Community and Regional Planning-Undergraduate Program Learning Outcomes

Planning Generalist: Reflective Practice

Graduates of the Community and Regional Planning program at Iowa State University will be skilled in understanding community problems and issues; applying appropriate planning processes; developing comprehensive plans for local governments, counties, or regions; and offering sound implementation strategies. Graduates will be able to practice in a public and democratic setting, to the standards of conduct outlined by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

1. Graduates will be able to critically examine community problems and issues, select and apply an appropriate planning process and collaborate in leading the development of a local comprehensive plan and public policies.

2. Graduates will be able to maintain a working knowledge of plan implementation techniques including the ability to understand and apply local zoning ordinances.

3. Graduates will be able to maintain a working knowledge of how the legal and policy context affects local and regional planning: state enabling legislation, state land use policy, and federal and state judicial systems.

4. Graduates will be able to develop and implement a citizen participation plan for existing program evaluation or plan development.

5. Graduates will understand the institutional framework of planning practice at the local, state and regional level, including how planning is organized at each level and how they interact.

6. Graduates will understand and practice to the ethical professional standards outlined by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of settings using a variety of methods. Their communication skills will support the collaborative and public nature of their work. Graduates will design and make effective presentations verbally and visually. Graduates will write well-supported argumentative papers with a clear main idea using credible sources.

1. Graduates will demonstrate effective written communication skills

2. Graduates will demonstrate effective oral communication skills

3. Graduates will demonstrate effective visual communication skills.

4. Graduates will demonstrate skills in team building, group dynamics and collaboration.

Life-Long Learning Outcomes

Graduates will have the resources, skills and character to learn in - and adapt to - the ever changing community environment. Graduates will continue to integrate formal, informal, experiential, and research learning to be effective planners and citizens. Graduates will demonstrate leadership in their approach to new situations.

1. Graduates will be able to plan and assess their own learning

2. Graduates will be active rather than passive learners.

3. Graduates will be able to learn in both formal and informal settings

4. Graduates will be able to integrate knowledge from different subject areas, environments, etc when required.

5. Graduates will be able to use different learning strategies for different situations.

6. Graduates will be able to identify and utilize appropriate resources to explore solutions or solve problems.

Analysis Outcomes

1. Problem formulation: Graduates will have the ability to break down complex real world problems into research worthy questions and make them meaningful to stakeholders.

2. Research skills and data gathering: Graduates will have the ability to use research and knowledge in planning effectively. Graduates will have the ability to assess quality and relevance of secondary data and gather it effectively.

3. Quantitative skills and Qualitative skills: Graduates will have the ability to use statistical and other techniques, skills, and tools of the planning profession to analyze planning problems, generate alternatives and evaluate their consequences.

4. Use of Computers: Graduates will be able to demonstrate competency in basic computer programs, including planning related software and other modern computer-based tools of the planning profession, including an understanding of geospatial data structure and analysis.

Knowledge Outcomes (Core):

Students will be able to reason using knowledge from the following areas in order to accomplish planning tasks.

1.Human settlements: structure, process and function

a. knowledge of human settlements in their regional context

i. forces and influences shaping form, economics, demographics and governance

ii. political & socioeconomic structure, including multicultural and gender dimensions

iii. role of the city in shaping the region

b. urban finance and urban infrastructure

i. economic analysis

ii. political analysis, including multicultural and gender implications

c. land use

i. traditions of land use governance

ii. implications of land use structures

iii. interrelationships between land use and transportation, environment and social life (including race, ethnicity, class and gender dimensions)

2. History and theory of planning process and practice

a. descriptive theory of planning

i. as related to 1), especially

ii. History and theory of planning process and practice ii. socio-economic theory and governance

iii. political theory and governance

b.normative theory of planning

i. theories of knowledge

ii. theories of ethics and distributive justice

iii. planning process theory: theories of planning/governance as allocation, as resolution of conflicts

c. history of the profession of planning

d. process of planning

3. Administrative/legal/political context

a. legal context:

i. enabling legislation, laws of process and substance, legal interpretation

ii. zoning, general plans, planning law

iii. public finance

b. planning agencies: powers and obligations

c. administration: political and organizational behavior

Updated 06/07/06-09:30 PID:911