Program Overview

Community and Regional Planning

The community and regional planning major at Western Michigan University prepares students to become professional planners with a focus on small cities and their regional communities.

Program Description

As a student in this program, you will 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.

Specializations

After completing the core and required courses, 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.

Career Outcomes

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

Program Location

The program is offered in Kalamazoo.

Related Programs

Other programs of interest include:

• Earth Science
• Environmental and Sustainability Studies
• Freshwater Science and Sustainability
• Tourism and Travel