Community and Regional Planning

Western Michigan University's community and regional planning major prepares students to become professional planners with particular focus on small cities and their regional communities. As a student in this program, you'll complete 32 credits of core courses in planning theory, history, techniques, methods, ethics, law and administration. You will also complete 25 credits of required courses from cognate social science disciplines and statistics to gain additional knowledge and skills relevant to planning.

After that you will have the option to take 12 credits in one of the following areas of specializations:

  • Environmental analysis and resource management
  • Local economic development
  • Tourism development and planning
  • Local government
  • Application of geographic techniques to planning

Beyond the classroom

Clubs for WMU students in community and regional planning include the Western Michigan Association of Planning Students, the Geography Club or Gamma Theta Upsilon, and Students for a Sustainable Earth. You will also have the opportunity to gain pre-professional practical experience through internships.

After you graduate

Recent WMU graduates with degrees in community and regional planning are working as:

  • Urban planners
  • Regional planners
  • Transportation planners
  • Environmental planners
  • Economic development specialists
  • Site analysts

Among the organizations they work for are:

  • Government agencies
  • Travel and tourism agencies
  • Research companies
  • Consulting companies

Career Outcomes

Where is this program offered?

  • Kalamazoo

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