Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What is plan?
What is planner?
What is planning?
What Professional City Planner?
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What is city planners?
James became interested in planning when he was studying architecture in Chicago. He had always
been interested in the form and shape of buildings, but his enthusiasm for affordable housing
encouraged him to look beyond architecture. At the time, many of the tall "high rises" in Chicago
where lower‐income citizens resided were unsafe, in poor condition, and not family‐friendly. "I
changed my major from architecture to city planning in response to a need to improve the living
conditions of those living in high‐rise public housing," James says.
Today, James is a Deputy Commissioner for the City of Atlanta’s Department of Planning and
Community Development. In his current leadership capacity, James is heavily involved in various
service oriented projects geared toward improving the quality of life for the City of Atlanta and its
residents. James embraces the needs and concerns of citizens by making recommendations to the
Mayor of Atlanta and city council on the city's growth and development. Among these
responsibilities, James is also involved in writing housing policies, which strive to ensure that
everyone in the City of Atlanta, including workforce, has the opportunity to find a safe and
affordable place to live, work and play.
Before coming to Atlanta, James was a planner in Mississippi and Illinois. He has worked on
everything from transportation and design to economic development and environmental studies,
and much more. He was the board director of the American Planning Association from 1992 to 1996.
In his free time, James enjoys photography, fishing, traveling and spending time with his
grandchildren.
Mariia works for a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., called Reconnecting America.
Reconnecting America promotes building great communities that are connected by transit, which
includes trains and buses. It also shows how communities can have more affordable housing and
diversity. Mariia helps plan transit projects and also gives talks and writes about transit, affordable
housing, and diversity.
One thing Mariia loves about transit is that good transit (and for her that is usually a train) makes it
so much easier to get around a city, saves gasoline, and helps the environment. What’s more, she
would rather travel to work on a train, listening to her I‐Pod and reading a good book, than sitting in
a car in a traffic jam. She believes that we can work together to make sure that more kids, adults,
grandparents — everyone — can have more transportation choices.
Since becoming a city planner it has been important for Mariia to find ways to make our cities better
places to live and work, and in doing so protect our farmlands and open spaces for people and
animals to enjoy. "We're all connected," she says. "We need to make sure that human and animal
habitats are good places to live, work, play, pray and learn."
How did Mariia become interested in city planning?
Mariia says: "I grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota and seldom went to the city. However, one
particular trip that made a big impression on me was when I was in 6th grade and my family stayed
in a high‐rise hotel in downtown Minneapolis. From the window I could see for miles and was just
amazed at how a city and all the streets worked together. The city at night was one of the most
beautiful things I’d seen. My dad thought I was crazy. When I went to college, I loved my urban
geography class that talked about how cities developed and the relationship between people and
cities — a lot of it unchanged from the time of the Romans until today. The combination of history,
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What is city planners?
economics, the environment and architecture that planning includes just fascinated me, and still
does."
Besides planning, what are some of Mariia's other interests and hobbies?
Maria says: "My biggest and favorite 'hobby' is being a mom to my 5 year old son. He loves trains
and bicycling. We've traveled around to a lot of different countries to ride their trains and to bike.
Seeing China was one of my favorite trips. We visited a 'small city' of 5 million people and rode a
Maglev train that went over 300 miles per hour!" A Maglev train is a train that levitates above the
tracks using magnets.
Mariia also loves the outdoors and farmland she works to protect. She enjoys going back to visit her
family on the farm in Minnesota. She also loves hiking in the Shenandoah and Appalachian
mountains with her family and friends. When she moved to the East Coast, she was amazed at how
green it is and how many great places there are to hike and explore.
Even when she's not at work, Mariia enjoys being involved in her community. She is a member of
her county's transportation commission, a group of citizens who get to review different plans in the
county to build new buildings, improve their streets, create new bike paths, and provide transit.
Megan Lewis became a planner because she wanted to protect the environment. Her first job took
her to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the Environmental Law Institute. She researched
laws about wetlands and how communities use land. Next, she became a land use and
environmental planner for a private company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her job included
measuring the effect of a new transit (train) line on the environment.
Today, she is the Assistant Director of The City Parks Forum and works in the research department of
the American Planning Association. She works with mayors, city planners, parks department staff,
and members of "friends of the parks" organizations to identify how parks are an important part of
cities. For example, she studies ways that parks are places where many different people gather
together or how parks help teach people about history or nature.
When she first came to the American Planning Association, she worked as a researcher and writer.
Planners around the country can call the research department and ask for answers to their planning
questions. They call with questions such as how many parking spaces a new shopping mall needs?
She also researched special topics, such as how we can stop polluting water with agricultural
chemicals, animal waste, and gasoline.
Like many research department planners, Megan is a talented writer and has written articles for
Planning magazine, Zoning News, and Planning Advisory Service Memo. Another skill is facilitating
meetings. Facilitation means how you organize and conduct a meeting so that a group of people,
who may not know each other, can come together to discuss problems and find solutions. In this
part of her job, she has helped conduct special meetings on neighborhood planning and city parks.
City Planning is a process for:
1. Solving a community’s problems
2. Protecting important features
3. Guiding how the community will grow in the future
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The community problems that city planning might solve are too little housing or not enough parks
in which to play. Important community features might be the river and its clean water or the old
buildings on Main Street. Guiding the community’s growth might be deciding where new schools
and houses will be built.
Planners direct the planning process. Citizens–everyone from kids to grand parents‐‐play an
important part in the planning process. Planners and community members decide how to
improve their community today and explore how the community should be 20 years from now. In
Albuquerque, New Mexico, for example, middle school students worked with the city planning
department to identify young peoples’ needs for better parks and recreational and sports
programs.
Planning works well when planners and community members recognize how the parts of the
community fit together. For example, new housing for families with children should be located
near schools and play grounds. Or, grocery stores need to be near wide alleys where trucks can
deliver food easily. Good planning considers the needs of the entire community.
Once planners have helped the community create its plan, they work with many people and groups
to carry out the plan. They work with neighborhood groups, the mayor, the police, engineers, and
business people, as well as many others to make the community the best place to live.
Considering a Career in Planning
• What Is Planning?
• What Do Planners Do?
• Where Do Planners Work?
• What Specializations Are Common in the Planning Profession?
• How Are Planners Educated?
• Planning Schools and Accreditation
• 10 Tips for Selecting a Planning Program
• Scholarships for Students
• What Skills Do Successful Planners Possess?
• Does Certification Exist in the Planning Profession?
• Does the Planning Profession Have Ethical Standards?
• Resources
• Associated Careers
What Is Planning?
Planning, also called urban planning or city and regional planning, is a dynamic profession that works
to improve the welfare of people and their communities by creating more convenient, equitable,
healthful, efficient, and attractive places for present and future generations.
Planning enables civic leaders, businesses, and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating
communities that enrich people's lives.
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What is city planners?
APA has 46 chapters that represent every state in the U.S. Chapter websites provide information on
planning at the state or regional level. For a complete listing and links to chapter websites, click
here.
Planning Professional Associations in Other Countries
Planning is an international profession and practice. Many countries have a long history of
community planning and have professional institutes similar to the American Planning Association
and its institute, AICP. Here are examples of other organizations and links to their websites.
Canadian Institute of Planners http://www.cip‐icu.ca/
Royal Town Planning Institute (UK) http://www.rtpi.org.uk/
Planning Institute of Australia http://www.planning.org.au/
Institute of Town Planners, India http://www.itpindia.org/
New Zealand Planning Institute http://www.nzplanning.co.nz/
South African Planners http://www.saplanners.org.za/
City Planning Institute of Japan http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/cpij
China Association of City Planning http://www.cacp.org.cn/index.asp
Urban Planning Society of China: http://www.planning.org.cn/
Sociéte Française des Urbanistes (SFU) http://www.urbanistes.com/
French Association of Town Planners
A Typical Day for a Planner, and With Whom Do Planners Work
Planning is a highly collaborative field, and planners spend much of their time working with others. A
planner's day may start with a staff meeting to discuss the management of a planning project. Other
meetings might include a team meeting with engineers, architects, health professionals, and
landscape architects to review the specifics of a plan. Yet other meetings might take place with
developers as part of a pre‐application process. The planner's role is to provide the big picture and
to relate the project to various goals and guidelines, such as ordinances or design review, in order to
achieve a final project that meets the needs of the community. This might include appropriate
design, environmental considerations, support for the local economy, or equitable access for all
members of the community.
Planners are also responsible for knowing state and federal legislation and court rulings that relate
to the project, plans, or guidelines. For example, planners must know how the First Amendment of
the U.S. Constitution relates to sign controls or how street designs relate to the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Once again, planners are responsible for providing this technical knowledge to the
projects. In complex projects, a developer will likely consult his or her own legal experts.
Some part of the planner's day involves working on his or her own. Planners may conduct research
and gather data from a variety of sources, including economic development or market research
studies, from census reports, or from environmental studies. The planner tests assumptions about
the meaning and importance of the data by using a variety of technologies. One common tool used
in planning is Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that link data and electronic mapping. Other
tools may include scenario building visualization tools, electronic poling systems, financial analysis
spreadsheets, and demographic databases. Planners prepare reports on their findings and analysis.
Often, they will provide alternatives for policy makers to consider. Writing and synthesis skills are
necessary for this part of the job.
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Planners also do presentations. Presentations are made by mid‐level staff, department heads, or the
planning director. Planners frequently provide presentations to the city council, business groups,
neighborhood groups, and professionals. These presentations place the specific project or issue in
the context of the community's plans and guidelines for development and change. Today, planners
are proficient in using PowerPoint and other visual technologies to present information and ideas in
planning. Presentation skills are very important for private sector planners who have to present
projects at various stages to clients, officials, or the public.
Project management is another important skill for planners, especially for those working in the
private sector. Planners manage a variety of projects from neighborhood planning programs to the
design and development of a new bike path to much larger scale projects. They also oversee grant
programs, such as historic preservation or community development block grants.
Planners also engage in more lengthy processes of public participation. In these projects, planners
call upon their skills as facilitators working with a broad spectrum of community members. These
processes have become very creative and planners often use exercises, charrettes, visualization
techniques, and group work in the development of the plan.
A planner's day often extends into the evening as he or she provides staff support to the monthly
planning commission meeting. Public sector planners provide reports to the commission and provide
support to the public meeting. Private sector planners present projects to the commission. It is not
uncommon for a planning attorney to present proposals to the planning commission or, on occasion,
to provide legal counsel to the planning commission. Other evening meetings may include
neighborhood meetings or staffing the historic preservation review board.
What Specializations Are Common in the Planning Profession?
Most planners perform their work in one or more particular fields of specialization within the larger
planning profession. These specializations represent specific bodies of planning knowledge that
jointly further the welfare of people and communities. While some planners spend their entire
career within one of these specializations, most will move between them or find employment
opportunities that combine specializations. Here are several of the most common specializations
within the planning profession:
• Community Development
• Land Use & Code Enforcement
• Transportation Planning
• Environmental/Natural Resources Planning
• Economic Development
• Urban Design
• Planning Management/Finance
• Housing
• Parks & Recreation
• Historic Preservation
• Community Activism/Empowerment
How Are Planners Educated?
Three main degrees are awarded in the field. The first is an undergraduate degree in planning. Many
with undergraduate degrees will go on to receive a master's degree in planning. However, planners
with undergraduate degrees do work in planning practice, often in entry level positions. A degree
from a Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredited university in Urban Planning or City and
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Regional Planning is the most thorough educational preparation for the planning field. PAB accredits
undergraduate programs.
A master's‐level graduate degree is considered the standard for those who are planning
practitioners. Some planning graduate students have an undergraduate degree in planning, but
others may have studied geography, urban studies, architecture, or sociology. PAB also accredits
master's degree programs in planning.
When hiring for professional planning positions, many organizations require or give strong
preference to candidates holding graduate degrees. In 2004, 43 percent of all APA members (note:
approximately one‐sixth of the APA members are planning commissioners, officials, or students, who
do not have a degree in planning) had earned a master's degree in planning. Many employers also
give preference to those who are certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
The third level of planning degree is the Ph.D. Most often, those who obtain a Ph.D. in planning
pursue a career in academia or with research or policy institutions. Ph.D. programs in planning are
not certified by PAB.
Planning Schools and Accreditation
Planning Schools
Lists of schools offering degrees in planning are maintained by the Association of Collegiate Schools
of Planning (ACSP). ACSP is a member organization of the academic community in planning. It
maintains current information on schools providing degree planning education.
Visit http://www.acsp.org/org/links_to_planning_schools.htmto see the lists. To view the complete
list of accredited schools, click on "Accredited Planning Programs." To view the complete list of non‐
accredited schools, click on "Non‐accredited ACSP Member Schools." One can view all the schools by
clicking on "Schools by State."
ACSP conducts an annual national conference on research and education in planning. Visit the
website for more information: http://www.acsp.org/.
Undergraduate and Master's Degree Programs
The undergraduate and master's degree programs are listed together under each school. Review
these listings.
Accredited schools: http://www.acsp.org/CareerInfo/Accredited_programs.html
Non‐accredited ACSP Member Schools: http://www.acsp.org/CareerInfo/Non‐
Accredited_ACSP_Member_Schools.html
Ph.D. Programs
ACSP maintains a list of these programs at www.acsp.org/CareerInfo/PhD.htm. APA also maintains a
list at www.planning.org/institutions/phd.html.
Planning Accreditation Board
Planners routinely complete degree programs — both undergraduate and master's level — through
universities accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The PAB regularly reviews
programs and helps maintain the standards for the profession of planning. All people considering a
career in planning are encouraged to attend a PAB‐certified school. PAB accreditation ensures that,
at a minimum, graduates have demonstrated knowledge of:
• Structure and Functions of Urban Settlements
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• History and Theory of Planning Processes and Practices
• Administrative, Legal, and Political Aspects of Plan‐making and Policy
Implementation
• Knowledge of a Particular Specialization or Planning Issue
To complete a degree in planning, students must be skilled in:
• Problem Formulation, Research Skills, and Data Gathering
• Quantitative Analysis and Computers
• Written, Oral, and Graphic Communications
• Collaborative Problem Solving, Plan‐making, and Program Design
• Synthesis and Application of Knowledge to Practice
Accredited Schools of Planning
Undergraduate and graduate programs are listed together under the university listing. Visit
showcase.netins.net/web/pab_fi66/documents.htm for the listings.
Ranking
APA, AICP, ACSP, and PAB do not rank schools. Instead, APA encourages students to consider PAB
accreditation in their decision of what school to attend. At least one outside vendor has published a
ranking of graduate urban planning programs in the United States. Neither PAB nor any of its
sponsors, however, formally recognizes this ranking or the criteria underlying it.
10 Tips for Selecting a Planning Program
Would you like to further your education in the field of planning, but are not sure how to select the
right program for you? It is important to remember that no two planning programs are alike, and
that the exact "right" program might not exist. Rather, the decision to enroll in a particular program
involves a number of academic and personal considerations. Here we list 10 of these important
considerations for selecting a planning program. To get the most out of this list, browse APA
Planners Book Service and the other sections in this guide to read up on what planners do.
1. Areas of Interest
Write down a series of topics and issues that interest you in planning. Consult the course catalogs
from the schools you are interested in enrolling. See whether the courses offered and the emphasis
of the programs match your list of concerns. Review recently published articles and reports by
university faculty to determine whether their interests might match yours. If you do not find a fit
between your interests and those of the program or the faculty, you might consider enrolling in
another school or another academic program.
2. What Are the School's Graduates Doing Now?
Contact the planning department in the colleges and universities that interest you. Ask for the
names and phone numbers of several recent graduates and ask for permission to contact them. Call
these graduates to find out what types of jobs they got and how they view their graduate school
experience.
3. Investigate Library Resources
Call the university library and find out the size of its holdings and areas of greatest strength. Does
the library participate in share agreements with other universities? Does the library offer a range of
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accessible information sources, including online resources? Compare the size of library resources
from university to university.
4. Look at Other Programs Offered by the College or University
Are there allied programs that may help you extend your education? Would a dual‐degree program
best meet your educational goals? Consider whether or not the school has architecture, landscape
architecture, engineering, political science, geography, environmental management, public
administration, or law programs. Ask the planning school if students take courses in other
departments.
5. Does the School Offer Internships?
Gaining work experience can be a great asset in orienting you to the field and the job market. It can
also enhance your resume when you start hunting for that first job. Do students at the school
regularly participate in internships? Does the school have an established internship program?
6. What Is the Makeup of the Student Body?
Ask the department about its students. Is there a mix of ages and ethnic backgrounds? Is this
important to you? Is the school a residence or a commuter school? Which environment is more
agreeable to you?
7. Geographic Compatibility
Some students choose schools based on proximity to their parents, or other friends and relatives.
Perhaps more importantly, however, consider what type of environment matches your personality.
Does living in an urban environment excite you? Or are you interested in a more rural setting?
Through their planning courses students may learn a great deal about a particular city or region.
That knowledge, along with interpersonal connections made through project‐based classes, may
lead to potential job opportunities. Would you consider living in the area, even for a short time,
upon graduation?
8. Are Practicing Planners Involved in Teaching?
Does the school have practicing planners among its faculty? What courses do they teach? Does the
school emphasize the practice of planning and preparing you for the workplace? Or, is the school
more research oriented and more suited to those going on for a Ph.D.?
9. Consider Faculty Accessibility
Many students flourish by establishing sound relationships with faculty. However, in any given
program, some professors or lecturers may be more accessible than others. Consider what
relationship you seek with the program's faculty. If you have previously identified certain professors
with interests matching your own, you should consider whether other commitments might prevent
him or her from meeting your expectations. Strongly consider meeting with faculty on campus
before enrolling in any program.
10. Financial Considerations
Paying for education can be a challenge. Depending on the university, a number of need‐based and
merit‐based scholarship opportunities exist. Read the section "Scholarships for Students" below.
Particularly at the graduate level, teaching assistantships and research fellowships are a common
way to reduce or waive the cost of tuition. If applicable, inquire about establishing in‐state residency
for tuition discounts. Ask for all available financial information from the school to make an informed
decision.
Scholarship for Students
The scholarships available for studying planning are as plentiful as the institutions providing
education. Each institution will have its own opportunities and requirements for obtaining student
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funding. General information is provided below as a guide to what may be available. Please check
with each college or university to find out what funding opportunities exist.
APA Scholarships
APA maintains a list of scholarships available to planning students:
www.planning.org/institutions/scholarship.htm.
Undergraduate
For many undergraduate degree programs, students receive scholarships that are not restricted by
major. Therefore, high school grades, extracurricular activities, and test scores will generally be
considered as the basic criteria for receiving scholarships. Scholarships may require that a student
maintain a particular Grade Point Average to continue receiving the scholarship. Schools often
require a financial aid application that doubles as a scholarship application for any grants and
scholarships available from that institution. When applying for your undergraduate degree program,
contact the financial aid office and familiarize yourself with the scholarship application process.
Graduate
Funding for graduate level study is often in the form of assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.
These titles vary by institution. Contact graduate planning programs to find out what opportunities
are available for graduate funding.
University researchers or professors create research assistant positions through grant funding for a
particular project or program. The research assistant works on that project or program, receiving a
wage, usually a stipend, and some assistance with tuition.
Teaching assistant responsibilities range from teaching introductory or lab classes to assisting
professors with classes by grading or holding help sessions. Teaching assistants also receive a wage
and tuition assistance.
Fellowships can refer to project dependent funding, similar to a research assistantship, or grant
funding with no work requirement.
Grants and scholarships also vary by institution. These financial awards most often do not carry work
requirements, but do require good academic performance to maintain.
What Skills Do Successful Planners Possess?
In addition to a formal educational background, planners possess a unique combination of skills that
enhance their professional success. Because planning is a dynamic and diverse profession, individual
skills vary depending on a planner's role and area of specialization. Successful planners possess a
combination of these skills:
• Knowledge of urban spatial structure or physical design and the way in which cities work.
• Ability to analyze demographic information to discern trends in population, employment,
and health.
• Knowledge of plan‐making and project evaluation.
• Mastery of techniques for involving a wide range of people in making decisions.
• Understanding of local, state, and federal government programs and processes.
• Understanding of the social and environmental impact of planning decisions on
communities.
• Ability to work with the public and articulate planning issues to a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to function as a mediator or facilitator when community interests conflict.
• Understanding of the legal foundation for land use regulation.
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• Understanding of the interaction among the economy, transportation, health and human
services, and land‐use regulation.
• Ability to solve problems using a balance of technical competence, creativity, and
hardheaded pragmatism.
• Ability to envision alternatives to the physical and social environments in which we live.
• Mastery of geographic information systems and office software.
Does Certification Exist in the Planning Profession?
There are two types of certification — one certifies planning schools offering degrees, and the other
certifies practicing planners.
College and university programs are certified by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB):
http://showcase.netins.net/web/pab_fi66/.
Practicing planners are certified through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), the
professional institute of the American Planning Association. AICP provides leadership in setting
nationwide standards for the planning profession. Planners who demonstrate that they meet high
standards of technical, theoretical, historical, and ethical knowledge in the field earn AICP
Certification.
Planners who are interested in seeking AICP Certification must take an exam, which is offered twice
a year, and meet other eligibility requirements. Planners with an accredited graduate degree, for
example, must also have at least two years of professional planning experience before they may
apply to take the AICP Certification exam. Visit http://www.planning.org/certification/for more
information.
Upon receiving AICP Certification, planners may use the initials "AICP" after their names. AICP
certified planners are required to adhere to the AICP Code of Ethics:
www.planning.org/ethics/conduct.html.
AICP Certification yields tangible results for prospective employers and planning professionals as
demonstrated in the results of the 2004 APA Salary Survey: www.planning.org/salary/. Certified
planners earned $13,000 more, on average, than non‐certified planners. Many organizations either
require certification or give strong preference to certified planners in hiring practices.
The American Planning Association does not encourage the licensing of planners on either a national
or state level. The APA recognizes and respects existing state licensing or credential requirements
and supports its members practicing the profession of planning in those states. For example, New
Jersey currently requires licensure of professional planners, and Michigan currently provides for the
registration of Professional Community Planners. Some states, such as Kentucky, South Carolina, and
Tennessee, have enacted legislation pertaining to the credentialing of planning commissioners and
other planning officials.
Does the Planning Profession Have Ethical Standards?
There are two standards set for ethical behavior in the field of planning. The first is a Code of Ethics
binding on members of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Certified planners are
required to adhere to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which identifies four core
responsibilities incumbent upon certified planners:
• Planners' primary obligation is serving the public interest.
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• Planners are responsible for diligently and competently performing work on behalf their client or
employer.
• Planners are responsible for contributing to the development of the planning profession and their
colleagues.
• Planners are responsible to themselves for high standards of professional integrity, proficiency and
knowledge.
The Code is a helpful guide for all planners as they negotiate the ethical and moral dilemmas they
encounter. It also informs the public of the principles to which professional planners are committed.
The second ethics standard applies to anyone participating in the planning process and is called
APA's Ethical Principles in Planning. This includes elected and appointed officials, such as planning
commissioners. It also applies to citizens and non‐AICP certified planners. This standard is not
binding; it is a set of guidelines. However, some planning commissions formally adopt the ethical
principles to assist them with ethical public decision making.
Resources
Publications
Order the following publications from Planners Book Service: www.planning.org/bookservice.
A Career Worth Planning by Warren Jones and Natalie Macris provides a complete overview of the
field and helps you assess whether or not planning is the right fit for you.
Job seekers may find the International Careers in Urban Planning helpful in their consideration of an
expanded field of practice.
The Guide to Careers in Community Development by Paul C. Brophy and Alice Shabecoff describes
the many different kinds of community development jobs: community organizing, residential and
commercial finance, and brownfield redevelopment. It offers advice on how to break into the field
and advance.
The Job of the Practicing Planner by Albert Solnit is a popular classic. It demystifies development
review and explains the tools of local regulation and the technical, bureaucratic, and organizational
skills planners need to be effective.
What Planners Do by Charles Hoch is based on interviews with 29 practicing planners. He observed
how they interacted with staff, citizens, and public officials, and exposes the tension between the
authority of professional planners and the politics of the public good. You'll learn how planners use
resistance, innovation, and persuasion; how they respond to moral and political conflicts; and how
they balance individual autonomy and social responsibility.
Career Sessions at National Planning Conference
Each year APA's National Planning Conference holds at least one session on careers. In addition, a
mobile workshop is conducted for young planners and students to give them an inside look at
practice in the public, private, and even sometimes, the non‐profit sector. Review the National
Planning Conference program for more information: http://www.planning.org/conferences.
Student Membership in APA
There is no better way to keep informed and learn about career opportunities to than to become a
student member of the American Planning Association. Benefits include Planning , The New Planner ,
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a student website, networking, and discounts on a wide range of products and services. Learn more:
www.planning.org/students.
Associated Careers
Most planners will work throughout their careers in a governmental setting or as a private
consultant to local government or developers. Planners work in multidisciplinary teams and
frequently work with engineers, architects, landscape architects, and economic development
specialists.
Some planners select a career in advocating, often focusing on planning concerns such as the
environment, transportation, or community development. They may work for a nonprofit
organization or become involved in politics. Some planners work as staff assistants to elected
officials; others run for public office and serve in local, state, and national office. Many of these
planners focus on policy.
Other planners may focus on issues related to health and human services. Planners may work in
neighborhood organizations helping to integrate services and advocate for the needs of low‐income
or disadvantaged community members.
Over time a planner's career may lead to a high level managerial position. Planners serve as
university provosts, deans, and presidents. Others serve in high level governmental positions or as
directors of organizations. Many planners have become city managers.
Finally, planners may work for research institutions helping to define and influence broad public
policy and the understanding of the field of planning.
Related fields include architecture, civil engineering, landscape architecture, urban design, urban
affairs, urban policy, and historic preservation. Some areas within the following fields may also relate
to planning: geography, sociology, urban studies, information systems (Geographic Information
Systems or GIS), health care, or housing.
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