Kerry Whisnant, an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and professor of physics at Iowa State University, may be on to something that will greatly impact team winning percentages. Mathematical models that he and other fanatic baseball statisticians have helped produce may accurately predict teams' successes. Whisnant and other members of the Society for American Baseball Research have analyzed...
Urban Planner
Urban planners develop long- and short-term plans for the use of land and the growth of urban, suburban, and rural communities and the region in which they are located. They help local officials by recommending locations for roads, schools, and other infrastructure and suggesting zoning regulations for private property. This work includes forecasting the future needs of the population.
Low-end Salary:
$37,960/yr
Median Salary:
$59,810/yr
High-end Salary:
$91,520/yr Education:
Most entry-level jobs in Federal, State, and local governments require a master’s degree from an accredited program in urban or regional planning or a related field. A bachelor’s degree in mathematics, economics, geography, political science, or environmental design is especially good preparation.
Math Required:
College Algebra
Trigonometry
Geometry
Calculus I and II
Number Theory
Analysis
Statistics
When Math Is Used:
Urban designers use math as they design the arrangement, appearance, and functionality of towns and cities, and in particular, the shaping and uses of safe public space. Also, urban designers use mathematical models to forecast the future needs of a group of people.
Potential Employers:
About 68 percent are employed by local governments. Companies involved with architectural, engineering, and related services, as well as management, scientific, and technical consulting services, employ an increasing proportion of planners in the private sector. Others are employed in State government agencies dealing with housing, transportation, or environmental protection and a small number work for the Federal Government.
Facts:
Although contemporary professional use of the term 'urban design' dates from the mid-20th century, urban design as such has been practiced throughout history. Ancient examples of carefully planned and designed cities exist in Asia, India, Africa, Europe and the Americas, and are particularly well-known within Classical Chinese, Roman and Greek cultures.
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Quote Of The Day
"I feel my training in mathematics provided me with the invaluable ability to apply logic, reason, and careful quantitative, as well as qualitative, analysis to my work. These thought processes are desired and applicable to almost any field."
Senior Engineer
Figures represent salary potential.
© BYU Mathematics Department 2009
Additional support provided by:
Mathematical Association of America