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Bachelor's degree in planning or political science ?

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melqsii

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Hello!
I'm currently a sophomore in college, and I recently changed my major to urban policy and planning. However, I'm not sure if this is the best path to achieve an urban planning career because the program in my school is not accredited by the PAB. I didn't consider this too much of an issue before, since I'm planning to get a master's degree in urban planning, but after reading some discussions online it seems the majority of people say it is best to get a bachelor's and a master's in different studies. So now I'm wondering if it would be better to get my bachelor's degree in political science and then go for a master's degree in urban planning. I'm also fearful about majoring in political science because I feel that there's less job opportunities there, but would I be in the same position with an urban planning degree that isn't accredited ?
(political science and urban planning are the only majors that really interest me at this point, but I'm open to hearing other suggestions.)
 
To answer this question yourself, you should consider what it is you want to do in urban planning, since it is a very, very wide field. I would say if you are interested in the policy of urban planning, then you could certainly take a degree in PoliSci. If housing turns you on more, however, then maybe a business or finance degree might be better in that case. If adapting to climate change is what you think is important, then maybe something in the earth sciences is the way to go.

Welcome to Cyburbia and good luck!
 
I can't answer much about having an accredited degree or not. MY city doesn't even look at that so it wouldn't be a worry for me. I will agree that it is better to have a different master and undergrad. You learn more. Doing both in the same line of study is like taking the same classes with harder homework. For the polisci or planning degree I'll echo Gedunker. Most of the planners I work with have a planning degree, but there is one with a polisci degree. Most of the polisci degree people work for the council office or some other policy office. I should say for my city we do unfairly weight resumes with a planning degree.
 
I did poli sci and sociology as a dual major in undergrad and found it to provide an excellent foundation for a master's and for my eventual planning career. Sociology, especially, with the whole core vs periphery framework, world systems theory, etc is an excellent framework through which to understand the hidden hands that guide both economic development and planning on a local, regional, and national scale.
 
Several Cyburbians have geography degrees.
My only suggestion is don't do what I did - take a 8 year gap year & work in nothing related to planning. Going back to school was hard in many ways.
 
Phil/PoSi -> unaccredited planning MS (accredited right after graduation, so it counts now) here. It was about 0% what I studied and 100% talking to people and asking for tips/things I should know for me. I started working for a development consultant I met through a connection after undergrad, and seeing how things work on that side has been an enormous benefit overall. In my experience, nobody has "political science major" jobs with zero experience, but lots of people liked someone who could savvy the state/local structure and was interested in a business niche.
If I had to give advice to someone in my own shoes/do it again, I would go harder into whatever I wanted instead of optimizing undergrad (and add finance/ULI-related activities specifically) to get a strong and broad base, then grind in something development-adjacent while in a graduate UP program. The accreditation was something that worried me since the path to AICP is shorter and that certification is a good help early on. After that, you can pick where you'd like to specialize/get more experience.
 
I have a PolySci undergrad with a Planning grad degree. Works well, and it helps you to understand why certain submittals are . . . treated the way they are,

My German minor is of no use in my professional life, but I do get to practice when I visit my sister in Switzerland.
 
When I first started college, my planning school only offered a master's in planning. I went with an undergrad in Geography cause I found, not only the subject, but GIS fascinating. One of the program tracks offered a minor in planning through which I took several courses and a study abroad trip. After a year off between my undergrad and grad, I started my master's. Several years before, the planning school began offering an undergrad program. There was a student who did both and from what I could tell, it was a rehash curriculum stretched out for four years instead of two with the grad program. I felt the minor shared in some aspects the subject matter, such as, learning the history of planning.

I've encountered planners who only obtained a PolySci degree and they're very proficient at their job. They didn't need to take on so much debt for a master's right away and should only need one when it's to further their career. I understood why my planning program now offers an undergrad program. Taking on $40,000+ in student loan debt for a master's is a risky prospect and some of my classmates had received another advanced degree previously that didn't pan out for them. Comprehending financial literacy and what you wanted to do should be factored in when going to grad school.

I'd say be wise with your time in college. Undergrad subjects are fun to learn and later apply in the professional world. Entry-level planning jobs can be easily obtained with just an undergrad in Geography, PolySci, Engineering, Geology, History, Economics, etc on the resume. It's how the candidate translates it to the job they're applying for and what courses they took. Not being PAB accredited is a drag as it would take longer to sit for the ACIP exam.
 
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Hi! If you know you're going to get a master's degree, it does not matter what your undergrad is. I am currently a masters student and my cohort comes from all different backgrounds. Only one of us has an undergrad degree in planning. Just make sure whatever you choose, it is a subject that you can be successful in the classroom in for grad applications. Enrollment for masters programs has gotten more competitive (especially if you want funding). I got my B.A. in Poli Sci and it has served me well.
 
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