CSUN Preps Students For Careers In Community Development
The roles of urban planners are essential because they are the ones who help create sustainable communities. In expanding metropolitan areas, these specialists are always needed to develop revitalization projects and work on ways to better manage population growth. In Los Angeles, planners earn a median annual salary of more than $48,000 with top professionals raking in wages in excess of $61,000, according to current data.
Although most planners work in local government, a growing number of them are holding down positions at architectural and engineering firms. Experts say as municipalities continue to respond to the challenges related to housing, parks, schools and transportation, employment opportunities will widen in the coming years.
"By 2022, urban planners should be able to work with all types of public, private and community stakeholders to be able to address complex societal issues," said Henrik P. Minassians, an associate professor of urban studies and planning at California State University, Northridge (CSUN).
How is CSUN helping to make planners more marketable?
"We offer an undergraduate course of study, which prepares our students for careers in such fields as urban planning, environmental analysis, community development, public administration and resource management. In the third quarter of 2015, we will be launching our 36 credit-unit master's degree program in urban planning, which is designed to be completed in two calendar years."
What defines an astute urban planner?
"An accomplished planner has the ability to understand social, economic and environmental complexities in urban planning, in an effort to help develop short and long-term strategies that work."
How does a planner fortify a sustainable vocation in this field?
"Planners that are recruited by governmental entities and other industries understand the need to prepare cities to become more resilient, while taking into consideration a lack of fiscal resources for addressing complex issues."
What is your message to aspiring urban planners?
"Urban planning is an interesting field that draws from skills, knowledge and perspectives from multidisciplinary fields of study. At the end of their baccalaureate education, our graduates are ready to work for companies that are now mapping out designs for modern cities."
Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist who covers topics of social interest in greater Los Angeles. Some news articles she has authored have been archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Sharon also contributes to Examiner.com.