Program Overview

Introduction to the Certificate in Urban Design

The Certificate in Urban Design provides students with an understanding of the relationships between design thinking, the visual arts, the built environment, and the social and spatial conditions that drive the production of urban space. Over half of the courses are taught in a studio format, which supports applied experiential, conceptual, and skills-based training through making.

Program Overview

• The program is a two-year certificate.
• It can be taken full- or part-time.
• Students can enter this program directly from high school.
• The program can be begun off-campus.

What You Will Learn

You will learn how to apply a user-centred design thinking approach to the creation of urban spaces. You will acquire skills in visual arts, urbanism and place-making, and you will work collaboratively with other students to apply what you have learned to real-world urban design challenges in order to better understand the production and societal impact of urban spaces.

Featured Classes

• INTS 111: Design and Society - This interdisciplinary team-taught class will start by dismantling the notion that the practice of design is simply about making something look good and then move on to an examination of how professionals from a wide range of disciplines use design thinking principles to achieve goals ranging from making a better widget to building a better world.
• PLAN 446: Advanced Urban Design Studio - The evolution of urban design will take shape through analysis of urban form, streetscapes, open spaces, and architecture. Students will engage in graphic analysis, design exercises, discussions with local experts and community members, and the use of computer-aided design software tools and techniques. Working as teams, students will develop a design concept for a real-world public space in Saskatchewan using a community-engaged collaborative design process.

Why Study Here?

The Certificate in Urban Design at the University of Saskatchewan is the only program of its type in Canada that applies the methodology of design-thinking through visual arts and the built environment to work on the social and spatial conditions of urban life. Over half of the courses are taught in a studio format, which supports applied experiential, conceptual, and skills-based training through making, and you will work as part of a collaborative team on your capstone project.

Careers

Design thinking is an influential methodology for creating products, services, and processes that meet user needs. It is used in a diverse range of fields, including:

• Architecture
• Urban planning
• Curatorial and museum studies
• Public artistic practice
• Engineering
• Civil service
• Civic politics
• Public space programming

Tuition Estimates

Notes on Tuition

• Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year.
• The estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay per class in Canadian dollars.
• Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision, and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs, and fitness centre access.
• The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 for this program.

Program Options

The Certificate in Urban Design is offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science. You may earn the certificate on its own, concurrently with a degree, or after having already received a degree from USask or another institution.

Important Note for International Students

The College of Arts and Science strongly recommends that international students do not enrol in a certificate program alone, as course offerings per term and program length may not be sufficient to maintain eligibility for a study permit, on/off-campus work permit, or post-graduation work permit when taken as a stand-alone program. If you are interested in pursuing a certificate program, plan to enrol in your certificate of interest only alongside a degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements depend on your situation. Please refer to the official university resources for detailed and up-to-date information on admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

Start term | Application Deadline | International Deadline ---|---|--- Winter (January 2026) | Dec. 1, 2025 | Sept. 1, 2025 Spring (May 2026) | April 1, 2026 | Feb. 1, 2026 Summer (July 2026) | May 1, 2026 | March 1, 2026 Fall (September 2026) | July 15, 2026 | May 1, 2026 Winter (January 2027) | Dec. 1, 2026 | Sept. 1, 2026

Documents Due Dates

• For Winter 2026: Dec. 15, 2025 (domestic), Oct. 1, 2025 (international)
• For Spring 2026: May 1, 2026 (domestic), March 1, 2026 (international)
• For Summer 2026: June 1, 2026 (domestic), April 1, 2026 (international)
• For Fall 2026: Aug. 1, 2026 (domestic), June 1, 2026 (international)
• For Winter 2027: Dec. 15, 2026 (domestic), Oct. 1, 2026 (international)