Year One
Required Courses (4.0 units)
PLAN 100 The Evolution of Planning
PLAN 102 Professional Communication
PLAN 103 Planning, Administration, and Finance
PLAN 104 Perspectives on Planning
PLAN 105 Introduction to Planning Analysis
PLAN 110 Visual Approaches to Design and Communication
ENVS 178 Introduction to Environmental Research Methods
ENVS 195 Introduction to Environmental Studies
Year One Elective Courses (1.0 unit)
Students must complete any two elective courses (1.0 unit) at the 100- or 200-level.
Note:
Required and elective courses together will total 10 courses (5.0 units) – all courses must be at the first- or second-year level. Before making a final selection in these courses, students must check that prerequisites have been met for courses that they might take in Years Two,Three, and Four.
Year Two
Required Courses (3.5 units)
PLAN 203 Transportation Planning and Analysis
PLAN 210 Planning Design and the Environment
PLAN 233 People and Plans
PLAN 261 Urban and Metropolitan Planning and Development
PLAN 281 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ENVS 200 Field Ecology
ENVS 278 Advanced Environmental Research Methods
Year Two Elective Courses (1.5 units)
Students must complete any three elective courses (1.5 units) at the 100- or 200-level.
Note:
See Note 4 below regarding 100-level course restrictions before selecting elective courses.
Year Three
Required Courses (2.5 units)
PLAN 300 Planning Theory
PLAN 340 Ecology-Based Policy-Making
or PLAN 453 Urban Stormwater Management
PLAN 346 Advanced Tools for Planning: Program Evaluation, Mediation and Public Participation
PLAN 350 Research Methods for Planners
ENVS 201 Introduction to Canadian Environmental Law
Year Three Elective Courses (2.5 units)
Students must complete any five elective courses (2.5 units) at the 300- or 400-level.
Year Four
Required Courses ( 3.0 units)
PLAN 341 Conservation/Resource Management of the Built Environment
PLAN 401 Planners and Planning Tribunals
PLAN 403 Professional Practice, Public and Private Administration
PLAN 405 Integrated Planning Project
PLAN 471 Planning Law
PLAN 483 Land Development Planning
Year Four Elective Courses (2.0 units)
Students must complete any four elective courses (2.0 units) at the 300- or 400-level.
Work term sequencing can be found in the Co-operative Education and Career Action section in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Notes
- Minimum Required Courses
Total: 20.0 units. Planning core: 13.0 units; electives: 7.0 units
- Average Requirements
Students must obtain a cumulative overall average (all courses) of 65%, and 75% in their major average (all PLAN and all ENVS courses). All courses must be passed.
If a student does not meet the required average(s), a conditional standing may be granted at the discretion of the School, which permits a student to proceed to a subsequent term on a conditional basis. Should the student be permitted to continue on the basis of "conditional" due to average and/or course standing, and if, subsequently, the required averages are not met this second time (term) or course deficiencies not cleared, withdrawal from Planning may be required.
- Course Load
Students are expected to carry a minimum load of five courses (2.5 units) in each term. Students interested in taking a higher course load require approval from the Undergraduate Advisor. A student may take up to one course during a Co-op work term. Planning students are not allowed to fast-track to complete the program earlier, since graduating on a work term is not permitted.
- First-Year Courses
No more than ten courses (5.0 units) at the 100-level will be counted toward the 40 courses (20.0 units) required to graduate.
- Transfer Students
Transfer applicants with post-secondary background may be considered for admission to the Planning program. In order to meet the appropriate degree requirements for this program, specifically the proper sequence of courses and co-op terms, transfer students will be required to begin their studies at the first year (1A) level. Applicants should be aware that transfer credit may not be granted for courses completed in other University of Waterloo programs or at other universities/colleges. Transfer students will only be admitted in the fall term.
- Honours Co-operative Plan
Planning Co-op is a five work-term plan in which four satisfactory work-term reports have to be written. It is recommended that students write their work-term reports for their first four work terms. Planning students are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one out-of-province work placement.
Co-op students in the Faculty of Environment are required to complete a minimum of five Professional Development courses, including a Professional Development introductory course (PD1) that must be taken prior to the first work term. Students are encouraged to take a professional-development course each work term until the requirement is met. Professional Development 2 (PD2) requires a work term report to be written, which will be considered one of the four required work-term reports. At least two other of the Professional Development courses must cover non-technical skills. Other than PD1, Professional Development courses are normally taken during co-op work terms.
- Double Counting
A course can be used to satisfy requirements for a maximum of two credentials. There will be no triple counting of any course for any academic credit in the Faculty of Environment. Double counting of courses applies as follows: once for the plan and once for any option, minor, diploma or specialization. There is no limit on the number of courses that may be double counted, unless otherwise stated.
- Diplomas, Options, and Minors
A number of diplomas, options and minors are available to Planning students including:
Diploma in Ecological Restoration and Rehabilitation
Diploma of Excellence in Geographic Information System
Diploma in Environmental Assessment
Business Option
Geomatics Option
International Development Option
Knowledge Integration Option
Parks Option
Sustainable Local Economic Development Option
Tourism Option
Environment and Resource Studies Minor
Geography and Environmental Management Minor
International Development Minor
Knowledge Integration Minor
For more information, please refer to the Faculty of Environment Student Handbook.
- Concurrent Degrees, Joint Honours, and Minors
The School does not offer a concurrent, Joint Honours, or minor plan to other departments. However, Planning students can participate in Joint Honours, minors, or options offered by other departments. Students choosing minors should refer to the regulations of those departments. Satisfying minor or Joint Honour requirements may demand more than the normal number of academic terms. See other faculty and department sections in this calendar regarding available minors.
- School of Planning Specializations
Planning students can choose to add one of these optional specializations to their plan in third year:
Decision Support and GIS
Environmental Planning and Management
Land Development Planning
Urban Design
For specialization requirements, please refer to the School’s Planning Program Undergraduate Manual.
- Oxford Brookes Field Trip
PLAN 480 - Theory and Practice of Planning in the United Kingdom (U.K.)(Oxford): This elective course is offered to third-and fourth-year Planning students and is conducted at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England. Since much planning theory and practice in Canada has drawn on U.K. roots, PLAN 480 has been developed to give students a first-hand experience of planning in the U.K. Large scale urban design in the 18th Century, the growth of the New Towns movement from its beginning in the late 19th Century to the present day, and central area redevelopment following large scale bomb damage during World War II are given special attention through seminars and field trips. Waterloo students also work on specific projects with British students. During free time, the students have the opportunity for travel in U.K. and Europe and there is an opportunity to remain in U.K. following the Oxford course for further travel.
- Planning Program Undergraduate Manual
A number of important guidelines and regulations are available online in the School’s Planning Program Undergraduate Manual. Areas covered include: admission, academic standing, certificates, co-op, courses, English Language Proficiency Exam requirements (ELPE), Oxford Brookes field trip, leave-of-absence, senior honours essay, teaching assistants, etc.
- The School reserves the right to make changes to the curriculum as necessary.