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K-State Today

June 22, 2017

APDesign graduate program places in Top 10

Submitted by Thom Jackson

Kansas State University's Master of Regional and Community Planning graduate program, in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design, APDesign, is ranked among the top programs in the U.S by Planetizen, the leading online network for the urban planning, design and development community.

The "Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs" provides the only comprehensive rankings of graduate urban planning programs in the nation. The recently released fifth edition ranks the Master of Regional and Community Planning program seventh in the U.S. among programs in the Midwest.

In addition, the program ranked eighth among the top small programs in the country, based on enrollment, and sixth in the nation for top programs with city populations less than 50,000.

"These rankings reflect not only the quality of the program and efforts of the faculty, but the embedded nature of the program in our comprehensive design and planning college," said Tim de Noble dean and professor in the college. "The diverse and robust programs in APDesign are enriched by having all the planning and design disciplines under one roof."

The rankings are based on a combination of statistical data collected from the programs themselves and opinion data gathered from planning educators. The data addresses program, faculty and student characteristics. Surveys were sent to the 96 schools with master's programs in planning and 1,115 educators.

"Planetizen's recognition of K-State's place as a top caliber small program reflects our faculty and students' dedication to high-quality academic preparation for professional careers in city planning," said Stephanie Rolley, professor and head of the landscape architecture and regional & community planning department. "We are honored to be ranked among the best in the country."

Students in the Master of Regional and Community Planning program are prepared to remake cities into dynamic places to live, work and play. Coursework in the program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to build vibrant, resilient cities and be leaders in building places of lasting value.