Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Environmental Studies in Planning program is accredited by the Professional Standards Board for the Planning Profession in Canada. This program offers a practice-oriented and conceptually rigorous education, providing unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. Through research, students can explore pressing societal issues such as affordable housing, climate change, environmental conservation and policy, active transportation, urban economies, participatory planning processes, and equity and inclusion.

Research Fields

• Human and Built Environment
• Physical/Natural Environment

Research Project Opportunities

Environmental Sociology of Natural Assets and Nature-based Solutions

Natural assets are the stocks of natural resources and ecosystems that produce ecosystem services. Nature-based solutions are actions taken to optimize ecosystem services use to help resolve societal challenges such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, floodwater control, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and threats to people's physical and mental health.

'Blackwards' to the Future: Past, present, and futures of the African American community of South Phoenix, AZ

Blackward to the Future is a community-led, participatory action research initiative dedicated to reclaiming the past, present, and future of the African American community in Phoenix, Arizona. The project seeks to address the erasure of Black histories from the city’s cultural landscape by documenting oral histories, preserving community archives, facilitating intergenerational dialogue, and co-creating future urban visions.

Spatial Data Sharing Between Government and the Private Sector

The Waterloo Civic Map Lab is a research team focused on how geospatial technologies and data are used to meet the needs of community, government, and civic organizations. Student researchers at all levels work to create applied and theoretical research that matters, understanding the challenges, benefits, and issues created by civic technologies and geospatial data.

Program Details

• Department/School: School of Planning
• Faculty: Faculty of Environment
• Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
• Delivery mode: On-campus
• Program type: Master's, Research
• Length of program: 24 months (full-time)
• Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
• Study option(s): Thesis, Master's Research Paper

Application Deadlines

• January 15 (for admission in September)

Admission Requirements

• A four-year honours bachelor degree (or equivalent), with a minimum overall average of 78%, from a recognized university; the undergraduate degree may be in planning or other fields relevant to planning including: architecture, biology, civil engineering, economics, forestry, geography, geology, landscape architecture, law, political science, sociology, or other resource disciplines or social sciences.
• The name of one or more School of Planning faculty member(s) who would be a suitable advisor.

Degree Requirements

• Review the degree requirements on the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree.
• Check out the institutional thesis repository to see recent submissions from the School of Planning graduate students.

Application Materials

• Resume/Curriculum vitae
• Statement of interest: A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to.
• Program-specific questions (PSQ): These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to.
• Transcript(s)
• Writing sample: At least one substantial example of work completed during the last two years of academic study. Students with professional experience may submit a professional report of which they were sole or senior author.
• References: Three references are required, at least two academic.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable: TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Tuition and Fees

• Visit the graduate program tuition page to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program.
• Review living costs and housing.
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students.