Planning Accreditation Board Information

Accreditation Process Overview

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

Currently, UTSA’s Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planing is in the process of being considered for accreditation. This is a multi-year process that has taken place as the timeline detailed below.

Public Information

Accreditation Timeline

Currently, UTSA’s Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planing is in the process to being consider for accreditation. This is a multi-year process that has taken place as:

2021

UTSA submitted the Candidacy Status Application to PAB. Preparations begun.

2022

UTSA received Candidacy Status until 12/2024 from PAB.

Sept. 2023

Self Study Report was submitted by the program for PAB evaluation.

Jan. 2024

UTSA received PAB Site Visitors and received their report.

Mid 2024

Comments to Site Visit and Post Site Visit reports were sent to PAB.

Nov. 2024

UTSA meets PAB at ACSP 2024 to discuss Site Visit Report.

Dec. 2024

PAB will communicate official accreditation results.

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