今天，山区环境面临的规划挑战（城市化，无序扩张，人口和经济变化，自然资源和栖息地的保护）比以往任何时候都更加重要。专业规划人员和自然资源管理人员运用规划和地理知识，技能以及培训来帮助城市和农村社区应对这些挑战，并保持或成为健康，充满活力和可持续发展的场所。选择在CEP中就读的学生可以选择论文，专业论文或非论文学位课程（论文和教授论文课程通常必须包括3-6学分的论文时数，除了最低的33学分
The M.S. degree in Geography with an Concentration in Community and Environmental Planning is appropriate for those interested in working in community planning, hazard mitigation, and land-use planning. Beyond the core requirements specified for the General MS (10 credits), an additional 23 credits are required. Successfully complete and defend a thesis or one or more papers (i.e., articles) of publishable quality before an examining committee. Successfully complete and defend a professional paper or one or more papers (i.e., articles) of publishable quality before an examining committee. The difference between a thesis and a professional paper is that while the thesis is directed toward advances in the discipline, the professional paper may be directed toward advances in the profession. A professional paper may also consist of one or more papers of publishable quality intended for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.