The following external resources are relevant to those interested in urban and regional planning. Among them are salary reports and information about licensing and professional organizations. The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics contains information about job outlooks, median pay, and more.
Salary Information
Students are encouraged to conduct research regarding the pay rate for full-time jobs and internships. If you would like to discuss a job or internship offer, please schedule an appointment with the Career & Professional Development team. Some commonly used salary resources are listed below:
Professional Certifications
Urban Planners can choose to pursue a number of professional certifications, including:
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
- Certified GIS Professional (GISP)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
Professional Organizations
There are many professional organizations that urban planners may choose to become involved with, including:
- American Planning Association (APA)
- There are local and regional chapters of APA, including the Michigan Chapter.
- Additional APA resource of interest: Student Memberships | Resources | Events | Career Support
- North American Food Systems Network
- Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)
Planning Specializations
According to the APA, most planners perform their work in one or more particular fields of specialization within the profession. Some of the most common specializations are:
- Community Activism
- Community Development
- Comprehensive/Long-Range Planning
- Economic Development
- Environmental/Natural Resource Planning
- Food Systems Planning
- Hazard Mitigation/Disaster Recovery Planning
- Historic Preservation
- Housing
- Land Use and Code Enforcement
- Parks and Recreation
- Planning Management/Finance
- Transportation Planning
- Urban Design
The APA has twenty-five (25) divisions that cover planning specialty and interest areas. Those interested in specific specializations can join these divisions.