Career Opportunities for Majors in Planning & Public Policy

Introduction

The Planning & Public Policy program is offered through the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. It provides students with a foundation in areas such as city dynamics, environmental aspects of cities, community health, urban poverty, public policy, housing issues, social concerns, fiscal matters, and land use planning. Two academic options are available that provide for specialization in urban planning or housing and real estate development.

Students in the Planning & Public Policy program are prepared for professional management and planning positions focused on overseeing and improving public programs such as transportation, housing, planning, the environment, finance, economic development, and urban renewal. These career paths can be found in business, government, education, banking, and Nonprofit settings. Continued study at the graduate level is also an option.

Additionally, many careers do not require a specific major, but are chosen on the basis of personal interests, skills, preferences, and ambitions. Thus graduates can also pursue many other general career paths in business, government, education, and the Nonprofit sector. Regardless of your career plans, it is important to develop your marketability through internships, service-learning, related work experience, good grades, and participation in campus activities.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Code Enforcement Planner	Land Management Planner	Research Planner
Community Builder	Natural Resource Planner	Residence Counselor
Director of Accessibility Services	Policy Director	Senior Planner
Director of Community Development	Preservation Technician	Supervisor of Medical Records
Economic Development Administrator	Principal Planner	Transportation Planner
Environmental Health Specialist	Project Development Officer	Urban Renewal Administrator
Facilities Development Specialist	Project Evaluator	Urban/Regional Planner
Land Development Coordinator	Real Estate Analyst	Zoning Administrator

Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Architectural Firms	Engineering Firms	Insurance Firms
Banks	Environmental Firms	Investment Companies
Community Health Centers	Health Maintenance Organizations	Market Research Firms
Consulting Firms	Hospitals	Real Estate Development Companies
Contractors	Housing Development Companies	Utility Companies

Government Agencies
Community Development Agencies	Housing Authorities	Planning and Development Commissions
Educational Institutions	Labor Agencies	Social Service Agencies
Environmental Agencies	Parks and Recreation Departments	Transportation Departments

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Administrative Aide, Franklin Township	Planner, Dept. of Planning/Natural Resources, US Virgin Islands, a Community Development Corporation
Analyst, Massachusetts Department of Energy	Planner, Hudson Partnership
Assistant Building Manager, JBG Companies	Program Specialist, Clinton Neighborhood Planning Office
Assistant Director, Housing and Community Development	Program Specialist, Job Corps
Assistant Planner, Monmouth County Planning Board	Project Devel. Officer, Newark Economic Devel. Corp.
County Transportation Planner, Middlesex County	Recruiter, TheraCare
Membership Specialist, Girl Scouts of Greater Essex	Staff Writer, Michigan Planner Magazine
Planner, Cleveland Area Foundation

Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Account Executive, Xerox School of Business Services	Municipal Director of Economic Development
Administrator, Newark Enterprise Zone	President, Allison Jackson Associates
Assistant Professor, Cornell Univ. College of Human Ecology (Ph.D. Environ. Studies)	Principal Planner, Atlantic City Dept. of Planning & Dev.
Claim Team Leader, Hartford Financial Group	Project Director, Renaissance Newark (MA Planning)
Clinical Case Manager, UMDNJ/UBHC/COPSA	Public Housing Specialist, US Dept. of HUD
Community Builder, US Housing & Urban Development (MS Urban Studies)	Registered Options Trader, Nobel Securities (Certificate in Securities)
Director of Policy and Organization, Somerset County, NJ (M.S. Urban Studies)	Research Planner, NJ Office of State Planning (M.S.)
Director, Development Corporation	Senior Planner, Hackensack Meadowlands Development Committee (M.S. Urban Studies)
Director, Somerset County, NJ, Community Action Program	Senior Planning Analyst, UMDNJ (MPH)
Environmental Specialist, Dept. of Transportation	Transportation Program Specialist, US Dept of Transportation
Executive Director, Puerto Rican Action Board

Graduate Schools Attended

Montclair State University, M.A. in Urban Studies	Rutgers University Bloustein School – Master of City and Regional Planning
Rutgers University, M.A. in Public Administration	University of Chicago, M.A. in Public Affairs/Policy

Additionally, you may:

View the Planning and Public Policy Major and Minor video.
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.

Still Have Questions? Ask a Career Counselor.