M.C.R.P. (Rutgers-Bloustein School)/M.I.P. (NJIT) Dual-Degree Program

An important new step was taken in 2004 to expand educational opportunities in the urban planning field with the agreement between the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) to implement a dual master of city and regional planning and master in infrastructure planning degree program (M.C.R.P./M.I.P.). The Bloustein School's planning program offers a broad array of courses in such areas as housing, transportation, community development, environment, urban and regional economics, and information technology, as well as concentrations in several specialized areas. The M.C.R.P. degree is fully accredited and widely recognized.

The 60-credit dual M.C.R.P./M.I.P. degree program can be completed in two years of full-time study. The total of 84 credits that would be required to obtain the two degrees separately (48 for M.C.R.P. and 36 for the M.I.P.) is thus reduced by 24 credits, and the time from three to two years. The dual degree combines the complementary strengths of the two programs and provides a broad professional education ranging from city and regional policy planning to physical infrastructure planning and urban design. The program is intended to draw students from architecture, engineering, and the social sciences.

Two alternative dual degree tracks are offered. The M.C.R.P./M.I.P. track provides a sequence of courses suitable for students with educational backgrounds in the social sciences and engineering. The M.I.P./M.C.R.P. track is intended for students with degrees in architecture or related fields or who are prospective graduates of the master of architecture (M. Arch) degree program at NJIT. In each case, students attend classes at both Rutgers and NJIT, requiring course schedule coordination across campuses but offering a rich set of experiences and interactions.