Program Overview
Western Michigan University's community and regional planning program equips students with expertise in planning for small cities and their regions. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum with core courses in planning theory, methods, and administration, as well as cognate courses in social sciences and statistics. Students can specialize in areas such as environmental analysis, economic development, or geographic techniques. Graduates are prepared for careers as urban planners, regional planners, and other planning professionals in government agencies, consulting companies, and other organizations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Western Michigan University's community and regional planning major prepares students to become professional planners with particular focus on small cities and their regional communities.
Objective:
The objective of the program is to equip students with theoretical, historical, technical, methodological, ethical, legal, and administrative expertise along with knowledge and skills relevant to planning gained from cognate social science disciplines and statistics.
Outline:
Core Courses (32 Credits):
- Planning theory
- Planning history
- Planning techniques
- Planning methods
- Planning ethics
- Planning law
- Planning administration
Cognate Courses (25 Credits):
- Social science disciplines
- Statistics
Specializations (12 Credits):
- Environmental analysis and resource management
- Local economic development
- Tourism development and planning
- Local government
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
- Urban planners
- Regional planners
- Transportation planners
- Environmental planners
- Economic development specialists
- Site analysts
Organizations Graduates Work For:
- Government agencies
- Travel and tourism agencies
- Research companies
- Consulting companies
