Master's in City Planning

Program Overview

The Master of City Planning (MCP) Program was inaugurated in the Fall of 1968 and has since graduated over 400 students who have secured positions in planning agencies at all levels of government, in private and public institutions concerned with planning and urban affairs, and in academic and research institutions.

SDSU's City Planning masters degree program is fully accredited by the national Planning Accreditation Board, and a member of the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP): an academic consortium of more than 100 planning schools offering advanced degrees in planning across North America. As an accredited master's degree program, maintaining our accreditation requires that our students demonstrate their competence as professional planners, and commitment to the values and ethics within our field. Learn more about the Planning Accreditation Board, and its high academic standards for member schools in performance, integrity and quality of trained planners.

MCP Mission

Our mission is to provide graduate students with the knowledge, specialized skills, and professional experience to creatively engage in problem-solving and in the practice of urban and regional planning in public policy contexts; and to equip them with the skills and techniques that will enable them to assume effective, ethical leadership roles in the field of planning. The program also emphasizes an understanding of the broader international context of planning and how regions can respond to or help shape trends into the future.

The program provides the opportunity for students to engage in a wide range of field-based education through an interdisciplinary set of courses. It fosters mutual learning through a participatory experience that emphasizes academic excellence, sound professional preparation, and ethical conduct, with an emphasis on working in the public interest. The program seeks to impart an understanding of the spatial and physical dimensions of planning and design; the challenges of sustainability, livability, environment, mobility, and social equity in shaping policy choices; and the techniques and process of community-building.

Program Information

Program Structure: For information about the program structure, please view the handbook for the program.
List of Courses: For a list of courses, please visit the course catalog.
Presentation Slides: For an overview of the program, please review the presentation slides from the 2024 orientation.
Culminating Experience: For more information on the Capstone Project or Thesis option please visit the Culminating Experience Guide.

Tuition and Fees

For more information on tuition and fees, please visit the Office of Financial Aid's page for graduate and doctoral students and the SDSU Bursar's Office. The Bursar’s page provides information on basic tuition, in-state tuition, out-of-state, and international student fees.

Additionally, for scholarships, please visit the Aztec Scholarships page and the School of Public Affairs Scholarships page.

Master's in City Planning Program Links

MCP Degree Requirements

U.S. Applicants

1. Apply to the University via Cal State Apply (before February 1, 2025).
- An SDSU RED ID Number will then be assigned which allows tracking of application status online.
Send transcripts to Graduate Admissions (before March 1, 2025).
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Send to:
  Graduate Admissions
  San Diego State University
  5500 Campanile Drive
  San Diego, CA 92182-7416
Visit Interfolio Apply Now and look for our department (Public Affairs) where you will upload the following (before March 1, 2025).
- View and download the Graduate Applicant Guide
- For assistance with Interfolio, please call their help desk at 877-997-8807.
Upload Letters of Recommendation (two letters professors, employers, or other familiar with your abilities and accomplishments).
Unofficial Transcripts.
Current Résumé
Upload Personal Statement (500 word essay about your professional and educational goals).
- In a statement of about 500 words, discuss your background and general interest, give your reasons for choosing the Master of City Planning major, and include your professional aspirations and any special area of interest in planning.

International Applicants

International applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply.

For international applicants, please follow the same steps as those listed for U.S. applicants when applying to our graduate program. In addition, please visit the following pages for further information:

International Graduate Students Admissions Page – for details on applying to the university as an international student and other related information.
The International Admissions Office - to schedule a time to meet with an international admissions advisor.