A concentration or focal area in Land Use and the Built Environment focuses on the interaction between land use and the design of human settlements at the local scale. This relationship exists in both directions - how land use patterns and the built environment are shaped by the collective outcome of individual actions and public intervention, and conversely, how land use and the built environment shape human behavior and the wellbeing of our society and natural environment. Teaching students how to think about the intersection of sustainability, quality of life, the relevant policy environment, and individual behavior and decision making are fundamental to the study of Land Use and the Built Environment.

 

Specific topic areas include

*Land use policies and their effectiveness in guiding urban development
  patterns
*Transportation, walkability, and livable communities
*The built environment and people’s quality of life
*The connection between urban form and health

 

A concentration or focal area in environmental planning and policy focuses on the intersection of the built and natural environments, issues of environmental quality, open space preservation, and the implementation tools and policies to achieve positive environmental outcomes. A focus in this area can prepare students for a wide range of careers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Some examples of career opportunities include: local government resource planner, state agency regulator, federal agency planner or manager, and working for nonprofit groups such as land trusts, watershed councils, advocacy groups and policy organizations. For effective future leadership in this area, students should seek a balance between substantive expertise (e.g., natural resources policy), technical skills (e.g., GIS), and process skills (e.g., planning process; public involvement).

 

A concentration in social and health policy prepares students to work on a broad range of issues relating to human welfare, including poverty, health, housing, food security, equality, education and job training. Coursework in this area is area is divided between substantive topic classes and technical skills, and students are expected to take a mix of these classes. Substantive topic classes explore existing policies, the factors contributing to policy adoption, the intended and unintended impact of policies, and how policies impact vulnerable populations. Technical skills cover advanced methods training, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and management-related skills. Recent alumni with concentrations in social and health policy are working as analysts and program staff in government and nonprofits tackling issues of health care reform, higher education quality, and public employment relations among other topics. 

 

Community development is concerned with advancing the ecological, economic, and social health of human settlements – from rural regions and small towns to cities and their neighborhoods to suburbs. It entails plans, policies, and programs that advance social equity, generate appropriate jobs and create community wealth, and pay heed to the natural and built environment – often simultaneously. Community developers work on a wide variety of issues, both in the U.S. and internationally. Some examples are local business development, affordable housing, infrastructure improvement, community forestry, and public involvement/political participation. Students specializing in community development find positions in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Local governments, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, foundations, and consulting firms are the most common. They work as management analysts and technical planners, community organizers and program managers, policy makers and grants managers.

 

Strong growth in assets and activities of the nonprofit sector in recent decades has resulted in sharply expanding career opportunities in the many areas of nonprofit and philanthropic enterprise. These organizations include cultural and arts, education, health and human services, foundations, environmental, international development, and advocacy organizations. Nonprofit enterprise has broadened with developing sources of funding, and the complexities of its management require professional skills specific to the sector. 

 

We have one of the most extensive offerings of nonprofit curriculum in the nation, as well as one of the highest number of nonprofit Certificate graduates annually. Our students obtain excellent positions in the nonprofit sector upon graduation. Students completing a nonprofit concentration usually complete the 24-credit Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, because credits for the concentration also fulfill the requirements for the Certificate.

 

 

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