The community planning program employs a policy of “rolling” admissions; applications are reviewed periodically throughout the academic year, and students are accepted for entry in both fall and spring semesters. Thus, there are no formal deadline dates for submitting application materials, though applicants are encouraged to begin the admissions process as soon as it is feasible.

The program is allocated several graduate assistantships each year from the university budget; these positions provide a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend (approximately $600) for ten hours of work per week. Additionally, external grant funding allows the provision of assistantships as determined by the faculty’s on-going research endeavors; these assignments can be made at the start of both fall and spring semesters. The university-funded assistantships, along with the program’s scholarship awards, are typically assigned in early April for qualified students entering the following fall semester.

While maintaining appropriate standards, the program faculty utilizes a certain degree of flexibility in evaluating applicants. Factors taken into consideration include academic transcripts; GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores; references; level of interest; previous experience; and, if appropriate, interviews. In general, the faculty view 2.8 as a minimum GPA (grade point average) for admission, though exceptions may be granted for students with a lower average if other application materials are unusually strong. Applicants who are accepted with less than a 3.0 GPA are typically required to receive a grade of B or higher in their first twelve credit hours of CPLN course work.

Those interested in applying to the program should contact the website of the Graduate School. Applicants will need to submit academic transcripts, the completed on-line application form, and GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores directly to the Graduate School; provisional admission may be granted for one semester to applicants without GRE scores, though these must be obtained during that semester.

In addition, applicants should submit directly to the program chair three (3) letters of recommendation; a 500-word statement of interest in community planning; and a resume of educational and professional experience. Please send these materials to:

John J. Pittari, Jr., PhD
Associate Professor and Chair,
Graduate Program in Community Planning
School of Architecture
Auburn University
104 Dudley Hall
Auburn, AL 36849-5316

Prospective students may also contact the program chair (Professor Pittari) via e-mail at .