Architecture & Urban Environment in Canada

Planners balance science, aesthetics and community interests in the planning of healthy urban, rural and regional communities and environments. They work with community members, developers and elected officials to create places that optimize the use or preservation of society’s environmental, economic, social, cultural aesthetic, and infrastructure assets.

Urban design is the discipline of the design and management of our ever-changing cities driven by urbanization, global economics, and advancing technologies.

The Master of Urban Design program is offered in an one-year curriculum with a central focus on urban design at all scales - from the regional district to the neighbourhood block. The post-professional course of study integrates design studios with courses in urban design history and theory, economics, and public policy. Within the intensive structure, there are opportunities to orchestrate personal interests in the discipline through selection of electives and research topics.  

The challenging program is founded on combining academia with the contemporary profession. Each year, the program explores an urban design theme through community partnerships with regional organizations. In the design studios, students collaborate with faculty, stakeholders, and professionals on real-world projects for possible future applications.

This course-based program requires the completion of 30 units in graduate-level course work, including 24 units of required, core courses and 6 units of optional graduate-level course work in PLAN courses. The core courses include a research project that is to be completed as a capstone course. Students must maintain standards acceptable to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research to remain in the program.

This fully accredited program combines holistic examination and analysis of economic, socio-cultural, political, ecological and spatial elements in reimagining our communities structured around the intertwined dimensions of urban culture and nature. Students explicitly address the principles of inclusivity and sustainability in designing for development.