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Career Opportunities for Majors in Environmental Planning & Design

Introduction

Environmental Planning and Design is a broad-based curriculum emphasizing an understanding of the planning and management of the physical environment, and the interaction of natural and social systems. The curriculum includes four options:

Environmental Geomatics: This option includes the study of remote sensing, spatial analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning systems (GPS) that are used to improve the planning and management of natural resource systems. Techniques include developing complex spatial databases from a wide range of sources and applying this information to solve environmental problems. This option is intended for students interested in pursuing careers in environmental planning/management, remote sensing, and geomatics. The Federal Government has identified geospatial technology as a high growth industry projecting a growing workforce shortage. A certificate program is available for students in other majors.

Environmental Planning: This option involves integrating environmental information into the planning process and using this to protect and enhance environmental systems while meeting demands for growth and development. Diverse career paths are available including a first step toward graduate work in planning and certification as a planning professional. The Bloustein School offers a special fast-track Masters of City & Regional Planning allowing strong students to complete the BS and MCRP in five years. A certificate program is available for students in other majors.

Landscape Architecture: This option is concerned with the harmonious integration of people and nature in the creation of outdoor spaces for a variety of purposes. Emphasis is on sensitive design using both social and environmental information in the planning of parks, housing sites, gardens, and the design and management of entire regions. Graduates find employment in landscape architecture, architecture, engineering, and planning firms as well as government offices concerned with parks, recreation, environmental resources, and urban planning. This is a professional curriculum nationally accredited and is the first step toward licensure as a professional landscape architect. The US Dept. of Labor projects a 22% increase in landscape architects by 2012, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the nation.

Landscape Industry: This option provides a broad-based education in preparation for careers in related industries such as contracting, maintenance, nursery management, and garden center operations.

Environmental planning professionals must have an understanding of social, political, economic, technical, and environmental systems. Professionals typically fall into two areas—those that concentrate on a specific geographical area (e.g., city, state, ecosystem) and those who specialize in a particular issue (e.g., air and water quality, transportation). Regardless of their concentrated area, planners focus on problems and issues about the physical environment and propose solutions to solve them. While most environmental planners and designers work at the local level, many planners are interested in national issues and their global effects.

Environmental Planning and Design offers many career paths based on individual areas of interest. There are opportunities in business, all levels of government, education, and the non-profit sector. Regardless of your career choice, increase your marketability to employers through internships, related work/volunteer experiences, good grades, advanced coursework, and college activities.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Building or Zoning Inspector	Land Use Planner	Site Planner
Campus Planner	Landscape Architect	Transportation Planner
Community Planner	Nursery Manager	Urban Planner
Environmental Planner	Recreation Planner	Water Resources Planner
GIS Specialist/Analyst/Manager	Regional Planner	Watershed Planner
Historic Preservation Specialist	Rural Planner

Types of Employers

Private & Non-profit Organizations
Architectural Firms	Engineering Companies	Policy Institutes
Construction Companies	Golf Course Architects	Real Estate Development Firms
Environmental Consulting Firms	Law Firms	Ski Resorts
Environmental Health & Safety Consultants	Land Trusts	Utility Companies
Environmental Justice Groups	Landscape Designers

Government Agencies
Department of Interior, National Park Service	Federal Emergency Management Agency	Township and County Planning Departments
Department of Transportation	National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration	US Army Corps of Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency	NJ State Office of GIS	US Forest Service

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

Arborist Sales Representative, F.A. Bartlett Tree Exports	Landscape Designer/Field Manager, Birch Hill
Assistant Township Planner, Township of Wall	Landscaping Manager, Spatial Data Analysis & GIS, VerizonWireless
Branch Manager, The Brickman Group, LTD	National Landscape Architect, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
Chief Planner, NJ Meadowlands Commission (MS Geography)	Planning Administrator, Randolph Township
Chief of Staff, NJ DEP (MS City/Comm./Regional Planning)	Planning & Zoning Officer, Hillsborough Township
Environmental Control Specialist, NJDEP	President, Sussex Technology, Inc
Environmental Planner, Delaware County Planning Department	President/Landscape Architect, Laurel Oak Garden Ctr.
Environmental Scientist, US EPA Region 3	Principal Landscape Architect, Port Authority of NY/NJ
Environmental Security Analyst, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency	Scientific Advisor, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
GIS Specialist, NJ Board of Public Utilities	Software Analyst, ESRI
Landscape Architect, Feeley Landscaping	Transportation Planner, DMJM+Harris
Landscape Designer, Wertheimer & Associates	VP, Stewart/Laurence Associates, Inc.

Graduate Schools Attended

Boston University School of Public Health	University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Duke University	University of New Hampshire
Harvard University	University of Pennsylvania
MIT	University of Wisconsin - Madison
Rhode Island School of Design	Virginia Tech
University of California - Santa Barbara	Yale University
University of Georgia University of Illinois

Additionally, you may:

Explore the career paths of RU Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers Online Career Planning Site to explore your interests, skills and values. Use the program for either: High School Students | College Students.
Explore Rutgers University academic department information related to this major.
See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for additional career information.
Pick up your "Career Opportunities" handouts at any New Brunswick Career Services office.


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