Becoming a Planner

Planning is a dynamic profession that requires mastery of a core body of knowledge through formal education and experience. Successful planners also need to possess a set of specialized skills that allow them to navigate through the complexities of the planning process. To find out how planners gain a core body of knowledge and other specialized skills, and to start out on your own planning career path, check out the following information:

• How Are Planners Educated?
• Planning Schools and Accreditation
• 10 Tips for Selecting a Planning Program
• Scholarships for Students
• What Skills Do Successful Planners Possess?

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 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. ACSP conducts an annual national conference on research and education in planning. Visit the website for more information: www.acsp.org. The organization also maintains current information on schools providing undergraduate and graduate planning education.

Visit www.acsp.org/org/links_to_planning_schools.htm to see the lists of planning schools. Click on "Accredited Planning Programs" to view the complete list of colleges and universities accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. More information on the PAB is listed below. 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."  The undergraduate and master's degree programs are listed together under each school.

Ph.D. Programs

ACSP maintains a list of PhD 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:

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

Ranking

There is no list ranking planning schools. APA, AICP, ACSP, and PAB do not rank schools. Instead, students are encouraged to consider PAB accreditation in their decision of what school to attend. APA is not aware of any ranking of planning schools done by any outside vendor, such as U.S. News & World Report or The Princeton Review.

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 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 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.
• 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.