Opening of canoe ramp at Delvoe Park, where planning students put their canoes to clean up.

Urban Planning is a profession dedicated to improving communities and the environment as well as enhancing the quality of life for all members of society. Planners assist in understanding and solving society's problems by addressing diverse public issues that affect where people live, work and play; where they shop and go to school; how they get from place to place; what our communities look like and how we use resources. Urban planning is a people-oriented profession as much as it is one that deals with managing change. Planners work with local communities with the goal of enhancing the welfare of people and their communities by creating a convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient and attractive environment for present and future generations.

What do planners do?

Planners must be knowledgeable about government structure and decision-making, the structure and function of cities, data collection and analysis, problem formulation and research design, and plan-making and policy implementation. In addition, planners must be able to communicate effectively in writing, orally and visually, as well as be able to work with diverse groups of people to find solutions to problems.

Planners formulate plans and policies to meet the social, economic and physical needs of people and communities, then develop the strategies to make these plans work. Planners work with the public to develop a vision of the future and to make that vision a reality through project implementation. Planners analyze problems, forecast future conditions, compare alternatives, and describe implications so that public officials and citizens can make knowledgeable choices.

Where do planners work?

2nd Wednesday Lecture Series: Gary Rogers, Community and Economic Development Director, City of Lauderdale Lakes.

Planners work at every level of government, including cities, regions, counties and states, as well as national and international agencies. They also work in the private sector for consulting firms, land development companies and law firms. Non-profit agencies such as housing authorities and economic development councils employ planners. Within these sectors, planners perform a wide variety of responsibilities in many specialty areas including land use, transportation, community and economic development, historic preservation, urban design and environmental planning.

Starting salaries vary greatly but starting salaries of recent graduates have been between $35,000 and $45,000. Career opportunities for planners are expanding and this trend is expected to continue in the future. This is especially true in Florida where a strong economy and the attractiveness of the state contribute to continuing population growth via urban development.

Is a career in planning right for me?

Ask yourself some simple questions:

• Am I looking for a career rather than just a job?
• Am I interested in cities; care about my community; concerned about the environment?
• Do I like to envision what could be, rather than what is?
• Do I like to work with people?
• Am l interested in making a positive impact on people's lives and on the built environment?
• Do I like to analyze problems and develop possible solutions?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then planning is the right career for you! Either way, if you are not sure, for questions regarding the undergraduate degree, please click here. For questions regarding the graduate degree, please click here.

Want a degree?

FAU does offer an undergraduate's degree and master's degree in Urban & Regional Planning. Both offer students the opportunity to learn about planning within an urban environment. Small classes and individual attention are two of the program's strengths. Classes for the undergraduate program are offered at both the Davie campus and the Downtown Fort Lauderdale campus. Classes for the master's program are offered at the Downtown Fort Lauderdale campus.

The Urban & Regional Planning Department is proud of the success of its graduates in Florida and beyond.

For more information on FAU's Bachelor of Urban & Regional Planning program & Master of Urban & Regional Planning program, please contact the department by the following methods:

Florida Atlantic University
Department of Urban & Regional Planning
FAU/BCC Higher Education Complex
111 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone: (954) 762 5652
Fax: (954) 762-5673
Email: durp@fau.edu