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Do you like to think about how to make your city better? Urban planners develop long- and short-term land use plans to aide growth and revitalization of urban, suburban, and rural communities, while helping local officials make decisions concerning social, economic, and environmental problems.
Urban planners develop long- and short-term land use plans to aide growth and revitalization of urban, suburban, and rural communities, while helping local officials make decisions about social, economic, and environmental problems. Local governments employ the majority of urban and regional planners. Planners may be involved in various activities, including decisions on alternative public transportation and protection of ecologically sensitive regions. They address issues such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and the effect of growth and change on a community. Planners also may be involved with drafting legislation on environmental, social, and economic issues, such as sheltering the homeless, planning a new park, or meeting the demand for new correctional facilities.
As cities encounter changing environmental regulations, population changes and the need for improved transportation systems, the need for city planners will grow in the coming years. Here are some examples of projects that an urban planner might work on:
Education Required: Bachelor's degree. Most entry-level jobs require a master's degree in urban or regional planning, urban design, geography, or a similar course of study. A bachelor's degree from an accredited planning program, along with a master's degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or civil engineering, is good preparation for entry-level planning jobs in urban planning.
Work Environment: Urban planners do a large portion of their work behind a desk, but they are also often required to travel to inspect land under consideration for development or regulation. Although most planners have a scheduled 40-hour workweek, they frequently attend evening or weekend meetings or public hearings with citizens' groups.
Average Starting Salary: $21,000 - $40,000 - varies by region and education
For more information:
American Planning Association - http://www.planning.org
