master in urban planning & GIS ,,PLEASE HELP >>

[planner]

Hi dears,,

i am looking for a university that can i get a certificate as following :

major : urban and regional planning

minor: geographic information system ( GIS ).

PLEASE GUIDE ME IF U KNOW ANY OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES IN THE (USA ) ..

THANK U VERY MUCH ...

[teshadoh]

I wouldn't worry so much about minoring in Geography (most GIS programs are in a Geography dept.) since most planning programs require GIS courses. But if you really want to major in planning & minor in geography - I can't think of many programs that have both, at least a college that has a planning degree that the APA likes. For whatever reason most of them aren't in the typical liberal arts college. But more than likely they are out there...

...So do you really want to bulk that much on GIS? If so, then again - just be aware that a department won't likely be called "GIS" but will be within some school. Otherwise - in most planning programs you will get the opportunity to learn GIS.

[planner]

i have forgotten to say , i got a B.A in : major: geography + minor : urban & regional planning

so _ as i said above - i am a looking for master degree / certificate that certificate must show the major and the minor fields .

thanks

[planner]

I wouldn't worry so much about minoring in Geography (most GIS programs are in a Geography dept.) since most planning programs require GIS courses. But if you really want to major in planning & minor in geography - I can't think of many programs that have both, at least a college that has a planning degree that the APA likes. For whatever reason most of them aren't in the typical liberal arts college. But more than likely they are out there...

...So do you really want to bulk that much on GIS? If so, then again - just be aware that a department won't likely be called "GIS" but will be within some school. Otherwise - in most planning programs you will get the opportunity to learn GIS.

[lammius]

I don't know of many masters programs where you'd have a "major" and a "minor" like you do in college. All of the programs I researched when I was trying to decide where to go for a masters in planning offered a degree in planning with a concentration and/or certificate in a related field. My current roommate, for example, received her Master of City and Regional Planning degree with a Certificate in GIS. The certificate program required several classes in the Geographic Sciences department.

[Recchia]

SUNY Albany has grad and undergrad. www.albany.edu

[planner]

I don't know of many masters programs where you'd have a "major" and a "minor" like you do in college. All of the programs I researched when I was trying to decide where to go for a masters in planning offered a degree in planning with a concentration and/or certificate in a related field. My current roommate, for example, received her Master of City and Regional Planning degree with a Certificate in GIS. The certificate program required several classes in the Geographic Sciences department.

[planner]

SUNY Albany has grad and undergrad. www.albany.edu

[lammius]

dear lammius ,

thanks alot ...& i think i agree with u ......

but let see maybe there are some universities in the states work with major & minor system ....

we are waiting firends's comments ..........

[Recchia]

hi dear Recchia ,,

thanks alot for your participation.........

but i think SUNY Albany offers ( major / minor ) just for undergraduate not for master ...

thanks again

[Lowerdeck]

I think Boston University has some masters program in city planning, but not sure it's what you're looking for.

[TheBostonian]

I think Boston University has some masters program in city planning, but not sure it's what you're looking for.

[planner]

dear lammius ,

thank u very much for your advice ...........

" but as I said, you can get a certificate and concentration in GIS (which is all I think you really need if you work in planning). My roommate did this and works as a GIS specialist. " lammius said

if concentration in GIS authorize me to work in GIS's fiels that fantastic realllllllllly

thanks

[planner]

No they have a masters program as well, with concentrations in transportation, legal, etc. And they do have a GIS Certificate Program for graduate students as well. Atleast they did two years ago when I was there.

[planner]

I think Boston University has some masters program in city planning, but not sure it's what you're looking for.

[convulso]

listen to lammius. that's the best advice you're gonna be able to find, especially the part about starting with the APA and working your way through the programs that also offer the GIS certification you are seeking.

GIS is not a consolidated discipline at many schools, and it may be a few years before it becomes so. bureaucratization is a swift process, and many professions that have a definite academic path with requisite accreditation through a sanctioning body were, not so long ago, attainable via more than one route. that is where GIS is today in the U.S., but i would not be surprised if that changes in, say, the next decade or so, as schools vie to establish the most comprehensive and well-respected programs.

also remember that, because of its versatility in a variety of practical applications, many schools will offer a GIS certification through a department other than planning / design. a school with a strong geography program may offer GIS certification through its geography department, whereas the planning program at the same school may only offer a smattering of GIS courses directly related to the planning profession - yet you could attend the same school and still cover both bases.

in the end, if the number of schools is still too great for you to consider, you may just have to play it case-by-case. figure out what part(s) of the country you would be happy residing in while a student, and start visiting the web sites for all the schools in that region. that's what i did when i considered moving away from the program in which i had formerly been enrolled.

[planner]

thanks alot ,, i will do

[planner]

hi dears again,,,

h have been copied the following paragraph from :

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

College of Environmental Design

Department of Urban and Regional Planning

" Specialties include land use planning, historic preservation, transportation planning, housing and community development, policy development and management, economic development, environmental planning, urban design, urban development, and international planning. Students may also take a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), quantitative methods, regenerative studies and many other fields. Significant GIS (Geographic Information Systems) coursework is available. The Cal Poly Pomona program offers a broad foundation and an opportunity to specialize through core elective courses."

So what do u understand from that ? does that mean the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona offer a minor in GIS ??

share me your opinion , please ??

thanks all

[Lowerdeck]

BU's program is part of its extension school and isn't accredited.

[planner]

I just seen a poster for it in the social sciences wing of my college. I didn't know much about it, but figured it was worth at least a mention.

[danwxman]

Harrisburg University (http://www.harrisburgu.net) has a GIS degree program. Maybe one of the first in the country to offer this? I'm going there in the fall majoring in GIS.

[planner]

Harrisburg University (http://www.harrisburgu.net) has a GIS degree program. Maybe one of the first in the country to offer this? I'm going there in the fall majoring in GIS.

[ShapeShifter]

thanks Lowerdeck

[ShapeShifter]

I go to Cincinnati--if you're looking for a good planning school I'd definitely recommmend it. I'm an undergrad but I know that the masters program requires a GIS class, as do most urban planning programs. An emphasis is put on community development in the grad program though.

[mitchsip7]

I'm finishing the grad planning program at Cincinnati right now. While doing a MCP in any of the concentrations, it is also possible to do a Graduate Certificate in GIS. If you focus on physically planning its easy to do both, if you focus on another concentration - like environmental or economic development - then you will basically have to do a little more work, but its fairly common. In addition to my focus I also did Certificate in Historic Preservation. The Cert. actually got me a really great job doing preservation work. I'm satisfied with the program, you should look into it... and if you are really into GIS, there are lots of oppurtunities to further pursue it here.