<p>Hi, I'm a development sociology major who has no background in architecture or urban planning. However, I spend much of my free time cruising google earth, researching census data, and studying data about different municipalities and areas. This makes me think that maybe regional planning would be a career path that would interest me. However, I'm intimidated by the fact that most regional planning programs are located in architecture schools. Architecture seems so specialized to me, I know that many architecture programs require portfolios to even apply. Is regional planning the same way? Also, does regional planning sound like a career that fits my interests? I'd be happy to provide more info if need be.</p>
<p>Btw, I'm going to stick with my current major, but am curious about studying regional planning in grad school. How difficult would it be to get in to a program without an undergrad degree in planning? Would getting a minor in it be a large benefit?</p>
<p>I’m also interested in regional planning, but much of the planning done in the USA is at the more local level. Transportation planning and environmental planning might be areas that are an exception, especially in multi-city regions like those in CA (I’m thinking of SB375 in CA that requires a regional focus on the reduction of greenhouse gases, which means a focus on regional housing, transportation, and environment in the Bay Area). </p>
<p>I have a BA in cultural/human geography, but I took classes in the Dept of City Planning and in Urban Studies, and focused on urban/economic geography when I could. I am definitely not a designer, but do have some basic understanding of architectural design as a personal interest. I’m about to undertake an MSc in Regional and Urban Planning at LSE, which is in their geography department. While I don’t know too much about planning in the UK vs. planning in the US, traditionally, planning in the UK has been at the regional level. Lately that is changing as their current government is trying to shift more responsibility to local levels for pretty much everything. I expect my year abroad to be quite interesting.</p>
<p>Not every planning program in the US is in an architecture department, although of course the disciplines are linked somewhat. In looking for a grad school, I didn’t really come across any that required a portfolio except for programs in Urban Design (I looked at SDSU, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U of Utah, and UW, as well as U of Glasgow, U of Edinburgh, LSE and several other schools in the UK - I like their approach to geography, not just urban planning). If you are working with population and other data, it would be a good idea to learn GIS now as it will be a huge benefit. Development studies, sociology, and I’m sure development sociology lead well into urban planning and usually have some overlapping courses with planning, especially if you take some classes that are focused on urban sociology or the like. Having a minor in city planning would be a benefit if you have the time, although I’ve been told by city planners and grad students that it isn’t necessary.</p>