Education & Careers
Is a Meritocracy Really What We Want?
At first glance, a meritocratic vision is morally compelling, but upon closer scrutiny, its pursuit ends up legitimizing—and thus reinforcing—the very social and economic inequality it purports to rectify.
Urban Planning Ranked as the Second Best Job in Canada
It might come as a shock to planners who lived and worked through the great recession, but a Canadian publication has named urban planning in the number two position on a ranking of "Best Jobs" in the country.
Paris Climate Agreement Signed, but Troubles Loom in the U.S.
On Earth Day, NPR looked at the intersection of the Paris Climate Agreement, which Secretary of State John Kerry signed at the U.N. on Friday, and President Obama's Clean Power Plan which has been given a pause by the Supreme Court.
Looking for a Planning Job? Practice the Art of the Interview
Urban planning students at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Department of City and Regional Planning recently participated in a valuable career–building workshop: the mock interview. Below are tips on how to organize a similar event.
The Best Reasons to Go to Grad School in Planning
As the 2016 admission season winds down, thoughts turn to the 2017 application process. For students considering the idea, there are several good reasons to attend graduate school in 2017, and a few that may cause problems later.
Trends from the APA 2016 Conference
The American Planning Association 2016 National Conference included a wide variety of topics and a significant amount of tweeting. This blog shares the highlights from the conference.
Looking for a Kickstart: City Design Method Cards
The same team that created Cards Against Urbanity is back with an eagerly anticipated new engagement product called City Design Method Cards.
The Washington Post Gives Transportation Planning Studies a Star Turn
A recent article in the Washington Post does a nice job of describing transportation planning as an exciting field, with important and engaging applications.
Umberto Eco, Planning Education, and Urban Space
The great Italian scholar and novelist's death likely has little meaning for practicing planners, but his literary method might have lasting relevance for planning education and the design of urban space.
It's Our Future You Are Planning For: Getting Youth Involved in Planning
This blog post highlights resources available to help engage children and young adults in participatory planning processes.
Teaching Urban Planning to Pre-Schoolers
An experiment involving colorful Legos, big pictures, and "Where Things Are From Near to Far."
Love Legos? Looking for a Job?
This sounds like a dream for a lot of Planetizen readers: building models for Legoland.
Ten Planning Career Growth New Year's Resolutions
Planner Clement Lau shares his New Year's resolutions: ten professional development and career growth goals for planners and urban design professionals.
3 Keys to Success for Young Architects and Planners
Having just reached the decade mark as an architect in one of the world's most prominent firms, Marin Gertler shares what he has learned are keys for career success. Written for architects but equally applicable to planning professionals.
Remembering Edward W. Soja, Renowned Urbanist Author and Professor
Renowned UCLA planning professor, urbanist, and author Edward W. Soja passed away last month. L.A.-based planner, and former Soja student, Jonathan Bell writes about his teachings and how they influenced him.
The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2015
The results of a year's worth of writing, reading, sharing, and commenting are in. These are the most popular Planetizen posts from the year 2015.
Holiday Gift Ideas for Plannerds
The third annual edition of holiday gift ideas for that "plannerd" in your life. This year, rather than listing gift ideas, L.A. County Planner Clement Lau describes various sources for buying gifts for urban planners and designers.
Top 10 Books - 2016
Planetizen is pleased to release its list of the ten best books in urban planning, design, and development published in 2015.
Ask the Ethicist: Conflict of Interest and Constitutional Rights
Planetizen resident ethicist Carol D. Barrett, FAICP, images a scenario that highlights the distinction between citizen and planner, and where sometimes it's inappropriate to cross the line between the two.
Ten Key 2016 Conferences for Urban Design Professionals
Ten key conferences in 2016 for planners, architects, and urban design professionals, summarized by Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County planner.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
