If you're the kind of professional who learns best by working on problems and challenges, consider taking a Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program Deep Learning course. We offer various studio courses in which you can work on real planning matters with other smart professionals under the guidance of seasoned professionals. You can get practical knowledge and a career-enhancing work product. And you don't have to travel anywhere.

BOCEP studio courses are entirely online. You can participate from anywhere you can get an Internet connection. No special software is needed. There are no required meetings in most classes. But you will probably want to participate at least every other day to share insights and solve problems with professionals from around the United States and other countries.

Yes, we know it sounds counterintuitive. But we at Rutgers University's Professional Development Institute have developed a studio course model that works for serious learners. Our upcoming studio courses cover a wide variety of topics. They include:

*Law and Sustainability Studio, March 3 to April 10 (free online open house on February 23): Practice writing a model green regulation.

*Managing Green Politics, March 3 to April 10: Learn better ways to lead in a green economy.

*Professional's Writing Studio, March 3 to April 10: Write better; be more successful.

*Programming Cultural Uses, April 14 to May 22: Site planning for the creative sector.

*Cultural Economic Development Studio, April 14 to May 22: Conduct a feasibility study to see if downtown Somerville, New Jersey can become an arts destination.

*Cultural Community Development Studio, May 26 to July 3: Develop a plan to connect arts to community development goals.

*Leadership Studio, May 26 to July 3: Help elected and appointed officials of a New Jersey community address a difficult challenge.

Each Deep Learning course offered between now and June are eligible for 14 AICP Certification Maintenance credits. Each class also earns 20 hours toward a Bloustein Professional Certificate

Each Deep Learning course is $295. Planetizen readers can get a $50 scholarship on any course. (To get the scholarship, use promotion code: BGGBS when registering. Only 10 scholarships available per course.) Members of the Planning and Black Community and Planning and Women divisions of the American Planning Association and members of The Leading Institute network get $100 scholarships. (Division members, please contact your division's leadership for more information.)

Can't commit to a Deep Learning course? Try a BOCEP Learning Lab. These are one hour to one-and-a-half hour webinars covering a wide variety of topics. They include leadership, civil engineering, planning ethics, and sustainability.

To learn more, please visit the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program at http://www.policy.rutgers.edu/bocep

Questions? Feel free to contact Director Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, at [email protected] or 732-932-3822, x711