Advice on Pursuing a Planning Degree...

Submitted by JSimone on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 08:49.

I am a recent graduate with a Bachelors in Anthropology, and recently I have been interested in Urban Planning, I have only taken one Intro Planning class in college and do not really know if I want to study Economic or Community development. Will it benefit me more to just go to graduate school, or take a few non-Degree classes, or get a second degree and then go to graduate school? Someone help me please...

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You need to know what your hurdles are

Submitted by mwackers on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 07:20.

I am a planner for a municipality but my masters is in Political Science.

What helped me were my experiences. I did a variety of internships, including: City of New Haven, US State Dept, World Trade Center, US Senator's office and with a campaign.

I used every opportunity to pratice and prove that I had valuable skills. I didn't worry if the experience wasn't exactly what I wanted to do in life, since I also knew being different helped me stand out.

Getting the degree shows commitment and intelligence. But a degree is just a hurdle that you need to jump to get to your end goal.

You need to aware of how this adds to your ability to sell yourself. You need to also jump the other hurdles and be aware of what other opportunities you need to explore to make yourself the most desirable job applicant possible.

Pursuing a planning degree

Submitted by Dano on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 18:32.

Will it benefit me more to just go to graduate school, or take a few non-Degree classes, or get a second degree and then go to graduate school?

I wouldn't get another degree then go to grad school. You don't want to take on too much debt as a planner, as you won't get rich. If you want to make a lot of money, pursue a different career. If you want to make things happen on the ground thru democracy, then maybe take 2-3 non-degree classes, take a year off, then go. I tacked on some classes after undergrad and some during grad. Don't regret it.

Best,

Been there, done that

Submitted by freeyoke on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 08:48.

I'm new to the planning field myself and had a non-planning undergrad major before I earned my Masters in Urban Planning. I agree with the poster about how grad school can be demanding on your finances and time so you may not want to go to grad school just to get another degree.

Having experience or contacts can count for more than more years in college. I had the dual problem of little experience outside a short internship and too much education with a grad degree. It took a long time to find a planning job. A fellow grad student from India I knew slaved away for a dual major in urban planning and geography. He hasn't gotten his degree in geography and probably won't because has a good job now and no interest in getting another degree.

Personally, I'd try to get a good job and if that isn't possible I'd consider grad school. There's no shortage of planners except perhaps in parts of country where there is high growth but planners are mobile and you'll face competition from people all over the country with more experience so getting the first job isn't easy for everybody.

Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics website under planner or urban planner for a description of the career field, qualifications, salaries and job outlook statistics. It should give a better way to measure your options. I wish the Internet was around when I was an undergrad so that I could have easily looked into career options.

recently graduated planner's perspective....

Submitted by mollycasto on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 06:25.

I know there are tons of perspectives on this but here is mine, for what it's worth:

When I was immersed in getting my Master's degree in Planning, I got some really sound advice from a professor and mentor... I went to school full time, was also working and questioned whether I was moving too quickly to get everything I wanted out of the experience.

He sat me down and told me this:

...A Master's degree is important to open professional doors. You WILL learn and make great connections. It's important to remember, however, that the process of you pursuing a Master's is stressful on you, your finances, your family and your friends. Ultimately, most of what you will learn you will learn on the job after you get your degree anyway. So...in short, get in, get what you need and get out and into a job as quickly and efficiently as you can...

Based on his advice, that is what I did and, I'll be honest, he was absolutely right. In spite of having gotten through graduate school where, please don't get me wrong, I did learn a LOT, I am still learning every day. Now that I have my degree and am working in the field, I have more time and more resources, both professional and private, to pursue education for education's sake. The beauty of the planning field is that it is the nature of our work to be inquisitive and to constantly be learning.

Just by the nature of your questions, I get the sense that you are thoughtful, intelligent and have the background you need to head into a graduate planning program. I wouldn't spend too much time taking additional courses or pursuing "preparatory" degrees before you go. Planning is an interdisciplinary field. In graduate school, if it;'s a solid program, you should be looking at economics AND community development. You'll likely have the opportunity to take a graduate course or two in both and decide where you want to focus more of your energy.

Good luck.