How to Become a City Planner
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Date: 2019-09-12
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Comments and reviews: 10
Anthony Scarborough
Im currently a Junior majoring in Geography. I chose Geography as a major because I have been interested in maps since I was little and also because I wanted to avoid going into a social science where the only viable job option is to become a professor. This is because I have a learning disability, and as a result I dont think I could handle the constant stress associated with working in academia. I need periodic breaks to maintain my mental well-being. Also, because of my disability, I have problems doing certain types of computer related work, including GIS. I since decided that I do not want a job in Geography because I have discovered that it is too reliant on GIS and STEM fields. After taking an Urban Planning class I decided Urban Planning could be good alternative since it seems more social science related. However, after watching this, Im worried that like Geography, it depends too much on STEM and GIS. After watching this, Im also a little worried that like in academia, as a planner I would be under constant stress that I could not handle and would not get the periodic breaks I need. What do you think, based on my situation? Is Planning the right for me? Also, what specialties should I opt for or avoid based on my situation?
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Im currently a Junior majoring in Geography. I chose Geography as a major because I have been interested in maps since I was little and also because I wanted to avoid going into a social science where the only viable job option is to become a professor. This is because I have a learning disability, and as a result I dont think I could handle the constant stress associated with working in academia. I need periodic breaks to maintain my mental well-being. Also, because of my disability, I have problems doing certain types of computer related work, including GIS. I since decided that I do not want a job in Geography because I have discovered that it is too reliant on GIS and STEM fields. After taking an Urban Planning class I decided Urban Planning could be good alternative since it seems more social science related. However, after watching this, Im worried that like Geography, it depends too much on STEM and GIS. After watching this, Im also a little worried that like in academia, as a planner I would be under constant stress that I could not handle and would not get the periodic breaks I need. What do you think, based on my situation? Is Planning the right for me? Also, what specialties should I opt for or avoid based on my situation?
reply
mrfacques
This video omits a few problems. First, there are very jobs in planning, at least in Chicago, even though the Chicago metropolitan area has more municipalities and other sub-state governments than any other metro area in the US. A degree in urban planning will get you job, but it will most likely not be as a urban planner. The second issue, which this video does touch on, is that as a planner, you are more or less just part of the a citys bureaucracy, and for the most part, planners get relegated to reviewing construction and business applications or grant applications or grant management, every once in a while there might be the opportunity to do something more planning-related. Of course, I speak from experience, if you do decide to go to school, dont forget to take classes that will give you some hard skills, like GIS or data analysis, otherwise your urban planning degree is as valuable as any other liberal arts degree
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This video omits a few problems. First, there are very jobs in planning, at least in Chicago, even though the Chicago metropolitan area has more municipalities and other sub-state governments than any other metro area in the US. A degree in urban planning will get you job, but it will most likely not be as a urban planner. The second issue, which this video does touch on, is that as a planner, you are more or less just part of the a citys bureaucracy, and for the most part, planners get relegated to reviewing construction and business applications or grant applications or grant management, every once in a while there might be the opportunity to do something more planning-related. Of course, I speak from experience, if you do decide to go to school, dont forget to take classes that will give you some hard skills, like GIS or data analysis, otherwise your urban planning degree is as valuable as any other liberal arts degree
reply
Diego Espinosa
Hi Dave, This video was really great and exciting for me. A lot of the questions you answered were questions I had been asking myself for a long time. This was especially significant when you speak about getting a master if you have a BS that isn't directly connected to urban planning. I expect to graduate in May of 2019 with a BS in psychology and a certificate from the Purdue School of Engineering in sustainable technologies. My long-term goal is to become an urban planner and tie sustainable principles and technology to it but I am worried about whether I could get a job in city planning with that degree and certification. Would you say it'd be almost necessay for me to obtain my masters if I want to be a serious urban planner?
reply
Hi Dave, This video was really great and exciting for me. A lot of the questions you answered were questions I had been asking myself for a long time. This was especially significant when you speak about getting a master if you have a BS that isn't directly connected to urban planning. I expect to graduate in May of 2019 with a BS in psychology and a certificate from the Purdue School of Engineering in sustainable technologies. My long-term goal is to become an urban planner and tie sustainable principles and technology to it but I am worried about whether I could get a job in city planning with that degree and certification. Would you say it'd be almost necessay for me to obtain my masters if I want to be a serious urban planner?
reply
Chad Findlay
Recently I graduated with a degree in Geography and Environmental studies and am looking at becoming a planner. I had highlighted on my resume some classes that emphasis city planning. I am wondering is that enough to get a job as a planner? I don't have the work experience because I never thought about getting an internship as a student and most jobs that I have applied for want an urban and rural planning degree. They do say related field so I am hoping they look at what I got. I don't have any of the programs that they put on the job ad like AutoCAD. So I was also wondering do I need to go back to school to get a planning diploma? I do live in Canada so it might be a little different but I am hoping you can solve my questions.
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Recently I graduated with a degree in Geography and Environmental studies and am looking at becoming a planner. I had highlighted on my resume some classes that emphasis city planning. I am wondering is that enough to get a job as a planner? I don't have the work experience because I never thought about getting an internship as a student and most jobs that I have applied for want an urban and rural planning degree. They do say related field so I am hoping they look at what I got. I don't have any of the programs that they put on the job ad like AutoCAD. So I was also wondering do I need to go back to school to get a planning diploma? I do live in Canada so it might be a little different but I am hoping you can solve my questions.
reply
Tarek Essam
I am an architect with a master's degree in architecture and an MBA. I worked as an architect for few years, then switched careers many times becoming a Project Manager, Realtor. etc. I was very good in every career I took but never felt satisfied. I always felt ithat city planning was probably the right path for me; I was always obsessed by maps, love to have a global view and have a very strong desire to create utopias and make other people's lives better. Unfortunately I am 43 years old now and it's too late to switch. I take solace in watching your videos. You are probably everything I wanted to be Keep up the awesome work.
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I am an architect with a master's degree in architecture and an MBA. I worked as an architect for few years, then switched careers many times becoming a Project Manager, Realtor. etc. I was very good in every career I took but never felt satisfied. I always felt ithat city planning was probably the right path for me; I was always obsessed by maps, love to have a global view and have a very strong desire to create utopias and make other people's lives better. Unfortunately I am 43 years old now and it's too late to switch. I take solace in watching your videos. You are probably everything I wanted to be Keep up the awesome work.
reply
fardhan amarullah
Great video I wonder why it's only have a few viewers for this enlighting video. I'm Fardhan and i'm a final year undergradute student of urban & regional planning program in Indonesia. I have been thinking lately about how do i continue my journey to become a urban planner. Firstly about whether i get a job first or directly continue my studies. And if i choose to continue my studies then where would i go. I was hoping that i can ask you about the options of the variety of urban planning program and how to choose it. Thank You
reply
Great video I wonder why it's only have a few viewers for this enlighting video. I'm Fardhan and i'm a final year undergradute student of urban & regional planning program in Indonesia. I have been thinking lately about how do i continue my journey to become a urban planner. Firstly about whether i get a job first or directly continue my studies. And if i choose to continue my studies then where would i go. I was hoping that i can ask you about the options of the variety of urban planning program and how to choose it. Thank You
reply
Michael Ghiglieri
Pretty easy. Follow the mantra1. Cars are bad2. Single family homes are bad3. Parking for cars is bad4. Bike lanes are good5. Dense housing for yuppies is good6. Charging stations for yuppie electric cars is good7. Believing if we eliminate parking, we can force people into mass transit that sucks is possible. People will not opt to just not live or shop there at all. 8. Even though every time we think we have the way we end up ruining the area we are planning. This time we have found the wayFor sure.
reply
Pretty easy. Follow the mantra1. Cars are bad2. Single family homes are bad3. Parking for cars is bad4. Bike lanes are good5. Dense housing for yuppies is good6. Charging stations for yuppie electric cars is good7. Believing if we eliminate parking, we can force people into mass transit that sucks is possible. People will not opt to just not live or shop there at all. 8. Even though every time we think we have the way we end up ruining the area we are planning. This time we have found the wayFor sure.
reply
Ihsan Susanto
Hi there thank you for the video, i'm actually a bachelor student of Regional and Urban Planning, with a focused stream of transportation planning. I study in my home country, Indonesia. I hope we can discuss more about planning because it will be so much different between developed country like the US and developing country like mine. In here, especially in the transportation sector we are challenged by transportation mafia Yes, because of that we lack on transportation network and infrastructure
reply
Hi there thank you for the video, i'm actually a bachelor student of Regional and Urban Planning, with a focused stream of transportation planning. I study in my home country, Indonesia. I hope we can discuss more about planning because it will be so much different between developed country like the US and developing country like mine. In here, especially in the transportation sector we are challenged by transportation mafia Yes, because of that we lack on transportation network and infrastructure
reply
Zoch Buppet
between 2005 and 2013 many planners who finished school could find a job (U. S and Canada) as there was over saturation and the older people are not retiring. Same with most positions dealing with governmentBecome a plumber instead. Most of it now is social planning and renewal, neighborhood and highrise renewal. A new field linked to civil engineering is Public asset renewal, fix the crumbling highways and overpasses that are falling apart. especially in the north due to the weather.
reply
between 2005 and 2013 many planners who finished school could find a job (U. S and Canada) as there was over saturation and the older people are not retiring. Same with most positions dealing with governmentBecome a plumber instead. Most of it now is social planning and renewal, neighborhood and highrise renewal. A new field linked to civil engineering is Public asset renewal, fix the crumbling highways and overpasses that are falling apart. especially in the north due to the weather.
reply
drdanger
When I was about to graduate high school I seriously considered this career path, but in my country the only urban planning program was closely linked to design and architecture and had much less of an statistical/mathematical approach. There was going to be for example a lot of drafting (by hand/rapidograph) and cardboard model making, all which I hated so I decided to go for engineering. I'm not complaining about my career choice but these videos do make me wonder what if
reply
When I was about to graduate high school I seriously considered this career path, but in my country the only urban planning program was closely linked to design and architecture and had much less of an statistical/mathematical approach. There was going to be for example a lot of drafting (by hand/rapidograph) and cardboard model making, all which I hated so I decided to go for engineering. I'm not complaining about my career choice but these videos do make me wonder what if
reply
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