About
Planners balance science, aesthetics and community interests in the planning of healthy urban, rural and regional communities and environments. They work with community members, developers and elected officials to create places that optimize the use or preservation of society’s environmental, economic, social, cultural aesthetic, and infrastructure assets.
- 4 year degree
- Full or part-time program
- You can enter this program directly from high school
- You can begin this program off-campus
What you will learn
You will learn about the challenges of managing urbanization in a variety of contexts and about the latest innovations in planning policy and design. Some of the topics you’ll study include: land-use planning that integrates modern technologies, active transportation and transportation infrastructure, climate change solutions, energy conservation, protecting water supplies, and caring for natural areas. You will learn about community engagement, policy analysis and government processes, economics, planning and development law, geomatics, and conflict resolution.
A first-year schedule sample
This degree program is flexible and offers you the opportunity to take courses in many different subject areas. Here’s what a typical first-year schedule might look like:
| Course | Description |
|---|---|
Fall Term |
|
| ECON 111a | Introductory Microeconomics |
| POLS 111a | Democratic Citizenship in Canada |
| SOC 111a | Foundations in Sociology Society Structure Process |
| ENG 113b | Literature and Composition Reading Narrative |
| INDG 107c | Introduction to Canadian Indigenous Studies |
Winter Term |
|
| MATH 104d | Elementary Calculus |
| ART 136e | Extended Media Foundation I |
| GEOG 120e | Introduction to Global Environmental Systems |
| HIST 175e | History Matters Identities and Communities in Transition |
a Required or eligible course for the major
b One of the course options to complete the English Language Writing Requirement
c One of the course options to complete the Indigenous Learning Requirement
d One of the course options to complete the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
e One of the course options which may be used in the Breadth, Cognate, and/or Electives Requirements
The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.
Analysis of social change in rural areas with emphasis on links between the organization of resource-based industries and the social characteristics of rural communities. The focus is on contemporary rural development experiences in North America with comparison to selected additional international cases.
PLAN 341: Urban Planning
The course examines 21st century approaches and frameworks in urban planning, situating these briefly in the evolutionary context of planning movements from the late-19th and 20th centuries. Examples of topics engaged with include: zoning, pricing and urban form; infrastructure asset management planning; neighbourhood, street and public space (re-) design; planning for multiple transport modes; Indigeneity and interculturalism in planning and design; culture planning. The course combines experiential and class-based learning. Individual and group field-based projects form a significant part of the course assessment. A field trip is incorporated into the course.
PLAN 442: Regional Planning
Over the past century a regional approach to planning has shaped and informed the Canadian landscape as reflected in provincial programs directed at agricultural land protection, watershed conservation, and metropolitan growth strategies. This course examines the historical and present-day context for regional planning in Canada from its origins in agricultural assistance to its current manifestation in sustainable development and bioregionalism. Regional planning as a governance structure and institutional framework will be a common thread through the course. Emphasis will be placed on the interpretation and function of rural and urban landscapes from a regional perspective. Upon completion of this course students will have an appreciation for the dynamic forces shaping Canadian regions, awareness of regional governance structures, as well as an understanding of current trends in regional planning in Canada.
Hands-on experience
Students have the opportunity to participate in the PlLAN 413.0 Planning Practicum which is a non-credit course enabling RUP students to engage in an applied program of practical planning work under the supervision of a planner who is a member of the SPPI.
Unique opportunities
The RUP Program is accredited by the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute (SPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners and is one of only two professionally accredited undergraduate planning programs in western Canada.
Careers
Decisions about how communities grow are increasingly linked to public environmental consciousness, making planners one of the most active professional groups dealing with climate change, energy efficiency and air/water quality.
Some career opportunities include:
- City planner
- Town planner
- Planning consultant
- Environmental planner
- Land use planner
- Long-range planner
- Transportation planner
- Community consultant
- Parks planner
- Planning analyst
- Recreation planner
- Regional planner
- Heritage planner
- Zoning and bylaws planner
- Neighbourhood planner
- Economic development planner
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and safety planner
Tuition estimates
| Canadian students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,547 | $36,528 |
| Student fees | $1,121 | $1,121 |
| Books | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Total | $10,168 | $39,149 |
Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
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 per year.
Program options
These Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Regional and Urban Planning degrees are offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science:
You should consult with an academic advisor in the college when you begin your studies to decide if you want a four-year or honours degree.
Admission requirements and deadlines
Deadlines
Ready to apply?
Create an admissions account and start your application today. When you are ready to submit your application, you will be assessed a non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD. Effective December 2, the application fee is increasing to $120 CAD.
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