Urban/regional planning

[Connemara]

Does anyone here work in the field or have any general comments on the profession? I've been reading about sustainability issues and I find it to be very interesting. Are career prospects good for someone with an MRP? Google results seem to indicate yes.

 

[acidboy]

I used to play simcity a lot.

 

[ballmouse]

My aunt and her husband both worked in the field. One worked in subway design and the other in city parks/gardens. However, they started decades ago (probably 70s or 80s) and worked outside the USA (although they went to school in the USA). Back then, their home country was developing, so they landed cushy government jobs with really nice pension plans for retirement.

 

[globetrotter]

I have a friend who got a masters in this at a pretty good school. after an exciting career as a waiter in a wedding hall, he spent a few exciting years as a technical writter, and now retrained as a librarian.

 

[Biscotti]

I have a friend with MUP; he works in government - says all he does is drinks coffee, meets with people on occasion, but mostly does nothing. He makes OK money, but seems very bored with it all.

Looking at most US cities, it doesn't seem that planners do much planning at all....so whats the point? It isn't as though we're going to start from scratch.

 

[Connemara]



I have a friend who got a masters in this at a pretty good school. after an exciting career as a waiter in a wedding hall, he spent a few exciting years as a technical writter, and now retrained as a librarian.

A promising field!

 

[Reborn]

Getting a MUP now while living/working in NYC. Being a planner can be as awesome or ****** as you make it out to be.

Also, I think Ms. Burden might be your perfect woman.

 

[yjeezle]

i have a friend who just graduated in urban planning...

he seems to be doing well with his dad's trust fund

 

[Piobaire]

Can you precisely define "sustainability issues?"

 

[bmathe02]

It's tough. I did 5 years architecture and then 1.5 years for my urban design and regional planning - masters degree. As far as I know an architecture degree is still a pre req. 6.5 years is a lot of work and time to spend on a fancy degree but if you love it do it. This is a relatively new field of study in the US about 50 years old only. Expect to live and work in a large city or an up and comming market. FYI I'm only 25 and still haven't even begun to break into my full potential employment wise. I will say urban design opens up city and gov type jobs where a plain old architect would probably be over looked.

Do internships even if you don't get money. You need it in this economy just to get your resume up to speed with relevant work experience. Keep up with you computer software. Learn Gis software.

 

[IRKSM]

I am in high school and thinking about majoring in urban planning I have started to get my foot in the door of possibly working for my own city because I know our urban planner gets paid far above the average starting salary of 40k. I am interning with our urban planner currently and am on a committee that is planning the future of our school districts facilities. At this point I feel very excited by the prospect of working in this field, am I in for a surprise down the road? I have heard that many urban planners are bored and don't do much, is this true in all cases?

 

[Arbitrary Alias]



I've been reading about sustainability issues and I find it to be very interesting.

Keep in mind that this is stuff about which your competition will be fiercely passionate, not just "interested". What really excites you? Urban transportation systems? Zoning to promote walkability? Urban agriculture? Stopping suburbanization? Do you want to work in academia, government, or contracting? I don't work in urban planning, but from talking with friends it sounds like there are exciting (if it's your thing) opportunities in transportation design. I imagine they'd be rarer for someone entering the field without some sort of technical background (such as civil engineering), though. Are you looking at the program at Albany?