I’m Going To Grad School

Yesterday I received the official letter from Saint Louis University that I have been accepted to graduate school. I will be pursuing a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development (program website). When I received my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Oklahoma in 1991 I didn’t think I’d ever return to school, but here I am at 39 years old doing just that.

I’m still debating taking two or three classes this Fall. I do know that one will be ‘The Metropolis’ taught by Professor Todd Swanstrom, PhD., a Tower Grove East resident. Swanstrom, a Princeton graduate, is said to be an excellent instructor. I’ve certainly enjoyed the conversations (and debates) I’ve had with him. Update: I keep getting Swanstrom mixed up with Joseph Heathcott, PhD!

Last August I did a critique of Matt Bauer’s “Capstone” project from this program (read post). I was pretty critical of some assumptions but in general agreed with much of what he presented. A good friend of mine, a PhD in Communications, commented that he was glad I was not on his dissertation committee! So now I must subject myself to my own scrutiny as I complete this program over the next 2-3 years. I will likely post much of my class papers here so that you can all give me a dose of my own medicine.

As I spend more time at SLU I will end up doing more posts about the physical relationship between the city and campus. You can also expect that I will start pushing for scooter parking around the campus as well (see post from March).