Master of Community Planning achieves national ranking and STEM designation

The Auburn University Master of Community Planning (MCP) program is now ranked 9th among "Top Small City Programs" by Planetizen in the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Planning Education (7th Edition.)  Planetizen collects data from nearly 100 planning programs nationwide and ranks them based on different criteria such as program characteristics, faculty characteristics, student characteristics, and opinions of planning educators.

The MCP degree is now an approved field of study within the U.S. government’s official STEM fields list. When a student earns a degree in a field on the STEM fields list, they may be eligible for the 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension. OPT is defined as practical work experience in your field of study after completion of a degree. With a STEM degree, a student’s “regular” OPT of 12 months may be extended for an additional 24 months, giving them a total of 36 months of OPT. For further details regarding STEM extensions contact the Auburn University Office of International Programs.

The MCP program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board for a seven-year term through Dec. 31, 2027. It boasts over 90% employment rate in the field of urban, regional, city, or community planning upon a few months of graduation. The program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2023 term. Prospective applicants may visit the program’s website or contact Sweta Byahut to learn more about the program.