Community Planning and Information Management (CPIM)

PLEASE NOTE: THE CPIM PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2025 AND BEYOND. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE PERSONS LISTED BELOW.

ABSTRACT

Smart cities enabled by new data sources and increased resident engagement pose new challenges for both information science and urban planning. To realize the promise of smart cities to improve the quality of life for residents requires changes in the information infrastructure, the social infrastructure, and the physical infrastructure. This dual degree program is a smart-cities dual masters degree program to fill this urgent need, in which students would earn a Master of Community Planning and a Master of Information Management. The dual masters degree program enables graduate students interested in community planning and information management to complete these complementary degrees by using courses in the partnering programs to satisfy specialization and elective requirements. To earn each degree separately would require 78 credits. This dual program will require 60 credits and which students can complete in 3 academic years. The dual degree program builds on the unique strengths of faculty in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (MAPP+D) and in the College of Information (INFO College) by bringing together expertise in data science, eGovernment and the Internet of Things, with expertise in physical, social and economic planning. The program promotes interdisciplinary education by providing advanced knowledge of planning to information management students and advanced knowledge of information management to students in planning, under the concept of “smart cities.”

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

For more information on merit-based aid, please visit the Financial Aid section of the College of Information website.

Aside from student loans through the university, MCP students are eligible to apply for graduate assistantships with URSP and the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education. MCP applicants who are also Peace Corps veterans are eligible to apply for the Shriver Peaceworker fellowship program that is administered by the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Please note that competition is high for these financial awards. The program also maintains a list of internships, and many of our students work in part- or full-time jobs while completing the program. Program classes are scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to accommodate our working students.

CONTACT 

College of Information
4110 Hornbake Building, South Wing
7130 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.2038
Fax: 301.314.9145
Email: ischooladvisors@umd.edu

Clara E Irazábal Zurita, Arch., M.Sc., M.Arch., Ph.D.
Program Director
Urban Studies and Planning Program
School of Architecture, Planning, & Preservation
1244 Architecture Building
3835 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.6290
Email: irazabal@umd.edu

Website: http://www.arch.umd.edu or https://ischool.umd.edu/

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students): TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores (if applicable) are required for all international applicants. The minimum TOEFL score for admission into the MIM program is 100. 

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)** or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): GRE scores are required for all applicants, except domestic applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher. Any requests to waive the GRE requirement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the program committee. GMAT scores may also be submitted instead of GRE scores (please notify the department if you will be sending GMAT scores). Please send any requests to mimprogrammanager@umd.edu.
• CV/Resume
• ​Supplementary Application: Though the responses to these questions may have some overlap with the Graduate School’s statement of purpose – applicants may cut and paste, as relevant, from the Graduate School’s statement submission.
• Writing Sample 1 (required)
• Writing Sample 2 (optional)
• Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
• Portfolio PDF Upload (optional)

For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: www.gradschool.umd.edu/admissions

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Other Deadlines: Please visit the program website at http://www.arch.umd.edu