Program Overview
Urban planning professionals develop solutions for society's challenges related to urban development, such as land use, transportation, and economic growth. They are skilled communicators, collaborate effectively, and possess a strong social consciousness. The 21st century's urban era highlights the importance of planners in shaping the future of cities and improving the quality of urban life.
Program Outline
Careers:
Those in the field of urban planning develop solutions for many of society’s most pressing problems, providing a variety of services to cities, towns, states, regions and private clients interested in changing their physical, economic or social structures. As cities become increasingly important, the field of planning grows.
Other:
Why study Planning? Urban planning and management are key municipal functions in the United States and Western Europe. In the rapidly growing developing world, urban expansion has far outstripped the capacity of city governments to cope with the bewildering array of problems this mass movement and spatial reorganization of the population generates. Huge, difficult-to-manage, multi-centered megacities continue to emerge worldwide, along with the proliferation of thousands of other smaller cities. Nevertheless, the attraction of urban life has never been greater. With more than 50 percent of the world’s population living in cities at the turn of the century, the 21st century will be the world’s first truly urban era. The challenge this urbanized world poses is the substance of the planning profession. Planners are dedicated to developing innovative approaches to managing cities and planning their development. The constructive management of change is at the heart of the profession. Planners often work in local governments and communities, but their concerns are issues that affect the world — land use, social policy, historic preservation, transportation, housing, economic development, policy planning, environmental protection, urban design and international development. Planners are visionaries working for a better future through improvements in the quality of life in one or more of these areas. Those who work successfully in the field of urban planning possess a heightened social consciousness. They possess strong communication skills, are people-oriented and are comfortable in meeting with many different types of people, as well as being attentive listeners. Urban planners are interested in multidisciplinary issues and enjoy working collaboratively.
