Why Community and Regional Planning?
Community and Regional Planning is a dynamic profession that works to improve the welfare of people and their communities by creating more convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive places for present and future generations (American Planning Association). Planning is a technical and political process that is concerned with land use control, transportation planning, urban and landscape design, community and economic development, and protection and enhancement of the natural environment.
Planning is a relatively small but growing field. U.S. News and World Report rated Urban and Regional Planner as one of the “Best Careers” in 2009 (U.S. News, 2009). Urban Planners work in rural areas, suburban areas, and large cities. They function in the public sector within federal, state, and local governments. They also work in nonprofits and within the private sector in real estate companies and planning or multi-disciplinary consulting firms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 2 in 3 urban and regional planners worked in local government in 2012. Employment of urban and regional planners is projected to grow 10 percent from 2012 to 2022.