Planners assist local leaders in creating a vision of a community's future through sustainable growth and change.
The field of planning is broad, but with many specializations, including: development planning, transportation planning, urban design, housing and community development, environmental and natural resources planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer mapping, and historic preservation.
EMU's Urban and Regional Planning Program offers a Major and Minor for undergraduates and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning degree for graduate students. There are close links with other programs, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Historic Preservation, Geography, and Public Administration. Students can also work with the department's Institute for Geospatial Research and Education (IGRE). See links on the left for more complete information.
Employment prospects for planning graduates remain good throughout the country, especially with recent emphasis on sustainable communities. It is a good career for women and people of color.
To learn more about planning as a career, see What is Planning?
. . . Planning Program News
|
This year's Robert M. Ward Urban and Regional Planning Program Scholarship was awarded to graduate student Dominic Romano. Dominic will receive $1,150 from the PLACE Club's endowment, which will be applied toward his tuition for the Fall semester.
Dominic has been an active student, serving multiple internships, initiating contact with many practitioners, attending program events, and keeping a very high GPA.
Congratulations to Dominic!
|
|---|
|
Graduate student Leah DuMouchel is to be congratulated for receiving the prestigious Provost's Award for research by a Graduate Assistant. She was the only EMU student to receive this award this year. Her work included assisting Prof. Tyler in preparing the manuscript for a new book and in assisting the department in preparing planning program accreditation documents.
Good going, Leah!
|
|---|
|
Planner Jim Schafer has announced he again will be teaching the Politics of Local Planning course (PLSC 655) during the Summer semester. He will teach it at the Livonia Campus on four Saturdays: May 12 and 19 and June 2 and 9, 9am to 4pm. This is a required course for graduate Planning students. |
|---|
|
A new Certificate in Transportation Planning program will begin with the Fall 2012 semester. There are certificate programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Core courses include Intro to Urban and Regional Planning, Intro to GIS, Transportation Geography and Planning, and two new courses--Infrastructure Planning and Policy, offered in the Fall semester; and Transportation Modeling Systems. There are also numerous electives from which to select additional courses.
For information on these certificates, see Norm Tyler or email him at ntyler@emich.edu.
|
|---|
|
Planning program faculty member Nina David recently announced she and her husband, Dayan, will be taking positions at the University of Delaware in the fall. They anticipate selling their house and moving sometime in early August.
In her four years at EMU Nina has actively promoted community outreach for her students and encouraged undergraduate research.
Best of luck in your new position, Nina. We will miss you.
|
|---|
|
Would you like to work in an Oregon community for 11 months. The RARE program is looking for Ameri-Corp workers. Our students have done this previously and have been satisfied with the experience. Get more at their web site. |
|---|
|
Four planning students presented at this year's EMU Undergraduate Symposium. Oral presentations were made by Noah Pylvainen, Jessie Sietsema and Maia Hardy, and Emily Baxter; a poster presentation was shown by Erica Mooney. |
|---|
On Friday, the 9th, Planning undergrad Noah Pylvainen presented at TEDxEMU, an innovative conference for students with "Ideas Worth Spreading." TED is based on a popular national conference which encourages innovation. Noah's topic presented what makes good public space why it is still an essential part of our communities."
Find out more about Noah's presentation.
|
|---|
|
It is with sorrow we have learned of the death of Steve Parks, Planning Program alum, who graduated in 2000. Steve had been active with planning program activities and events and most recently was working at EMU. |
|---|
|
Wayne State University's Student Center March 16, 2012 
|
|---|
 Graduate student Kristina Galinac is facilitating a trip for Planning students planning to attend this year's APA National Conference in downtown Los Angeles. Students who have registered for the conference include Kristina, Albra Buelow, Betsy Potter, Davis Woo, Ben Hooper, and Brittany Floyd. The date of the conference in April 14th through 17th, and it is great to see so many of our students making the trip out west.
Faculty member Norm Tyler will be making a presentation at the national conference on the topic, "Tools for Planning Well-Designed Communities." Co-presenters with him are Ilene Tyler and Andrea Brown.
More information on the conference can be found at the APA web site.
|
|---|
At this year's APA national conference in Los Angeles, faculty member Norm Tyler will have the honor of being inducted as a Fellow in the American Institute of Certified Planners. This is one of the highest honors to be given a planner and recognizes his almost 50 years of community redevelopment, teaching, and mentoring. |
|---|
|
Keep up with the PLanning Awareness Club of Eastern (PLACE) at their Facebook page, where there is a lot more information on club events.
For current club activities, contact PLACE president Jessie Sietsema at jsietsem@emich.edu. Note that there is now a Facebook page for the program. Just search on Facebook for "EMU Planning Program" and join as a Friend. |
|---|
|
On Saturday evening, January 21st, the EMU Planning Program had a special party just for alumni, their "significant others," and faculty. The informal setting at Norm's house was great for seeing other alums and catching up on what they have doing since graduation.  The fun included a pizza-making party. People brought favorite toppings--anything from cheese to mushrooms (but no anchovies). There was also a discussion of setting up an informal Alumni Group, with 3 people volunteering to help set something up online. You can view the group on Linked-In under the name, "Eastern Michigan University Urban and Regional Planning Program Alumni." Why not join and make a comment. |
|---|
|
A Linked-In home for Michigan planners can found at the "Society of Michigan Planners" group. It was created and is maintained by EMU Planning Program alum Rodney Nanney. Find the "Society" page at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1832356 |
|---|
.
Download the first edition of the
Department of Geography and Geology Newsletter.
Feel free to look at
Old News from the Planning Program.
Like more info about the undergrad or graduate Planning Programs?
We would like to talk with you...
Dr. Robert Jones, Undergraduate Program Advisor, robert.jones@emich.edu, or
Dr. Norman Tyler, Graduate Program Advisor, ntyler@emich.edu
.
|
|
|---|