urbanomics

As I struggle through the daunting challenges of a potential career move, I'd like to graciously ask for the advice and wisdom of the regulars of UrbanOhio.com. I'm a native Clevelander and a 2005 graduate of Cleveland State (BS Sport Management). I love Cleveland and everything about it, especially the potential it has to once again become one of the greatest cities in the country. However, for the past two-plus years, I've been working at a college athletic department and living out of state because of my job, a job that I have lost more and more passion for as the days go by. In the last few months, however, I've come to the realization that I am passionate about Cleveland, a place I desperately want to return to and work in. I also have always had a passion for art and have been influenced in my works by architecture and design. Because of this, I am contemplating going back to school to pursue career in a field that can, preferably, incorporate both of these qualities. Ideally, I think I'd want to pursue a Master's in Urban Design/Planning/Studies from Kent State or Cleveland State. Both schools have highly regarded Urban Design/Architecture schools, but I'm concerned that with my lack of actual experience in the field (and with my undergrad degree) that I wouldn't stand a chance at getting accepted without essentially going back to get an undergrad/postgrad in Architecture – an additional time commitment I don't know if I would be willing to endure without knowing for sure it was a field I truly wanted to be involved in. I have only frequented UrbanOhio.com for a few months now, but I'm under the impression that there are a decent amount of professionals who are regulars on this site and I'm hoping you can help. I guess what I'm looking for is some insight into the different areas of the urban design and planning field, like what kind of educational backgrounds you have, what kind of experiences are necessary, what about the job you like, what you don't and (maybe most importantly) what inspired you to follow your particular career path. Right now, I have a very broad and somewhat vague idea of what it is I want to be doing, but I'm hoping that if I can get a better sense of what the field is about from those who are actually living it that I can make a better decision about what path I choose to take. I feel this site has had a big impact on me and my desire to pursue this field, and I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on where I should go from here. Many thanks.

Thanks McCleveland. I would just like to see them finish that area along the river with something (although I would still rather see the convention center get built at the mall site).

Does anyone know why that original Tower City plan fell through? I realize that plans can change from the way they are originally designed, but the difference between the way that proposal looks compared to what they actually ended up building seems a bit extreme. Any idea on what was supposed to go in it? I can't seem to find any info about the details of the original plan. The "Tower City" name would have made a lot more sense if they actually built what they proposed.