Urban Planning Jobs Education and Training

Increase your job opportunities in urban planning through training for aspiring and experienced planners

Jobs in urban planning are on the rise, thanks to an increasing dissatisfaction with suburban life, and the desire of many young professionals to live closer to where they work -- which is often in the city. Because of the significant migration back to cities, city planning jobs are expected to outpace many other fields.

Urban planning jobs typically pay well, but generally require a masters degree. A bachelors degree in urban planning paired with a masters in a related field is usually recommended, as are courses in statistics and computer science. Urban planning jobs education and training resources include:

1. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs for urban planning careers
2. Continuing education courses for urban planners
3. Publications catering to urban planners
4. Seminars and conferences focusing on urban planning and design
   

Choose a degree program urban planning employment

A college degree is required for careers in urban planning -- usually both an undergraduate and a graduate degree, although some employers will accept an undergraduate degree and significant work experience instead.

Increase your urban planning employment opportunities through continuing education

Even with an advanced degree, you'll still need to keep learning throughout your city planning employment. As urban areas grow, urban planners will need to stay on top of new trends and changing methods in the field.
University of Washington, the College of Built Environments -- Urban Design and Planning offers both continuing professional education courses and educational outreach. Georgia Tech offers short-term continuing education courses.

Stay current on trends in urban planner employment through industry publications

By subscribing to industry magazines, and reading books in the field, you can find both in-depth information and the latest news.

Get the latest news on the methods used in urban planning jobs through seminars and conferences

Through seminars and conferences, you not only learn from the presentations, but also from the interaction with other urban planners.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Planning "Smart Growth" seminars, and North Carolina State University holds an annual urban design conference.

• After learning how to become an urban planner, make sure you understand the basics of urban planning recruitment. As with other industries, there are several websites focusing on job opportunities in urban planning. Whether you're still searching for entry level urban planning jobs, or you already have a position you like, keep an eye on these sites for information on salary trends and what geographic regions offer the most opportunities.

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