ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Urban Planning

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Urban Planning

Location

Location

  • School of Urban Planning
  • Macdonald Harrington Building, Room 400
  • 815 Sherbrooke Street West
  • Montreal, QC H3A 2K6
  • Canada

About Urban Planning

About Urban Planning

ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University was the first institution in Canada to offer a full-time planning program, starting in 1947. The School of Urban Planning was created in 1976 as a separate academic unit within the Faculty of Engineering. It shares a heritage building with the School of Architecture, right on the main open space of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Downtown campus. The School has a strong track record of contributing to urban communities and to the profession of planning. It participates in the study of urban problems and in the formulation of policies and plans in Québec, elsewhere in Canada, and in developing regions.

The main objective of the School is to educate professional urban planners for leadership in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. It also prepares doctoral students for high-level research and teaching positions. The Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) is a two-year program with a strong emphasis on practical work in studio courses. The core program provides a general education in spatial planning in its functional, environmental, and social dimensions. Formal specializations are available in Urban Design and in Transportation Planning. M.U.P. students in the core program may also participate in the Barbados Field Study Semester, which focuses on global environmental issues. Details concerning these concentrations are available at , www.mcgill.ca/urbandesign, and www.mcgill.ca/bfss respectively.

The School’s teaching and research activities pertain to community planning, environmental policy and planning, international development planning, land-use planning and regulation, transportation planning, and urban design. They occur at the local, national, and international levels and are often done in partnership with other ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ departments (notably Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geography, and Law) and with units at other institutions in Montréal, across Canada, and abroad. The School uses Montreal and its region as its main teaching laboratory, and it enjoys good relationships with the local, professional, and political communities.

Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) Program

The Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) program is a two-year course of study that attracts students from Québec, Canada, the U.S., and overseas. It is recognized by the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec (O.U.Q.) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (C.I.P.). Graduates may become full members of the O.U.Q. and other provincial planning associations by completing their respective internship and examination requirements. Similar requirements must be met for admission to the American Institute of Certified Planners (A.I.C.P.) and other such organizations.

Urban planning was developed as a profession in the early decades of the twentieth century thanks to joint efforts of architects, landscape architects, engineers, government reformers, lawyers, public-health specialists, and others. Today, students in the M.U.P. program come from diverse backgrounds as well, including the design professions, engineering and applied sciences, environmental and social studies, and other fields; most of them have gained some professional experience after their undergraduate studies. A key feature of planning education is learning to view issues in multidisciplinary ways and to generate equitable and efficient solutions to complex problems of urban change and development. The M.U.P. program was designed with a strong emphasis on project-based learning, i.e., practical work done in teams in a studio setting. About half of the curriculum is devoted to required courses that teach basic knowledge and skills in urban planning; the other half enables students to select courses that match their particular interests. Three studio courses, a summer internship, and a semester-long Supervised Research Project prepare them for professional practice and research. Students participate actively in professors’ research programs or define their own research objectives, sometimes with their own research funding from major agencies (e.g., SSHRC, NSERC, FQRSC, FQRNT).

Graduates of the M.U.P. program work as planners, designers, and policy analysts, and as advocates and mediators, at various levels of government, in civil-society organizations, and with private consulting firms. Their expertise ranges from community planning to transportation planning, from policy-making in housing to computer-assisted decision-making. They devote their efforts in increasing numbers to sustainable development in its environment, social, and economic dimensions.

Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) (66 credits)
The M.U.P. requires two years of study, including a three-month internship with a member of a recognized planning association. Upon completion, graduates are expected to have acquired basic planning skills, a broad understanding of urban issues, and specialized knowledge in a field of their own choice.
Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) — Transportation Planning (66 credits)
The Transportation Planning option enables students to specialize in this field as part of their course of study for the M.U.P. degree. Studio courses, an internship, and a final project involve real-life work that prepares students for the professional practice of Urban Transportation Planning.
Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) — Urban Design (66 credits)

NOTE: The Urban Design option is being suspended. Students interested in Urban Design will be able to specialize in this field of practice as part of the core M.U.P. program.

The Urban Design option allows students to specialize in this field as part of their course of study for the M.U.P. degree. Studio courses, an internship, and a final project involve real-life work that prepares students for the professional practice of Urban Design.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)

Urban Planning Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Urban Planning Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The M.U.P. degree is open to students holding a bachelor's degree or equivalent in Anthropology, Architecture, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Geography, Law, Management, Political Science, Social Work, Sociology, or Urban Studies. Students from other backgrounds are considered for admission on an individual basis.

In addition to the documents for admission required by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the following must be submitted:

  1. Statement of specific interest in the area of Urban Planning (one to two pages)
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Portfolio: For architects only, a portfolio containing at least five (5) examples of architectural work accomplished in school and in practice demonstrating creativity and imagination. All applicants interested in the urban design concentration may wish to submit such a portfolio. Portfolios are not to exceed 8½" x 11" in size.
  4. Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of competency in oral and written English. By the dates for guaranteed consideration, appropriate exam results must be submitted directly from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Office. The minimum requirement for the TOEFL test is as follows: PBT - 600, iBT - 100, with each component score not less than 23. The minimum score for the IELTS test is 7.0.

Application Procedures

Application Procedures

Dates for Guaranteed Consideration

For dates for guaranteed consideration, please consult: www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/programs and select the appropriate program. ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

Awards and Financial Assistance

The School offers several fellowships and supports student applications to external grants from provincial and federal agencies. For information regarding awards and financial assistance, please refer to the Graduate Fellowships and Awards Calendar available at www.mcgill.ca/students/courses/calendars.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)

Urban Planning Faculty

Urban Planning Faculty

Director
Raphaël Fischler
Emeritus Professor
Jane Matthews-Glenn; B.A., LL.B.(Qu.), D. en droit(Stras.)
Associate Professors
Madhav G. Badami; B.Tech., M.S.(IIT, Madras) M.E.Des.(Calg.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) (joint appt. with ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ School of Environment)
Lisa Bornstein; B.Sc.(Calif., Berk.), M.R.P.(C'nell), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.)
David F. Brown; B.A.(Bishop's), M.U.P.(McG.), Ph.D.(Sheff.)
Raphaël Fischler; B.Eng.(Eindhoven), M.Sc., M.C.P.(MIT), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.)
Assistant Professors
Ahmed Elgeneidy; B.A.A., M.Arch.(Alexandria), Ph.D.(Port. St.)
Nik Luka; B.A.A.(Ryerson), M.Arch.(Laval), Ph.D.(Tor.) (joint appt. with School of Architecture)
Adjunct Professors
Cameron Charlebois, David Farley, Mario Polèse, Ray Tomalty
Guest Lecturers
Paul LeCavalier, Marc-André Lechasseur, Brenda Lee, Denis Lévesque, Pierre Morissette, Richard Shearmur, Larry Sherman, Alain Trudeau, Martin Wexler, Joshua Wolfe
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)

Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) (66 credits)

The M.U.P. requires two years of study including a three-month internship with a member of a recognized planning association.

For more information, see Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) (66 credits).

Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) — Transportation Planning (66 credits)

The Transportation Planning Option enables students to specialize in this field as part of their course of study for the Master of Urban Planning degree (M.U.P.). Studio courses, an internship, and a final project involve real-life work that prepares students for the professional practice of urban transportation planning.

For more information, see Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) — Transportation Planning (66 credits).

Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P); Urban Planning (Non-Thesis) — Urban Design (66 credits)

The Urban Design concentration in the professionally-accredited M.U.P. degree enables students to specialize in this area of scholarship and professional practice in their second year of studies. Three studio courses, an internship, two intensive seminar courses, and a final Supervised Research Project in Urban Design enable students to prepare for professional practice as urban design specialists skilled in analysis and design development for existing (sub)urban landscapes and newly-urbanizing contexts. This option is open to students with a professional and/or undergraduate degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design, Urban Planning, or related fields. Qualified applicants are admitted to the core M.U.P. program and then apply to be placed in the concentration at the end of their first year of study. Successful applicants must meet the admission requirements for the core M.U.P. program and also demonstrate visual acuity, spatial literacy, and skills in graphic communication during their first two terms of study.

Research Project (15 credits)

URBP 630 (3) Supervised Research Project 1
URBP 631 (6) Supervised Research Project 2
URBP 632 (6) Supervised Research Project 3

Required Internship (6 credits)

URBP 628 (6) Practical Experience

Required Courses (33 credits)

URBD 602 (3) Urban Design Seminar 1: Foundations
URBD 604 (3) Urban Design Seminar 2: Advanced Topics
URBP 609 (3) Planning Graphics
URBP 612 (3) History and Theory of Planning
URBP 622 (6) Planning Studio 1
URBP 623 (3) Planning Studio 2
URBP 624 (6) Planning Studio 3
URBP 633 (3) Planning Methods
URBP 635 (3) Planning Law

Complementary Courses

9-12 credits from the following including at least one ARCH course and one URBP course:

ARCH 515 (3) Sustainable Design
ARCH 520 (3) Montreal: Urban Morphology
ARCH 521 (3) Structure of Cities
ARCH 527 (3) Civic Design
ARCH 561 (3) Affordable Housing Seminar 1
ARCH 562 (3) Affordable Housing Seminar 2
ARCH 566 (3) Cultural Landscapes Seminar
URBP 504 (3) Planning for Active Transportation
URBP 506 (3) Environmental Policy and Planning
URBP 530 (3) Urban Environmental Planning
URBP 616 (3) Selected Topics 1
URBP 619 (3) Land Use and Transportation Planning

0-3 credits can be selected from other courses at the 500 or 600 levels in any academic unit at ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ or at another university subject to the approval of the School.

ARCH 515 (3) Sustainable Design
ARCH 528 (3) History of Housing
ARCH 529 (3) Housing Theory
ARCH 550 (3) Urban Planning and Development
URBP 501 (2) Principles and Practice 1
URBP 505 (3) Geographic Information Systems
URBP 530 (3) Urban Environmental Planning
URBP 605 (3) Graduate Seminar
URBP 607 (3) Reading Course: Urban Planning
URBP 617 (3) Selected Topics 2
URBP 618 (3) Selected Topics 3
URBP 619 (3) Land Use and Transportation Planning
URBP 625 (2) Principles and Practice 2
URBP 626 (2) Principles and Practice 3
URBP 627 (1) Urban Design Competition
URBP 629 (3) Cities in a Globalizing World
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Engineering—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 11, 2011) (disclaimer)
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