Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning

The Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning is a graduate degree program offered by the University of Alberta. This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of urban and regional planning, including the social, economic, and environmental aspects of planning.

Program Description

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences offers several graduate degree programs, including the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning. This program is a course-based degree that can be completed within two calendar years beyond a completed undergraduate degree. The program must normally be completed within three years from admission.

Entrance Requirements

The entrance requirements for the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning include:

• A four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of study
• A letter of interest
• Two letters of academic recommendation
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts
• A TOEFL score of 90 (Internet-based) or equivalent, where applicable

Required Courses

The required courses for the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning include:

• PLAN 500 - Planning for Resilient Cities and Regions
• PLAN 501 - Planning for Northern Regions and Resource Communities
• PLAN 503 - Master's Project Proposal
• PLAN 505 - Master's Major Project
• PLAN 510 - Physical Planning and Design Fundamentals
• PLAN 511 - Professional Practice and Ethics
• PLAN 512 - Advanced Finance for Planners
• PLAN 516 - Planning Law
• PLAN 517 - Advanced Planning Theory
• PLAN 595 - Advanced Planning Studio
• PLAN 598 - Advanced Research Methods and Analysis
• Two additional 3-unit PLAN courses

Research Areas

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has active research fields that include:

• Aqueous and sedimentary geochemistry
• Arctic environments
• Atmosphere and ocean modelling
• Basin analysis
• Biogeography
• Carbonate sedimentology
• Clastic sedimentology
• Climatology
• Community engagement
• Community, health and environment
• Community planning
• Diamond geology
• Economic geology
• Environmental values, attitudes and behaviors
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental geology
• Experimental petrology
• Fluvial and glacial geomorphology
• Geochemistry
• Geochronology
• Geographic information systems
• Geomicrobiology
• Geotectonics
• Glaciology, glacier hydrology and glacier chemistry
• Global change
• Hot-springs
• Human-environment interactions
• Human dimensions of environmental hazards
• Hydrogeology
• Ichnology
• Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic petrology
• Invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology
• Isotope geology
• Land-use planning
• Marine icing
• Meso-scale meteorology
• Metalliferous mineral deposits
• Microclimatology
• Micrometeorology
• Micropaleontology
• Mineralogy
• Paleolimnology
• Paleoecology of siliceous microfossils
• Periglacial geomorphology
• Petroleum geology
• Physical oceanography, paleoceanography and numerical model development
• Planetary geology
• Precambrian palaeoenvironments
• Qualitative research methods
• Quaternary palaeoenvironments
• Regional planning
• Remote sensing
• Resilience
• Sedimentology
• Stratigraphy
• Structural geology
• Transportation planning
• Urban design
• Urban planning
• Tectonics
• Volcanology
• Winter city planning and design

Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fees for the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning are available on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

Scholarships and Financial Support

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.