City and Regional Planning, B.S. at California State University Fresno

Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize transportation infrastructure and public facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas, and also preserve natural resources, and as well address problems caused by pollution, and to use planning to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

What You Can Do

Employment of urban and regional planners is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the 7% average for all occupations. Demographic, transportation, and evironmental changes will drive employment growth for planners. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

• California is a state requiring all municipalities and counties to develop and adopt a General Plan with at least seven elements, and to update plan elements on a 5-year basis.
• Green House Gas Reduction targets increase the need for municipalities and counties develop their own Climate Action Plans.
• Water quality and quantity management are matters of great importance to central and southern California. Water quantity and quality districts throughout the state employ planners.
• Across the country, about two-thirds of all planners are employed in the public sector. In 2010 there was an estimated 245 planners in the Central Valley. This is expected to increase to 282 by 2020 and to 375 by 2030.
• California has: 58 counties, 451 cities, 3,500 special districts, dozens of consulting firms, and state and federal positions, and they all need planners.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

• Introduction to Community Planning
• Environmental Planning
• Introduction to Urban Design
• Community Development Theory & Practice
• Transportation Planning
• Planning Law & Administration
• Economics for Planners