IUP Planning Program Stands Out Nationally: One of Only 17 Accredited
IUP: One of the Best Decisions He Could Have Made
"I would definitely say that IUP has been a great fit for me and ended up being one of the best decisions I could have made. I found planning, a passion of mine, here at IUP. No matter who you are or what your goals are, there is a place for you at IUP, and the staff will do their absolute best to help you."
Cody Robert Nolen, Regional Planning
Program Strategic Plan Program Public Information
Our program emphasizes conceptual knowledge, experiential learning, innovative planning skills, and civic engagement. As a regional planning major, you can count on our accredited program to deliver the industry knowledge and best practices you will need to know.
The Regional Planning program is one of only 17 accredited, undergraduate planning programs in the country. This gives you an advantage when it comes to employment and professional certification. Because of the accreditation, you will be able to take the American Institute of Certified Planners certification exam three years after graduation (compared to a minimum of five years for graduates of non-accredited programs).
Choose from Two Bachelor's Degree Options and an Honors Track
You can choose from two tracks, or areas of emphasis: theCommunity Planning and Development Track or the Environmental Planning Track. Academically qualified students may also pursue the Honors Track.
The department labs and facilities offer you hands-on experience with the instrumentation used by professionals.
Work with Real-World Problems to Prepare for Your Career
You'll work with real-world problems and intern with professional planners who deal with these issues on a daily basis. You'll learn the principles and techniques planners use when working with communities to improve the quality of life for the people who live there.
You'll take a comprehensive view and develop negotiating skills that will improve your ability to listen to and speak for all citizens. You'll learn strategies for reconciling controversies and proposing alternatives.
As a planner, you can guide community decision making in allocating scarce resources to create better places to live.
When you graduate from the Regional Planning program, you will be well prepared to guide change in a way that will make our communities better places to live for present and future generations.
Regional Planning, Community Planning and Development Track,BS
- Prepare for employment as a land use analyst, geographic information system specialist, facilities manager, cartographer, remote sensing specialist, and county or city planner.
- Learn methods for identifying, modeling, and analyzing the spatial organization of human and environmental systems from both practical and theoretical perspectives.
- Gain the integral skills of data collection, spatial information management, and cartographic/graphic presentation.
- Develop a working knowledge of subdivision, land use, and zoning regulation.
- Intern with planning agencies or consulting firms working with professionals.
- Become familiar with strategies of economic development and both the theory and ethics of planning, which can then be used in coursework for the analysis of wildlife habitat, facilities management, land use planning and site design, transportation system design, and maintenance.
Regional Planning, Environmental Planning Track, BS
- Prepare for a career in environmental fields or graduate study that leads to a variety of environmental positions.
- Learn about the physical and human processes that shape the environment, strategies for analyzing environmental issues, and the concepts and strategies behind solving environmental problems.
- Achieve a working knowledge of subdivision, land use, and zoning regulation.
- Become familiar with flood plain and wetland regulation, the management of waste and storm water, and environmental impact assessment.
- Gain an understanding of both the theory and ethics of planning.
- Develop the skills needed to assess the causes for, consequences of, and solutions to a wide variety of environmental issues (such as soil erosion, sedimentation, water contamination, flooding, deforestation, and habitat conservation/preservation).
Honors Track,Regional Planning,BS
- The honors program is open by departmental permission to regional planning majors with at least a 3.25 GPA in total university coursework and a 3.25 GPA in regional planning courses.
- After completing 57 credits, all qualified majors will be invited to join the Regional Planning Honors Track.
Regional Planning Minor
- Aminor in Regional Planning is appropriate for majors in all other fields of the natural and social sciences.
- The minor works well with a Marketing major, an Information Systems major, or many other fields.
Certificate in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Science and Applications
- You'll gain you the knowledge, experience, and credentials you'll need to enter this fast-growing sector of the job market or pursue research opportunities.
- You'll also prepare to become certified as a Federal Aviation Administration part 107 remote pilot, operator, or ancillary ground crew member/observer.
Geospatial Intelligence Analysis Certificate
- Prepare for geospatial careers in federal intelligence agencies.
- The processes you will learn and apply throughout this program will meet intelligence tradecraft standards and will meet the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation requirements for accreditation.