Revolutionizing the Core: GIS in the Planning Curriculum

Abstract

Geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged over the past decade to become the most powerful and important computer application to hit the profession of planning. Although GIS is now used by most public sector planning agencies and private planning firms, planning schools have been slow to adapt their core curricula to ensure that all students gain some exposure to this technology before entering the job market. A review of the core curricula of accredited programs in North America revealed GIS to be a rare element of the core. This paper outlines potential reasons that GIS has been slow to emerge as an element in the planning core and offers some guidance on how to remedy this situation with a minimum of disruption to existing programs.