Department of Urban and Regional Planning
College of Science, Engineering, and Technology
The mission of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) at Jackson State University, “Mississippi’s Urban University” and only planning degree-granting program in the State, is to specialize and train students to pursue exciting careers in community development and housing, environment and land use, and urban design; to create a diverse learning community in the field of planning; to provide students with the skills and knowledge to lead and contribute to the improvement of urban and regional environments; to prepare students to understand and serve a diverse and multicultural society, and to increase the number of members from under-represented groups in the professional ranks.
Dissertations and Theses
Ph.D. 2018 DISSERTATIONS
Jessica Davis
"Faces of DIsplacement: An Inquiry into Gentrification Processes in Atlanta and Boston Neighborhoods"
Kameka Miller
"A Quantitative Analysis of Water Main Improvements in Southern Cities Through the Use of Capital Improvement Projects"
Keishelle Jones-Reynaud
"The Resurgence of Urban Planning: A Responsive Strategy to Addressing Crime in the Wake of Natural Disasters, Hurricane Katrina (1995-2015)"
Mercy Nguavese Shenge
"A Study of the Role of Selected Urban Parks for Flash Flood Mitigation in Central and South Tuscon, Arizona (2006-2016)"
Fredrick K. Tate
"Variations on Revitalizing Historic Districts: A Multiple Case Study of Sweet Auburn, Beale, and Farish"
Ph.D. 2017 DISSERTATIONS
Charles Husband
"Public Transit Planning and Practice: A Review of Instituted Practices
LuFunya Porter
"Geriatric Perspectives of Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Affordable Housing for Elderly African-Americans in Five of the Poorest Counties in the Mississippi Delta"
Bennetta Robinson
"A Transboundary Analysis of Water Parameters: Assessing the Impacts of Land Cover on Water Conditions in the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint River Basin"
Ph.D. 2016 DISSERTATIONS
Joan Blanton
"A Study of the Effectiveness of A Collaborative Planning Process: The Post Katrina Design Charrette"
Mae Blackmon-Henry
"Planning for Health: A Case Study of the Health Food Financing Initiative in Spartanburg, SC"
Tanaucha Singleton-Lewis
"The Housing Consumption Commute Costs Perspective: An Investigation of Urban Spatial Patterns in U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas"
Jasmine Williams-Washington
"Urban Slums to Thriving Urban Centers: The Impact of Queer Space in East Atlanta Village, Midtown, Little Five Points, and Inman Park" Neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia"
M.A. 2016 THESIS
Arash Ghahramani
"Public Transportation: A Review of Bus Rapid Transit System and Its Application to Jackson, Mississippi"
Sara Hidouk
"Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Urban Metropolitan Expansion of Algiers, Algeria"
Ph.D. 2015 DISSERTATIONS
Valerie Purry
"Formerly Incarcerated Females and their Unique Challenges in the Search for Community and Housing in Mississippi"
Ph.D. 2014 DISSERTATIONS
Daphine Foster
"Advocating Historic Housing Tax Credits to Individuals wh Own and Live in Pre-1960 Housing to Assist in Alleviating Housing"
Chuck Patrick
"Geospatial Decision Support System to Evaluate Energy Considerations for Regional Comprehensive Planning Practices"
Ph.D. 2013 DISSERTATIONS
Carrielyn Acey
"The Effects of Home Subsidized Projects on the Stabilization of Mississippi Communities"
Adrian Brown
"The Impact of the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center of Community Development Within Indianola Mississippi"
LaShunda Calvert
"An Examination of How Public Policies are Made for Hazardous Pollutants Since the Nineteenth Century In America: A Closer Look at Indoors Hazardous Pollutants"
Jeanne Mogusu
"An Evaluation of Transportation Asset Management Benefits: A Four State Case Study Analysis"
Kelvin Stamps
"The Evolution of Managing the Mississippi River Watershed in Southeast Louisiana"
Patricia Dean-Wilson
"Going Green" Mandates and Certification Standards for Sound Environmental Planning Practices at Governmental and Contract Adult Correctional Facilities in the State of Mississippi"
Ph.D. 2012 DISSERTATIONS
Jeffery Virgil, II
"Urban Economic Development: The Impact That Recruitment and Retention of Industrial Business Has on the Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Urban Community in Three Southeastern Cities from 1990 Through 2010"
M.A. 2012 THESIS
Bryan Grove
"Mitigating Displacement: Planning for Equitable Development within Future Gentrification in Jackson, MS"
Ph.D. 2011 DISSERTATIONS
Gary Crosby
"The Role of Three Community Development Corporations in the Revitalization of Housing in New Orleans, Louisiana's Lower 9th Ward Post-Hurricane Katrina"
M.A. 2011 THESIS
Justin Fritscher
"Using Urban Planning and Design to Reduce Sedimentation at the Ross Barnett Reservoir"
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
LEARN BY DOING
Content Under Review
“Challenging Minds, Changing Lives.”
Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning
Please follow these steps when applying to obtain an M.A. degree in Urban and Regional Planning:
1. Complete an online application with the Division of Graduate Studies https://www.jsums.edu/graduateschool/prospective-students-home/
2. Submit one official transcript from all universities/colleges/junior colleges attended
3. Non-Mississippi residents must pay an out-of-state application fee of $25.00
4. Submit a copy of your immunization records
5. International applicants must submit a satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS score
6. GRE official score report of fewer than five years old
7. Statement of Purpose indicating your skills, background, interest in the program, and what would you like to do professionally once your graduate. There is no specific format to use for this requirement.
The above-required documents must be submitted via online your portal account.
*We accept new M.A. students for the fall and spring semesters.
MA Curriculum Plan (Updated 2017)
Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning
Please follow these steps when applying for admission into the Ph.D. program in Urban and Regional Planning:
1. Complete an online application with the Division of Graduate Studies https://www.jsums.edu/graduateschool/prospective-students-home/
2. Submit one official transcript from all universities/colleges/junior colleges attended
3. Non-Mississippi residents must pay the out-of-state application fee of $25.00
4. Submit a copy of your immunization record
5. International applicants must submit a satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS score
6. Three letters of recommendation and three reference forms to accompany the reference letters Recommendation Form to accompany letter
7. Statement of Purpose indicating interest in program, skills, background, and what would you like to do professionally once your graduate. There is no particular format for this requirement.
8. GRE official score report of less than five years old
All documents with the exception of the transcripts must be uploaded via your online account.
*NewPh.D.D students are only accepted for the fall semester.
Ph.D. Curriculum (pdf version)
Core Area Courses
URP 700 Historical Development of Cities (3 hours)
URP 702 Theoretical Perspectives in Planning (3 hours)
URP 710 Advanced Statistical Methods (3 hours)
URP 712 Research Methodology (3 hours)
URP 714 Ethics in Planning Seminar (3 hours)
Academic Concentration Areas
Community Development and Housing
URP 720 Urban Housing Policies (3 hours)
URP 722 Community Developmen and Housing (3 hours)
URP 724 Urban Revitalization Studio (3 hours)
URP 726 Citizen Participation Strategies (3 hours)
URP 728 Local and Regional Economic Cevelopment Strategies (3 hours )
Environment and Land Use
URP 730 Environment and Land Use (3 hours)
URP 735 Land Use Planning Studio (3 hours)
URP 736 International Human Settlements (3 hours)
URP 737 Urban Implementation Strategies (3 hours)
Urban Design
URP 740 Foundations in Urban Design (3 hours)
URP 742 Analytical and Evaluation Methods for Urban Design Research (3 hours)
URP 744 Urban Design Studio (3 hours)
URP 746 Urban Design Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
Other Courses
URP 750 Professional Practice Issues in Planning (3 hours)
URP 770 Independent Study or Research Practice (3 hours)
URP 899 Dissertation (3 hours)
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
1. Why study urban planning?
Urban planning is a forward-thinking, innovative field, where the end result of your work can impact millions of people.
2. Why do you want to study urban planning?
If you have an interest in making our urban environments better for everyone, this exciting subject may be for you.
What is urban planning?
So, what is urban planning? Put simply urban planning is a field of work that concerns itself with the design of our physical environment, such as cities, towns, and villages.
Urban planners will work with politicians, residential communities, commercial groups, and developers to design an urban environment that functions for the highest number of people.
They will ask, and attempt to answer, key questions around how people will live, work, play and travel in a specific area.
Why study urban planning?
By studying to become an urban planner, you can be sure that your work will have a real impact on people’s lives now, and in many years to come.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Urban and Regional Planning majors have a plethora of career options after studying
| Community Planner | Project Manager | Production Planner | Supply Planner |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Lead | Traffic Engineer | Campaign Researcher | Environmental Planning |
PERSONNEL
READY TO JOIN?
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-6863. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING
