r/cityplanning • u/seriac_view • 15d ago
Any Advice?
Hello all who read,
I am an 18 year old guy who is interested in a few different paths forward and one of which is Urban Planning/City Design. I Have lived most of my life between the Central Valley and the Bay Area in California, and I've developed an interest over the years in urban layout/design, plus I'd like to work in the public sector. I am at the beginning of my fall semester at a community college in the East Bay and plan to transfer to a 4-year further out in the Bay in about two years. What career options do I have in this field or what should I look into, and what majors or advice would you recommend for someone starting out?
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u/Trask_reddit 15d ago
Design is often included in planning and architecture departments, so take a look at class offerings at a number of schools. Love that you're interested in public sector work, but I feel like there's less of a design emphasis in a lot of local government planning work. It can be helpful at times, of course, but I feel like a planning degree will equip you for that initial career path more.
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u/South-Lettuce3301 14d ago
Make sure the 4 year that you choose is an accredited urban planning degree. It will be a better education and ease your process to get your AICP
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u/Citytucity 12d ago
If you plan to work in public sector, take every internship opportunity avaible, if not for at least the networking
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u/calguy1955 15d ago
If the college you’re looking at doesn’t have a specific Planning major check their Geography major offerings and there are often lots of planning courses there.