Planners are professionals who guide the orderly development of communities. Their work touches each of our daily lives, whether we live in major metropolitan areas, smaller rural villages, or sparsely populated northern regions.
The term "Planning" refers to the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of communities. Responsible planning has always been vital to the sustainability of safe, healthy, and secure communities.
In addition to resolving land use issues, the profession involves:
• planning social and community services
• designing community elements
• managing cultural and heritage resources
• creating economic capacity in local communities
• working internationally
[Canadian Institute of Planners]
In Canada, Planners contend with issues ranging from air quality and public safety, transit provision and intensification, to redevelopment of brownfields and gentrification. Globally, increasing urbanization rates and population growth present mounting challenges including loss of natural spaces, land conversion to urban uses, designing effective infrastructure and water quality.
Both local and globally, Planners contribute to charting a course to a future that reflects the values of the community in concert with sound planning principles.
The School of Planning at Waterloo is a professional school accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). Graduates of our program are eligible to join CIP as Members, (and use the professional designation MCIP after their names), once they have:
• a minimum of two years of planning experience
• passed the examinations set by CIP
The curriculum of the School’s undergraduate Planning program is developed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary for successful careers as professional planners – whether they choose to work in a private or public sector, or to further their education with post graduate study in planning or several related disciplines. It is an Honours Co-op plan, reflecting the importance of our applied orientation and vital connection with the Planning profession. This connection takes many forms from involving professionals in the classroom to students engaging with communities as part of their course experience.
Core courses cover key topics like planning history, theory, policy, ecology, design, transportation, law, statistics and planning methods. Electives allow students to pursue special interests. Students may decide to choose a suite of courses that allow them to attain the following specializations:
• Decision Support and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Environmental Planning and Management
• Land Development Planning
• Urban Design
Options and minors are also attainable through strategic course selection.
The Faculty of Environment expects that students are able to demonstrate effective communication and proficiency in written English. Accordingly, all students newly admitted to the Faculty are required to write the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) during their first term of enrollment (normally scheduled during the first week in December). Students must achieve 65 out of 90 on the exam. The ELPE requirement must be met by the end of Year 2 or the decision "May Not Proceed" will be assigned.