Planning Accreditation Board Information

UTSA’s M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning is accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board

Accreditation Process Overview

The Planning Accreditation Board is the official institution that accredits university programs in North America leading to degrees in planning.

UTSA’s M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning is accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board through December 31, 2031, with the next accreditation cycle in 2030–2031.

Public Information

Student Achievement

Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning

Year: 2023 - 2024
Student Learning Outcome Name Student Learning Outcome Results Findings
Planning Discipline Knowledge Demonstrate planning discipline knowledge (such as history, legal principles, planning theory, factors and patterns of human settlement) at conceptual and application levels both locally and globally.

Sample Size: 7
Results:

  • 100% of graduating students scored an overall 2.5 or higher.
  • 71% scored 4.0 or higher.

Finding:

  • ☒ Meets the target
  • ☐ Needs Improvement

Action Plan*:

  • Revise the curriculum in Spring 2026 to include more URP courses for urban policy/design specializations.
Analytic Skills Design a research question and successfully utilize the appropriate quantitative, qualitative, or spatial analytic techniques to explain local and regional conditions to answer it in an applied and/or scholarly environment.

Sample Size: 7
Results:

  • 100% of graduating students scored an overall 2.5 or higher.
  • 43% scored 4.0 or higher.

Finding:

  • ☐ Meets the target
  • ☒ Needs Improvement

Action Plan*:

  • Revise comprehensive exam questions to properly evaluate students' analytic skills.
  • Create a curriculum map to ensure analytic skills are trained.
Communication Communicate effectively to internal and external stakeholders, including integrating public engagement in planning processes in oral, written, and graphic forms.

Sample Size: 7
Results:

  • 100% of graduating students scored an overall 2.5 or higher.
  • 71% scored 4.0 or higher.

Finding:

  • ☒ Meets the target
  • ☐ Needs Improvement

Action Plan*:

  • Create a curriculum map to ensure (written/verbal/data/visual) communication skills are trained.
  • Invite external reviewers to class presentations to improve evaluation methods.
Leadership Employ tools for attention, formation, strategic decision-making, team building, and organizational/community motivation.

Sample Size: 7
Results:

  • 86% of graduating students scored an overall 2.5 or higher.
  • 57% scored 4.0 or higher.

Finding:

  • ☒ Meets the target
  • ☐ Needs Improvement

Action Plan*:

  • Revise comprehensive exam questions to properly evaluate students' leadership skills.
  • Evaluate student organization activities to improve evaluation methods.
Values and Ethics Apply the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in the leadership of planning processes, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable and socially just development.

Sample Size: 7
Results:

  • 100% of graduating students scored an overall 2.5 or higher.
  • 86% scored 4.0 or higher.

Finding:

  • ☒ Meets the target
  • ☐ Needs Improvement

Action Plan*:

  • Revise comprehensive exam questions to properly evaluate students' planning ethics/values.

Updated in October 2024