Master of Future Cities (MFC) (effective fall 2023*)

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • Online
• Delivery mode information 
  • The program is offered online and includes an on-campus component.
• Length of program 
  • Full-time: 3 terms (12 months)
  • Part-time: 6-8 terms (18-24 months)
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Professional
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Coursework
• Additional program information 

  • Prospective students are advised that offers of admission to the new Master of Future Cities (MFC) program may be made only after the University's own quality assurance processes have been completed and the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance has approved the program.

  • Disclaimer Statement:

    The University of Waterloo is now accepting applications for the proposed Master of Future Cities (MFC) degree program. Processing of these applications and admission of students will not occur until the program is approved by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance. The University will acknowledge and store applications, but will be unable to evaluate or act on them in any way until the program has been formally approved by the Quality Council. In the unlikely case that the program is not approved, the application fee will be refunded*.

    Please contact Cynthiya Subramaniam, Graduate Studies Administrator, for more information.

    *Refunds are provided by the Department/School.

• Minimum requirements 
  • A four-year Honours Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any humanities, social science, health, business, engineering or science discipline with an overall average of at least 75% in the last 20 courses (or last two years).
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  2
  • Type of references: 

    academic or professional

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Coursework option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 9 courses:
  • Required:
    • FCIT 600 Cities, Systems, Synergy and Collaboration
    • FCIT 601 Tools for Futures Thinking
    • FCIT 602 Future Thinking and Cities
    • FCIT 603 Sustainable Future Cities
    • FCIT 620 Future Cities Capstone Project
  • Recommended:
    • FCIT 610 International Field School (for students unwilling or unable to participate, any other FCIT elective or open graduate level elective from online offerings in the Faculty of Environment may be substituted)
  • 1 of the following methods courses:
    • FCIT 607 Data, Methods, and Models for Future Cities
    • INDEV 607 Methods for Sustainable Development Practice: A Systems Approach
  • 2 of the following elective courses:
    • ARCH 6XX Critical Engagements with Urban Technology
    • FCIT 604 The Socially Just City
    • FCIT 605 The Future of Work
    • FCIT 606 Sustainability Transitions in Cities
    • FCIT 609 Mobility Futures
    • PLAN 606 Modeling the City
    • PLAN 684 Physical Infrastructure and Planning
• Students must maintain a minimum 75% cumulative average over the course of the program in order to graduate. A failing grade in any course will occasion an automatic review of the student's status by the Program Director and may in some cases, result in the requirement to withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses