Department of Community and Regional Planning

Graduate Program Admission Requirements for the MCRP 

To be considered for regular graduate status by the Graduate Program Admissions Committee, an applicant should meet the following requirements. (Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be recommended for provisional graduate status.)

Step 1:

Students interested in the MCRP  must first submit a graduate application to the Graduate Admissions Office.  The applicant receives a certi­ficate of admission to enroll in courses at Boise State University.  This certificate is a prerequisite to admission into the MCRP, but does not guarantee admission.  You may find the graduate admissions application and new student information at http://www.boisestate.edu/gradcoll.

Step2:

Students must also apply for admission to the MCRP.  All applicants to the MCRP must meet certain requirements prior to acceptance to the MCRP.

MCRP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Meet with the Director of the Community and Regional Planning Program to discuss the admission process, the applicant’s career interests and reason for seeking admission to the MCRP.
   
2. Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and submit official transcripts from all previous academic institutions to the Graduate College Admissions office.
   
3. Demonstrate satisfactory academic competency by: (a) having an overall grade point average of at least 3.00 in undergraduate course work, and (b) achieving a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).  The minimum combined score is 1000 for GREs taken before August 1, 2011. The minimum combined verbal and quantitative score for GREs taken on or after August 1, 2011 is 300.  Please note that as the GRE scoring is in transition during the Fall 2011 term, students should plan to complete the GRE BEFORE the August 1 deadline as their scores will not be processed and submitted to the University until November or later. To meet the September 1, 2011 admission deadline for the department for the Spring 2012 term, students must take the GRE before August 2011. GRE scores must be sent to the Graduate College Admissions office.
   
4. Submit the following to the Director of the MCRP, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725-1935.
   • Three letters of reference evaluating the applicant’s academic potential to the attention of the Director of the Department of Community and Regional Planning at the address above. The letters must come from whomever is writing the letter and not the applicant (if academic record predates application by five or more years, letters of recommendation may be written by supervisors).
   • Complete and submit a Data Form to the Department office.  This is available from the Department office or download a copy.
     
   • A signed statement of interest explaining the applicant’s career goals and reasons for entering the Graduate Program.
   • Current resume.
     
5. Submit the following to the Graduate Admissions Office:
   • GRE scores, or an approved substitution such as the GMAT or LSAT, to the Graduate Admissions Office.
   • Official transcripts from all previous academic institutions directly

Admission Process

1. An applicant should take the following steps to complete the Graduate Program admissions process:
   • Meet with Director of the Department of Master of Community and Regional Planning to discuss the admission process, career interests, and reasons for entering the Graduate Program.
     
   • Get GRE information from ETS or from the Graduate Admissions office, where you can also pick up a graduate admission application. You can also use the application in the current BSU Graduate Catalog or online.
     
   • Complete the graduate admission application and submit it with the application fee to the Graduate Admissions Office. Once the application has been processed the applicant will receive a certificate of admission to enroll in courses. This certificate is not a certificate of acceptance into the Graduate Program.  Students will need permission of instructors to enroll in classes.
     Not all CRP classes are open to non-admitted students.
     
   • Have all official transcripts sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
     
   • Complete and sign a letter of interest indicating your career goals and reasons for entering the Graduate Program and submit it to the Department office.
     
   • Have three letters of reference sent to the Director of the Community and Regional Planning at the Department office. *We can only accept original signed letters or letters received as email attachments directly from the referral source.

All admission materials must be submitted by February 1 for Fall admission and September 1 for Spring admission.

Exception for Fall 2011, admission materials must be received by Thursday, May 19, 2011. Please allow no less than 3 weeks for your GRE scores to be sent to meet the application deadline.

1. After the Graduate Admissions Office receives your application, application fee, GRE scores, and all transcripts, they will send a recommendation form for completion to the Department office, along with copies of transcripts.
   
2. After the above materials are received in the Department office, the MCRP Graduate Program Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and make its recommendation regarding admission to the program. All application materials must be on file in order for the Committee to consider admission.
   
3. The Graduate Program Admissions Committee will send its recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate College.
   
4. The applicant will be informed in writing by the Graduate Dean’s office of the official decision on admission to the program.
   
5. Upon admission to the program, the Department will also contact the applicant to provide other pertinent information and designate an academic advisor.

FINANCIAL AID

The department offers graduate research assis­tantships during the academic year, with competi­tive stipends and fee waivers to full-time students.  Students may qualify for loans and scholarships through the Financial Aid Office.  More financial aid information is available on their webpage or contact the office directly at (208) 426-1305 or by email.

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