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Bioregional Planning and Community Design

Bioregional Planning and Community Design Academic Certificate

Bioregional Planning and Community Design Graduate Degree Program

Stephen R. Drown, Director (207 Art and Architecture Building 83844-2481; phone 208/885-7448; FAX 208/885-9428; bioregionalplanning@uidaho.edu; www.bioregionalplanning.uidaho.edu). Faculty: Gary Austin, Rula Z. Awaad-Rafferty, Kathy Browder, Donald Crowley, Raymond Dezzani, Michael Dixon, Stephen R. Drown, Dale Goble, Bruce T. Haglund, Lorie Higgins, MarkHoversten, Karen Humes, Harley E. Johansen, Michael Kyte, Tammi Laninga, Karen Launchbaugh, Jerrold Long, Wendy McClure, William McLaughlin, David Paul, Sandra Pinel, Paul McCawley, Sherry McKibben, Priscilla Salant, Nick Sanyal, Chris Schnepf, Phillip Watson, Patrick Wilson, Larry Young.

The Master of Science in Bioregional Planning and Community Design (BioP) is an interdisciplinary, professional degree designed to prepare future leaders for roles in planning within both the public and private sectors and from local to international organizations. The BioP program is distinguished from other planning programs around North America in three ways: 1) it represents a university-wide, interdisciplinary approach to planning involving eight UI colleges and nine academic departments; 2) it fully integrates education and research with community outreach; and 3) it supports, promotes and advances bioregional approach to planning that focuses on sustainable development, sustainable efficient conservation planning and management, and sustainable human quality-of-life within and across bioregions. Students have a unique opportunity to integrate sustainable approaches to planning in a rapidly developing region of the Intermountain West.

The curriculum includes a common core of required courses that link knowledge with practice, and fundamental theories with skills. Restricted elective requirements build on this core knowledge and skill while providing flexibility for the students to focus on their interest areas. Students also select one of several areas of specialization: land use planning; environmental planning; economic development planning; transportation planning; public lands planning; and housing, social and community development planning. These specializations provide connections between the BioP program and the disciplines within the participating colleges and departments.

A 15-credit professional certificate is also available in the BioP program. The certificate is designed for graduate students enrolled in various professional disciplines (e.g., transportation engineering, environmental and natural resource management, architecture, landscape architecture, public administration) who want some expertise in planning. Students earning the certificate will gain knowledge, skills, and values in bioregional planning and be able to effectively employ planning concepts and principles within their discipline.

Questions regarding the BioP M.S. programs should be directed to bioregionalplanning@uidaho.edu.

Courses

See the course description section for courses in Bioregional Planning and Community Design (BioP).

Graduate Degree Programs

Candidates must fulfill the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and of the Graduate Program in Bioregional Planning and Community Design. See the College of Graduate Studies section for the general requirements applicable to each degree.

The BioP M.S. degree requires the completion of 45-48 units of coursework. Specific requirements are: core requirement (20 cr); additional competency via restricted elective requirements (10 cr); area of specialization (12 cr); and final project or thesis. The final project can take the form of a professional report or a client report. See the BioP website for actual specific course requirements.

Admissions Requirements and Procedures

Admission to the graduate program is based on: ability to complete graduate-level work evidenced by undergraduate transcripts; the applicant's statement of research and career objectives; the compatibility of the student's objectives with program mission; and availability of graduate faculty to act as major advisor for the applicant. The GRE, applicant's statement of objectives, and three letters of recommendation and resume are required.