FAQ: Environmental Planning Required Electives

Q. The Environmental Planning degree requires 5 “required electives” from a list that ends with the phrase “or advisor-approved courses”. What are they? How do I get my advisor to approve courses?

A. Since Rutgers has some great classes popping up here and there, we can’t possibly keep our list as to date as we’d like. Plus, if you are pursuing a track that is a little unusual, you may need the flexibility provided by “advisor-approved courses” in order to achieve your personal goals. They still need to be classes that build your planning knowledge and abilities in the same ways that the other required electives classes do.

Before you ask your advisor to consider approving a class, you should provide the following:

a) a statement of your area of interest or focus;

b) the name and number of the class;

c) a description of the class (perhaps the syllabus or the catalog description of the class);

d) an explanation of how all 5 classes get you closer to satisfying “a”.

A few additional guidelines would include:

(1) asking about classes that are level 300 or higher,

(2) asking BEFORE you take the class,

(3) making sure that you are clear on why this is such a good option for you with your interests,

(4) avoiding any explanations that base the need for this on scheduling.

And, finally, please treat the decision with respect. Many times it will have involved more faculty than just your advisor. And, should reflect a larger interest (like protecting the academic integrity of the program) and not just your personal situation.

This and other FAQs are online at: http://crssa.rutgers.edu/people/dtulloch/faq/FAQs.htm