I was born and raised in Jacksonville, and was greatly inspired by this website to go study urban planning. I am finishing up my freshman year at FSU and hope to graduate in two years with a Bachelors in Environmental Studies and a Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning, and I was planning to continue on to get my Masters after that.
I am a very motivated student and am certain that urban planning is the field that I am truly passionate about. However, especially with all of the budget cuts, I am apprehensive about choosing a career that seems to be experiencing such high levels of unemployment. I want to make the right decision now, as if I end up switching majors it will likely be to a pre-med program, and I don't want to fall too far behind.
Could anyone on here give me some advice? What can I expect in a career as an urban planner/what is the outlook for employment in the future?
I graduated from FSU's DURP and a know a few other posters did as well. I'll shoot you a PM when I get a moment.
As a profession planning seems to be doubly cursed these days. First there was the development bust and now there's a widespread urge to punish public employees.
But all in all planning is a great career choice, with a lot of responsibility and authority from day one. You get to work on stuff that REALLY matters.
I've been at it for almost 40 years, and I feel like I'm just getting started.
Check out these websites.
http://www.planning.org/aboutplanning/index.htm (http://www.planning.org/aboutplanning/index.htm)
http://floridaplanning.org/firstcoast/ (http://floridaplanning.org/firstcoast/)
Similar situation as the first post. I'm a Public Admin student at UNF, on the fast track for an MPA. As of late I've become really interested in urban planning and issues. This website has really given me a chance to see the local issues that matter, and I'm excited to learn more from posting and contributing. Does anyone have any suggestions about places to intern or to learn outside the classroom about the field? Thanks.
"Rural Urban District" planners & consultants proved emergent "growth" segment with apex in NE Florida circa 1992.
That depends on what type of urban planner you want to be. If you only want to be a "paycheck player" then continue through the DURP urban planning program at FSU into graduate school and stay there until you get your masters. After 5 years there might be a job market for you in Florida, then again most likely not since it will take 15 years for the real estate market in Florida to recover from the Great Recession.
If you want to be great then switch into a related graduate school program at another school outside of Florida such as the real estate development course at USC or a design-oriented/sound research-based graduate school program somewhere outside the state like Georgia Tech (or go further to the northeast or midwest) or even go to a European school. If you want to make lots of money, then switch to an MBA program for graduate school. Businesses are whores for people with MBAs. There are a lot of stupid people with MBAs making lots of money.
It's a sad state that the discipline of urban planning has NOT produced one great planner in the United States (OK, maybe Kevin Lynch even though he was mostly wrong). All the great ones have emerged from other disciplines, usually architecture but also economics (see Jacobs), sociology and urban/human geography. In short, if you want to be great then diversify your education across the spectrum of real estate, design and development. If you just want a job, then specialize in the manner the planning discipline preaches (transportation, environmental, public administration, grants, etc.). But if you specialize, then you won't be making the big decisions but only implementing those of others made long before you came into the project.
If you want the truth, then heed my words.
Planners and MBAs: Hit reply to begin tirade below.
No tirade from this corner Trigger.
You should be in the Mayor Brown administration.
Pre med is a smart approach for employment into the 21st century. Do what your heart tells you to do, look for happiness in what you do for (the rest of) your life!
I want to clear up that I'm going for an MPA- Master of Public Administration. As terms of the type of urban planning I want to do, I'm really interested in sustainable planning in a city or college campus setting. I know this is the path I belong on.
Quote from: north miami on June 10, 2011, 10:57:36 PM
"Rural Urban District" planners & consultants proved emergent "growth" segment with apex in NE Florida circa 1992.
dude...enough...English please
Quote from: trigger on June 11, 2011, 08:51:42 AM
It's a sad state that the discipline of urban planning has NOT produced one great planner in the United States (OK, maybe Kevin Lynch even though he was mostly wrong). All the great ones have emerged from other disciplines, usually architecture but also economics (see Jacobs), sociology and urban/human geography. In short, if you want to be great then diversify your education across the spectrum of real estate, design and development. If you just want a job, then specialize in the manner the planning discipline preaches (transportation, environmental, public administration, grants, etc.). But if you specialize, then you won't be making the big decisions but only implementing those of others made long before you came into the project.
If you want the truth, then heed my words.
Planners and MBAs: Hit reply to begin tirade below.
Reluctantly, I might have to agree with you.
I've been a planner my whole working life, but my graduate degree is from Northwestern Univ., i.e. not from an accredited planning school.
On the other hand, the best planners I know do have graduate degrees from good accredited planning schools, including UF and FSU.
Prominent planners (not necessarily the best planners) tend to have planning degrees from UNC, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Penn, etc.
If you're going for the big bucks then look into some other field, like investment banking, and get your degree from an "elite" institution. Your field of study won't matter all that much.
Quote from: tufsu1 on June 11, 2011, 02:06:33 PM
Quote from: north miami on June 10, 2011, 10:57:36 PM
"Rural Urban District" planners & consultants proved emergent "growth" segment with apex in NE Florida circa 1992.
dude...enough...English please
good try.
Susan F. Was simply slip slope Narrative to Prosser Hallock.As to "1992" -good try.Every year generated specific lesson.
Well known Secret.Clear English,simply obscure.
Possibly more about odors.And the Big Screen, a round of "Sector Plan".
For simple starters,search Clay County Planning Dept. From Dick Post forward.......
The Flying Monkeys are trying to Bolt.
so that is clear English?
Smart career choice? Probably not these days. Interesting career choice? Definitely. Just be aware that politics frequently trump and thwart good planning.
Quote from: riverside planner on June 14, 2011, 02:30:48 PM
Smart career choice? Probably not these days. Interesting career choice? Definitely. Just be aware that politics frequently trump and thwart good planning.
Note for instance Clay County Head Planner procession from Dick Post,then Susan Fraser,then Prosser Hallock figurehead,then Clay County native with ties to development speculation,further rewarded with top DOT position.
Quote from: north miami on June 14, 2011, 04:15:46 PM
Quote from: riverside planner on June 14, 2011, 02:30:48 PM
Smart career choice? Probably not these days. Interesting career choice? Definitely. Just be aware that politics frequently trump and thwart good planning.
Note for instance Clay County Head Planner procession from Dick Post,then Susan Fraser,then Prosser Hallock figurehead,then Clay County native with ties to development speculation,further rewarded with top DOT position.
Who is this "Prosser Hallock figurehead" that your keep referring to? I used to work for Prosser Hallock and am still in touch with folks there, and can tell you that aside from some contract work on the Evaluation and Appraisal Report, PH has not been involved with Clay County. They do serve as the general planning consultant for the Town of Orange Park, but never Clay County. Get your facts straight please.