Planning and Development Studies (MPDS)

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The Master of Planning and Development Studies degree is designed for mid-career professionals in planning, development or related disciplines who desire to update and/or redirect their professional skills and careers. The program is very flexible, allowing students to pursue areas of expertise that they find valuable in their present or future careers. Entering students must have a minimum of five years of planning, development or related professional work experience.

Curriculum Requirements

The Master of Planning and Development Studies program requires completion of 28 units. Basic degree requirements consist of two core courses; 16 units in a concentration area approved by an adviser; and an integrative seminar course during which the student completes a written and oral comprehensive examination.

Required Courses

PPD 611 Policy Issues in Planning and Development Units: 4
PPD 612 Research and Analytical Techniques Units: 4
PPD 638 Integrative Seminar Units: 4 (normally in the last semester in conjunction with the comprehensive examination)

Concentration Area(s)

Students elect a concentration area from one of three already defined or, with prior approval by an adviser, design a concentration from Price School of Public Policy courses and USC graduate courses. A minimum of eight units must be Price School of Public Policy courses. The three defined concentration areas are:

Community Economic Development

Select 16 units from the following courses:

PPD 618 Housing Facilities and Community Development Units: 4
PPD 623 Community Development and Site Planning Units: 4
PPD 624 Local Economic Development: Theory and Finance Units: 4
PPD 625 Planning and Economic Development Finance Units: 4
PPD 626 Public/Private and Mixed Enterprises Planning Units: 2, 4
PPD 631 Geographic Information Systems for Policy, Planning, and Development Units: 2
RED 509 Market Analysis for Real Estate Units: 4
RED 542 Finance of Real Estate Development Units: 4
RED 546 Applications of Real Estate Finance to Problems of Development Units: 4

Environmental Policy and Planning

Select 16 units from the following courses:

PLUS 600 Environmental Goods in Planning and Development Units: 4
PLUS 633 Seminar in Comparative Housing Policy and Urban Planning Programs Units: 4
PPD 531L Planning Studio Units: 4, 8, 12
PPD 617 Urban Demography and Growth Units: 4
PPD 619 Smart Growth and Urban Sprawl: Policy Debates and Planning Solutions Units: 4
PPD 620 General Plans Units: 4
PPD 621 Environmental Impacts Units: 4
PPD 622 Seminar in Urban Development Units: 4
PPD 631 Geographic Information Systems for Policy, Planning, and Development Units: 2
PPD 634 Institutional and Policy Issues in Transportation Units: 4
PPD 712 Seminar in Public Policy Units: 4

International Planning and Development

Select 16 units from the following courses:

PLUS 631 Seminar in Physical Planning and Design in Developing Countries Units: 4
PLUS 632 National Urban Policy in Developing Countries Units: 4
PLUS 633 Seminar in Comparative Housing Policy and Urban Planning Programs Units: 4
PLUS 635 Urban Finance Units: 4
PLUS 640 International Urban Development Units: 4
PPD 626 Public/Private and Mixed Enterprises Planning Units: 2, 4
RED 583 International Development Opportunities Units: 2
RED 585 Comparative International Development Workshop Units: 2, 3, 4

Integrative Seminar and Comprehensive Examination

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required of all students seeking the Master of Planning and Development Studies degree. The integrative seminar course (PPD 638 ) and comprehensive exam should be taken during the semester of intended graduation. During the seminar class, students identify a practice-oriented problem covering the core courses and concentration area, which ideally is sponsored by a planning and/or development office or firm. The student will: (1) prepare a professional-quality document; (2) present the solution to a faculty committee with invited sponsor guests; and (3) have an oral defense. Students who fail the examination may take it again within one year, but it may only be repeated once.

General Requirements

Residence and Course Load

The Master of Planning and Development Studies may be completed in one academic year of 12 units in the fall and spring semesters and the four-unit integrative seminar/comprehensive examination the following summer semester.

At least 18 units of graduate study must be done in residence at the University Park Campus, the USC State Capital Center or at an approved off-campus study center.

Time Limit

Students in the program must complete all requirements for the Master of Planning and Development Studies within five calendar years from the beginning of the semester in which the student was admitted to the program.

Grade Point Average Requirement

While enrolled in the program, a student must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for all courses taken toward the degree.

Probation and Disqualification

Any student with a cumulative grade point average below 3.0 for all courses taken in the program will be placed on academic probation. A student whose semester grade point average is below 3.0, but whose cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or higher, will be placed on warning.

A student may be disqualified to continue toward a graduate degree if the student has been on academic probation for two consecutive semesters. Whether or not on academic probation or warning, a student may be disqualified at any time from continuing in the program if the dean of the school, after consultation with the faculty, determines the student is deficient in any degree requirement.

Course Exemption and Transfer of Credits

Credit for graduate work may be transferred from approved graduate schools as determined by the USC Degree Progress Department in the Office of Academic Records and Register on recommendation of the dean of the school. Not more than four units of graduate work, with grades of B or better, can be transferred for credit toward the Master of Planning and Development Studies degree.

The following courses, or their equivalents, may not normally be transferred for unit credit from other institutions: PPD 611 , PPD 612 and PPD 638 . Undergraduate work may not be transferred into the degree program for unit credit.

Some applicants for admission to the school will have been engaged in work in planning, development or closely related activities. Although this experience should be beneficial to the students involved, it may not be considered equivalent to academic education.