School of Planning

Students are advised to review the General Information and Regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Note: The GDip in Planning program is effective Fall 2015. 

Program information

Admit term(s)

• Fall
• Winter
• Spring

Delivery mode(s)

• Online

Program type

• Diploma

Study attendance option(s)

• Part-time

Study option(s)

• Coursework

Admission requirements

• An honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in an acceptable discipline, from a university of recognized standing, with at least a 78% average or equivalent for international applicants.

• Two years of work experience in Planning or a related field. 

• Application materials
  • Résumé or Curriculum vitae
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
  • Writing sample

• References
  • Number of references: 3 
  • Type of references: at least 1 must be from an academic source

• English Language Proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)
  • TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language): minimum score of 100, with minimum skill scores of 26 in speaking and 26 in writing;
    Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 600 overall, 4.0 on the TWE and 50 in the TSE;
    Computer-based TOEFL: minimum score of 250 overall, 50 in the TSE and 5.0 in the essay.
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): minimum score of 7.5.
  • MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): minimum score of 90.
  • CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment): minimum score of 70, with 70 in writing and 70 in speaking.
  • EFAS (English for Academic Success [Renison University College, University of Waterloo]): 80% overall in level 400.

Diploma requirements

• Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

• Courses
  • Students must complete 4 one‐term (0.50 unit weight) graduate level courses (or courses acceptable for graduate credit):
    
    • PLAN 700 Planning Paradigms and Theory
  • 3 elective one-term courses taken from the following list or any other 600 or 700 level course, subject to approval by the Associate Director, Graduate Studies:
    • PLAN 705 Design in Planning
    • PLAN 706 Contemporary Issues in Planning
    • PLAN 625 Methods of Social Investigation for Planners
    • PLAN 704 Methods of Planning Analysis
  • Students must obtain a passing grade in all courses with a minimum overall average of no less than 70%.