How bad is the job market right now for planners?

[jobaba]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Planning ahead:

Found a post-bac program in Landscape Arch., essentially it will be like getting a second BA in architecture. Then I would work in a planning or design firm while working on my Masters in urban planning with specialization in GIS.

The post bac program offers the required courses to get certified and licensed as registered landscape architect and offers internships with the city planning, parks and major design firms. The tuition is low enough to where I can pay for the post bac on my own, and I could have a decent enough job to not have to take out too many loans for the MUP.

Any thoughts on this strategy. I've heard having a landscape architect + planning/GIS background would be a killer way to enter the profession.

Not a good idea IMHO if your ultimate goal is to be a planner.

First off, LA is not the same as architecture.

You're going to get a 2nd degree in LA. That's fine if you want to be an LA, but to get an entry level job as a planner with a good outfit, the Masters is really the entry level degree. I explained that part to you already. It won't really matter that much what your first degree was is. Architecture is best, but that is not required.

Also, don't expect the LA firm to pay for your planning Masters. Most likely, they wont.

If you don't have the $, why not just work in the field you are in now and go to planning school part time. A lot of my fellow students did this. One guy was a bartender. Planning classes are not that demanding, so you can load up on them.

Or just take the $ you have now and go to planning school FT. Planning schools are known for giving quite good funding.

Or, I could sell you my degree at a fraction of the cost.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by jobaba

Not a good idea IMHO if your ultimate goal is to be a planner.

First off, LA is not the same as architecture.

You're going to get a 2nd degree in LA. That's fine if you want to be an LA, but to get an entry level job as a planner with a good outfit, the Masters is really the entry level degree. I explained that part to you already. It won't really matter that much what your first degree was is. Architecture is best, but that is not required.

Also, don't expect the LA firm to pay for your planning Masters. Most likely, they wont.

If you don't have the $, why not just work in the field you are in now and go to planning school part time. A lot of my fellow students did this. One guy was a bartender. Planning classes are not that demanding, so you can load up on them.

Or just take the $ you have now and go to planning school FT. Planning schools are known for giving quite good funding.

Or, I could sell you my degree at a fraction of the cost.

Well that's good. I am glad to hear that planning departments are pretty helpful with aid and that the courses aren't rigorous enough to where it will push my limits with a FT job. I just thought they were on the same level of Arch courses where it's nearly impossible to hold down a FT job and go to school as an Arch.

Now why isn't LA like architecture? I figured they were in the same field? Is it seen as lesser than regular Arch? Can you explain this difference to me? Thanks.

I am just trying to justify the possible 30k I will amass for my planning degree. this isn't bad in my opinion considering I have little undergrad debt. I can always consolidate the loans too into a large sum and have it based on income. I'll be paying 200 bucks a month for 30 years but at least I'll develop skills toward a career.

[jobaba]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Well that's good. I am glad to hear that planning departments are pretty helpful with aid and that the courses aren't rigorous enough to where it will push my limits with a FT job. I just thought they were on the same level of Arch courses where it's nearly impossible to hold down a FT job and go to school as an Arch.

Now why isn't LA like architecture? I figured they were in the same field? Is it seen as lesser than regular Arch? Can you explain this difference to me? Thanks.

I am just trying to justify the possible 30k I will amass for my planning degree. this isn't bad in my opinion considering I have little undergrad debt. I can always consolidate the loans too into a large sum and have it based on income. I'll be paying 200 bucks a month for 30 years but at least I'll develop skills toward a career.

LA is completely different from architecture. They are related fields and both to planning, but one is designing buildings and the other is designing landscapes and plants and greenspace.

If you can get through 2 years of planning school with only 30K in debt, that's not bad at all. I'd go for that option.

[radiolibre99]

I figured landscape arch was more about park and natural landscape design rather than the tech details behind a building. I was just wondering if it was seen as a totally different profession like landscape design gardening or something. Or as though its not taken seriously by other architects?

30 k not bad? Didn't figure all that much either for a professional degree.