.

I would question how these schools would provide any incite to international planning around conservation.  Idaho?  International?  something is not correct in that equation.  For some of these schools to use the word 'City' in the title of their programmes is a bit of an oxymoron. City Planning in Georgia?

Selection of a grad school should consider the research and researchers presently undertaking by leading staff if it is informing the curricullum.  If in the end you wish to live in NC, go to UNC and build lots of great networks as you learn - if you wish to undertake a PhD at your next Uni, look at the potential supervisors and the work they are presently undertaking. On my 'A' list would be UC Berkley and Columbia - their research is making a difference.

If you want to be a planner there is no need for a degree. Planners are just people that went to architecture school and decided to veer away from being part of the production team.

Thank you both for the replies.

@TED The UGA degree doesn't have "city" in the name. Anyways, I think that "bioregional" and "community design" are perfectly relevant to development in many many areas around the world, especially considering the plethora of environmental and ecological crises facing us. It seems to me that planning and conservation are like two sides of the same coin. Idaho might have domestic rural environmental planning in mind, but I see no reason the principles -- assisted by social science -- can't be translated internationally. I have heard, however, some warnings about networking and internships in some of these smaller towns.

@Lego Not sure I'm buying that. What about all the population, geography, social science kinda stuff? My surveys of the M.Arch programs indicated that they have basically none of that -- though I admit it's been a few months since I did so.

      You are a resourceful bright person, I'm sure you can do some self education on your own.  With all the free college courses available, and not to mention the free local library.   you can do it.   while doing my degree, I read a ton of books on city and regional planning, also did take a lot more city and regional planning courses, the result of all that  learning? I worked in arch offices, where  one person was the designated planner for an entire department,  I could easily do that job.  Just have some confidence in yourself.  Seriously though, becoming a planner in Architecture you'll play the regular intern role for a few years, then you will have to rub elbows with the right people and Presto! you are a planner.  good luck.