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TerraPlan is the official student-led journal of the University of Maryland’s Student Planning Association (SPA).
TerraPlan exists to move student ideas beyond the classroom and into broader academic, professional, and public conversations about planning. Publications represent a wide range of work engaging with the built environment, including:
Research papers
Studio and design projects
Reflections and essays
Visual and experimental work
We prioritize work that is clear and accessible, grounded in planning ideas, and relevant to real-world issues.
OUR GOALS
SHOWCASE
SHOWCASE
TerraPlan provides a platform for graduate students to share research, design work, and critical perspectives that extend beyond the classroom. It highlights the depth and diversity of student scholarship at UMD.
ENCOURAGE
ENCOURAGE
TerraPlan promotes interdisciplinary dialogue by bringing together ideas from planning, architecture, public policy, and related fields. It encourages students to engage with perspectives beyond their own discipline.
CONNECT
CONNECT
TerraPlan creates opportunities for connection between graduate students, authors, and readers. The launch event and publication process help build a stronger academic and professional community.
CREATE
CREATE
TerraPlan establishes a lasting record of ideas, projects, and reflections by publishing student work. It contributes to a growing archive of student-led scholarship at UMD.
OUR APPROACH
Theme-Based Issues
Theme-Based Issues
Each issue is organized around a central theme that encourages contributors to consider planning questions from new perspectives and reflect on topics that feel timely or meaningful to the student community. Themes are selected collaboratively by the editorial team to represent emerging interests and conversations within the program while remaining accomodating to diverse interpretations.
Peer Review Process
Peer Review Process
All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review process.
Each piece is reviewed by two graduate-level reviewers
Feedback is constructive and revision-oriented
Authors are invited to revise and strengthen their work
SPA and reviewers develop rubrics to assess alignment with the theme, word count, clarity, and quality. Our goal is to feature as many submissions as possible while maintaining strong editorial standards.
Organizational Structure
Organizational Structure
Students lead every stage, from submission and review to publication and outreach. Being volunteer-run, we are always looking to expand our community.
Timeline
Timeline
Calls for submissions open during the fall semester of a given academic year and close shortly after winter break. Students from any university, especially in the DMV region, are encouraged to submit work. Reviewers will be matched with submissions at the beginning of the spring semester, allotting 2-3 weeks for revisions. Authors will then have 2 weeks to review their submissions before moving into the final phases of production. As revised submissions are finalized, the design and printing team will work to create the new issue of the journal. Lastly, the launch event is hosted at the end of the academic year to celebrate the journal's publication and the efforts of the TerraPlan team.
Student Planning Association (SPA)
Student Planning Association (SPA)
The Student Planning Association (SPA) is an organization of students working toward a Master of Community Planning (MCP) degree in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at the University of Maryland. Its primary function is to promote student involvement in the continued development of the planning program and profession, but it also provides a casual atmosphere in which students, faculty, and staff can interact socially as well as intellectually.
Urban Studies and Planning (URSP)
Urban Studies and Planning (URSP)
The Urban Studies and Planning (URSP) program at UMD is housed within the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Offering a Master of Community Planning (MCP) and Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning and Design (URPD), the program provides opportunities in a range of planning fields, from community development and environmental planning to housing policy. Through instruction, research, studios, and internships, students build technical expertise and gain real-world experience to shape the field of planning.
Contact Us
Contact Us
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The faces behind the email
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