This major in the Department of Geography at Western Michigan University prepares professional planners with a strong foundation in theory and practice of community and regional planning, focusing on small cities and their regional communities.
Is the community and regional planning major for you?
Required courses and recommendations
See the WMU catalog for course requirements.
Students will complete:
- 32 credits of core courses in planning theory, history, techniques, methods, ethics, law and administration.
- 25 credits of required courses from cognate social science disciplines and statistics, to gain additional knowledge and skills relevant to planning.
- 12 credits (optional) in one of the following areas of specializations: environmental analysis and resource management, local economic development, tourism development and planning, local government, and application of geographic techniques to planning.
Major form
Meet with your advisor to complete a major form.
The following majors or minors (optional) are recommended with this major: earth science, English (practical writing), economics, environmental studies, geology, history, hydrogeology, political science, public administration, public history, real estate, recreation and sociology.
Minor
There is no minor required for the program.
Internships
Students will also have the opportunity to gain pre-professional practical experience through internships. If you are interested in a community and regional planning internship, contact Dave Lemberg or Scott Smith.