<p>Which major would better prepare me for a future in urban planning?</p>
<p>Neither…
Urban planning… I think you are better off with areas like architecture.
Civil engineering can be an option - more technical though. </p>
<p>You can also look for schools that offer Urban planning at undergraduate level. There are master programs for urban planning, for sure.</p>
<p>Geography or urban studies are common majors for future urban planners. I don’t know if your school offers these, though. You could usefully supplement these areas with coursework in policy studies—economics, politics, etc. Often, geography major programs will include a track focused on environmental aspects, but that area tends to focus on physical geography and climate. For urban planning, you’d want a track in urban geography, though the major requirements probably will require at least some coursework in physical/environmental areas. As the previous poster noted, there are masters programs in urban planning, not as many undergrad programs. Persons admitted to graduate programs in urban planning come from a range of different undergrad backgrounds. Often, urban planning programs are found in architecture and design schools, but sometimes, they are found as a track in public policy schools. I’ve known a few people that have worked in urban planning for local governments with just an undergrad geography degree. </p>
<p>[About</a> a Career in Planning - Urban Planning - School of Architecture and Urban Planning](<a href=“http://www4.uwm.edu/SARUP/planning/About_career.htm]About”>http://www4.uwm.edu/SARUP/planning/About_career.htm)
[American</a> Planning Association](<a href=“http://www.planning.org/]American”>http://www.planning.org/)
[Guide</a> to Undergraduate and Graduate Education in Urban and Regional Planning | ACSP: Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning](<a href=“http://www.acsp.org/education_guide/overview]Guide”>http://www.acsp.org/education_guide/overview)
[Planetizen</a> | Urban Planning, Design and Development Network](<a href=“http://www.planetizen.com/]Planetizen”>http://www.planetizen.com/)
[NASPAA</a> - National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration](<a href=“http://www.naspaa.org/]NASPAA”>http://www.naspaa.org/)
<a href=“https://www.acsa-arch.org/[/url]”>https://www.acsa-arch.org/</a>
[AAG</a> CAREERS GUIDE - CAREERS CONTACT](<a href=“http://communicate.aag.org/eseries/scriptcontent/custom/giwis/cguide/opportunity/cguide_field.cfm]AAG”>http://communicate.aag.org/eseries/scriptcontent/custom/giwis/cguide/opportunity/cguide_field.cfm)
[ASU</a> Student Planning Association | School Of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning | Arizona State University](<a href=“http://geography.la.asu.edu/node/4631]ASU”>http://geography.la.asu.edu/node/4631)
[Ball</a> State University - Academics and Admissions](<a href=“http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/CAP/Programs/UrbanPlanning/Academics.aspx]Ball”>http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/CAP/Programs/UrbanPlanning/Academics.aspx)</p>
<p>Oh ok thanks a lot! You guys are awesome. I finally got some great feedback from this website, lol</p>
<p>Oh yeah one more question…how about community studies?</p>
<p>You’re better off studying chemistry. Everything in urban planning can be modeled by statistical mechanics which you will learn in chemistry. Also, who is going to let a graduate plan anything?</p>
<p>What the heck?
Chemistry?
Sorry hon, I am talking about URBAN PLANNING!
& besides, I dont like chem 
It would make more sense doing geography or urban studies</p>
<p>what i meant to say was, the movement of people in urban spaces can be modeled by a model from chemistry - statistical mechanics. people in large squares are nothing more than particles undergoing (to the observer) random motion.</p>
<p>now, if you think carefully, who is going to let a fresh graduate plan anything? do you have connections? if not then forget urban planning, who is going to let you plan?</p>
<p>now chemistry will teach you about the useful parts of urban planning while also leaving your future options open for a technical career.</p>
<p>^LastThreeYears, I did some stalking (lol) and found out you recommened majoring in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering in many posts. As a Chemistry major, I think you’re overrating Chemistry a bit too much. Chemical Engineering I get it, but Chemistry, especially just bachelor’s degree alone? Come on.</p>
<p>Depends on what you want to do. If you want to make the next cancer drug a bachelors in chemistry is not enough but if you want a 40-45k starting salary, 9-5 job, chemistry is one of the best for that. being good at using HPLC or GCMS alone is enough for alot of jobs. being able to fix one is even better!</p>
<p>Well this is why you should get an internship whenever possible, if you are in urban planning. Obviously even if you are employed you are under mentorship of an experienced planner.
I felt that if urban planning is your life-long goal, pick a few schools that offer urban planning at the undergraduate level.</p>
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<p>Yes, but those jobs are lab technicians or research assistants, which require an interest in Chemistry. And you’re recommending it to someone asking about urban planning lol
Also 40-45k salary is easily overshadowed by Chemical Engineering’s avg. starting salary around 65k</p>
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<p>lol so what? With just bachelor’s in Chem the best you can do is probably a lab technician job you talked above. You will be doing something like operating instruments routinely or participating in chemical research that no one cares about, nothing whatsoever about urban planning</p>
<p>That’s for chemical engineers who are hired as chemical engineers. 21000 in the whole US and declining by 2% over the next 10 years. Do you honestly believe that there are less than even 10000 chemical engineering graduates every year? the majority of chemical engineers don’t work as a chemical engineer since the world only needs so many plant designers, chemical plants are not being built and designed every day; one plant can last for 50 years.</p>
<p>and yes i would recommend chemistry over urban planning because no one will let a fresh graduate plan anything, just like engineers learn about design and research but their first, or even 2nd, jobs will almost always not involve any serious design or research work. it’s a path to a good job with opportunities for growth.</p>