We’re as urban as it gets and with the only major city with no zoning we get quite a bit of unconventional situations here. The College of Architecture is big enough to accommodate this program on campus, instead of, say, Katy.
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As a graduate of the College of Architecture and a huge fan of city planning, I can say we don’t need one.
The college focuses a full year on projects that are big mixed-use type of planning.
For Urban planning it gets really political.
I’ve worked on project with very strict planning ordinances (both zoning and design), slow growth, and with limited restrictions with very pro-growth politics.
With that said, Houston desperately need a City Plan of some sort top steer growth in a direction that makes best use of the current land use.
In 2036, we will be a 200 year old metropolis…we need to seriously decide what type of city we want to be. This ‘whatever goes approach’ got us here now time to actually create a synergy in our urban environment.
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But you do understand that offering an Urban Planning degree is valuable. It’s on the list of best careers for the future. Why go off to UT or ATM for one?
I’m in the architecture field and I wouldn’t rate it as valuable.
UH offers accredited Architecture degrees (Under grad and grad) and an Industrial Design Degree.
You can transition to a career that specializes in Urban Planning with an accredited Architecture Degree.
Texas A&M should focus on getting their undergraduate program accredited before offering an Urban Planning degree.
Bauer offers a Real Estate Development program which is much more practical than earning an Urban Planning Degree.
Most guys getting hired at the government level have graduate Urban Planning degrees. So transitioning to Urban Planning still needs a graduate degree. Why can’t UH have one?
Probably because there is not a single job available with the City of Houston government for that degree.
Houston is one of the least restrictive cities from a planning and zoning standpoint…they just don’t exist here to need jobs with that degree. If the city implements zoning or a comprehensive plan, then they will need more jobs for that department.
You can maybe say there are a handful of jobs in a say, the city of Sugarland but not enough to warrant UH carrying a degree program.
According to that link, only 20 school in the US offer it.
It is not a very in-demand program and the pay is horrible.
Wow, we get it you don’t care for urban planning. You win.
PS. That’s the top 20 programs. Not the only 20 schools. Doesn’t UNT have one?
Texas A&M should focus on getting their undergraduate program accredited before offering an Urban Planning degree.
This was an issue when I was at A&M. I worked in the Arch school and I never understood why undergrads were okay with an unaccredited program (majority of students were majoring in ENDS - environmental design). What I found out is that it was a feeder to its accredited masters program (which was quite popular). I don’t know if that’s still the case since '08, but it back then the ENDS degree was treated as a hybrid option to go into arch, graphic design, or construction engineering.
I don’t think it would be a great option for the region of Harris County and surrounding areas because it’s very political job. I worked in a tangential role with the city of Houston and watched what their urban planners had to go through just for a park renovation to be approved. It looked exhausting.
Not that it’s exactly the same by any means, but UH does offer a Master’s of Public Administration with a specialization in Public Management.
It includes coursework in Urban Politics and GIS for Urban Applications.
On that same website, it shows a MPA with a specialization in URBAN PLANNING, based on the following electives, which includes ARCHITECTURE school electives.
Urban Planning Specialization
- PUBL 6343: GIS for Urban Applications
- CIVE 5360: Urban-Regional Management
- Courses at UH Department of Architecture
So yes, based on that, UH DOES INDEED have an “Urban Planning” degree program at the graduate level, at least.
See here.
Keeps them on their toes I guess, need high gpa and awesome portfolio to get the 1 year of masters to qualify for a professional degree. Plus you get to go to a different school with different approach to architecture. So no matter what, 5 years to get an architecture degree. It was great to meet graduate students from other schools when I was at UH.
I care a great deal about urban planning- it is my career and im very passionate about it.
With that said, with over 20 years in the industry and having worked with dozens of states and cities- it is a garbage degree program.
What school is it under?
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, but the program appears to be somewhat interdisciplinary in terms of the electives involved.
Even Civil Engineering and Architecture courses count in some specialization sequences.
Not to thread steal, but I’d ask another question: Why doesn’t UH (in any campus) have a CAHME accredited Masters of Health Administration? UHCL had an accredited program until 2012, but lost accreditation. I knew two 2011 graduates that did UH undergrad/UHCL MHAs. They were in such demand graduates that they were hired at NY Presbyterian within weeks of graduating.
The only programs in Houston are UT-Houston and TWU-Houston. A&M has one, nearish, in College Station.
This seems like quite the opportunity to round out the administrative side of the medical professions: Public Policy (Hobby), Legal (Law Center), PR/Communications (Valenti’s SOC), Psychology (PhD School of Education/PhD CLASS), Medicine (COM), Pharmacy (SOP), Optometry (SOO), and Nursing (CON).
Bauer has a few classes, but that would be an awesome add for the region (and that would be great for someone like me who is interested in that line of work!)
I will 99% take your word for it (can’t give 100%/lol) You ought to know better than most here.
Question:
Houston does not have or very little zoning laws. In your opinion is it a plus or a minus in 2022?
During Harvey it was reported that Harris County individuals were “greased” for issuing construction permits, compromising water flow and ultimately helped the historical flooding.
Any uodates on that?
Texas Southern offers a Masters and PhD in Urban Planning, which is likely why UH does not offer it.
As I posted, UH does indeed offer a Master’s in the subject.
Im more concerned with a city plan that steers growth in a good direction as compared to rigid zoning.
We are experiencing more flood incidents because we’ve been sprawling at record speed, replacing green space with concrete. Where else can the water go?
Let’s develop responsibly but i think we are still far away but getting closer.
Right now, the only "planning " for individual districts is by the dozens of formal Management Districts (Uptown , Downtown, Upper Kirby, Midtown, etc)
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