The planning program within the department of geography, geology and planning at Missouri State University recently received national re-accreditation through the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), making it one of only four accredited stand-alone (no master’s offered) baccalaureate programs  in the nation. The accreditation is extended through Dec. 31, 2018.

“This is truly a point of pride to have the only accredited program in the state of Missouri and one of only four accredited programs in the nation,” said Dr. Tammy Jahnke, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. “Missouri State University truly is in a unique position to recruit students to a career in planning which offers many, many opportunities.”

About accreditation

According to their website, the PAB accredits university programs in North America leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in planning. The accreditation process is based on standards approved by the PAB with input from the public, the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

“These organizations recognize both the academic and practitioner side of planning,” said Dr. Paul Rollinson, director of the planning program at Missouri State. “Accreditation is granted through a planning program’s self-study process and validation reports by a site visitor team. The standards by which a program is assessed encourage quality education for the preparation of the profession’s future practitioners.”

About the MSU planning program

The planning program at Missouri State prepares students for careers in community and regional planning as well as the field of tourism by studying social and natural sciences.

“For our graduating students in planning, accreditation means that they will be eligible to take the AICP examination after three years of practicing planning as opposed to four years from a non-accredited program,” said Rollinson. “Also, because accreditation validates a degree’s standards, students from an accredited program have a degree that is portable, both nationally and internationally. Our graduates find work throughout the entire country and internationally.”