community and Regional Planning Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Would this program be a good fit for someone like me who has relatively little experience but a passion for city/regional planning?

Thank you for your interest in the MS in Planning and Development program. Professionals in the planning field come from a variety of backgrounds. You would be a great candidate with your interest in planning.

Can I get a jump start on the MS in Planning by taking a course or two as a non-degree student?

Yes, absolutely! You can get a start on the program by taking courses as a ‘non-degree seeking student’. We allow students to take classes while completing the application to the degree program. Here are a few items to keep in mind as a non-degree seeking applicant:

Though a student may take PLAN courses as a non-degree student, it does not guarantee their admission in the MS in Planning and Development program.
While students can take classes in the fall and Spring semesters as a non-degree seeking student, they must re-apply for admission into the MS in Planning and Development program.
Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid.
Non-degree seeking students can take up to 9 credits total.

The ECU Graduate School has further information on the application process for non-degree applicants.

Are there prerequisites for the MS in Planning and Development program? Do I need to satisfy any educational prerequisites to be admitted into the program or will my existing education and professional experience satisfy the admission requirements?

There are no pre-requisites for applying to the MS in Planning and Development program or to take planning courses in the program. The only potential prerequisite is for students who are interested to take advanced GIS courses in the department but do not have prior GIS experience. If this is the case, you will first need to complete the introductory GIS graduate course at ECU.

I am interested to know about the GPA requirements for admission. Also, my GPA is currently X, would I still qualify for no GRE testing?

The minimum GPA required by the Graduate School is 2.7 to be eligible for admission. We do not require GRE to apply for the MS in Planning and Development. So, GRE testing is not necessary.

What are the associated costs per semester for the MS in Planning and Development?

We follow the UNC System/ECU’s standard. You can find information about tuition costs for online programs at ECU Online. Moreover, ECU Financial Services has information on fees for DE students from previous semesters.

Some graduate schools require me to work with a specific professor throughout the process. Does this program have a similar requirement?

You may be required to work with a team of faculty advisors when you write your Professional Reports. Other than that, there is no requirement for a student to work with a specific faculty.

Is it possible to choose two concentrations? If yes, what would be the additional amount in hours required?

Yes, you can choose two concentrations. You would need to complete three more courses for the second concentration. So, a total of 9 credit hours of additional work.

Though an internship is not required, am I eligible to do an internship in the graduate program?

Yes, you can do an internship. Please note the following guidelines:

Internships must be approved by the Internship Coordinator.
Internships should occur outside of current full-time or part-time positions.
Internships should occur concurrent to enrollment in the degree program and cannot be retroactive from prior to enrollment.
You can enroll for PLAN 6018 (1 credit), PLAN 6028 (2 credits), or PLAN 6038 (3 credits) to get internship credits. Students complete 50 hours of internship work to earn 1 credit hour.
Internship materials are to be submitted to Dr. Hur (Internship Coordinator) for academic credit records. Further information is available on the Planning Program website.

Will the classes in this online program be taught in synchronous or asynchronous format?

Course formats are usually decided by individual instructors. Most faculty are open and flexible to the course format to suit the schedule of working professionals.

We do expect the majority of courses to be taught in an asynchronous format as a synchronous format with live video may not be appropriate given that the students in this program are working professionals who cannot all meet at one time due to their personal and professional commitments.

I have a X degree from Y university. Would any of my classes be allowed to transfer or would I have to start over again?

ECU does not allow courses from a graduated master’s degree to apply towards another master’s degree. The Transfer Credit policy in the Graduate Catalog states: “No credit hours completed as part of a previously earned master’s degree can be counted toward a second master’s degree.”

I took a few courses at Y university but did not complete my degree. Can I transfer some of those courses to apply towards the MS in Planning and Development?

For transferring course credits there are a few points to note.

Based on the minimum 30-hours requirement, 50% of the credits (15-hours) must be from ECU. So, ECU will allow 15 hours of previous completed work at another university to be transferred, but the student must complete the other 15 hours in the ECU MS in Planning and Development program.
The student must complete the degree in 6 calendar years total (including the years they took the courses that are being transferred in).
There is a process for petitioning the Registrar’s office to document equivalency and request approval for transfer courses.

The process: A petition needs to be submitted to the Registrar’s office for ‘Transfer Credit Evaluation’ for each course being transferred. The Graduate Director can help put in the petition and will need a couple of items for this.

Once you are at ECU, contact the course instructor for the ECU course that you think is equivalent to the one you are transferring in. Explain that you are trying for transfer credits for this course, but that you need to establish ‘equivalency’ first. Send him/her/them the syllabus of your previous course and ask if the instructor can evaluate equivalency based on the syllabus and course textbook. The Graduate Director will need the course instructor to send an email note that says this specific course is equivalent to the previous course you took.
Forward the previous and current course syllabi and the instructor’s email confirming equivalency to the Graduate Director.

The Graduate Director will put in the petition to the Registrar’s Office. It takes a few weeks for the registrar to approve.

Is there a hard deadline to submit applications for enrollment into the MS in Planning and Development program?

The hard deadline for the fall semester is August 15th. However, that is very close to the start of the fall semester, and it is recommended that an applicant complete and submit their application by April 15th. Please also note that once the spring semester ends, faculty often leave to conduct research during the summer months. Hence, admission decisions by the Graduate Committee may take much longer for applications submitted over the summer.

Are there scholarships available for MS in Planning and Development applicants?

Planning program scholarships are mostly for undergraduate planning students. There may be opportunities through the university. Please visit the ECUAwards portal to help you match with scholarship opportunities and the Office of University Scholarships for details on how to apply for ECU scholarships.

Can international students or someone living in Canada apply for the online MS in Planning and Development degree?

We are unable to enroll students who are living outside the United States, including Canada, because the university does not currently have the necessary agreements that are needed to be in place prior to such enrollments.

Graduate Program Director: Dr. Anuradha Mukherji (Email: mukherjia@ecu.edu, Office: 252-328-5357)