Program Requirements
The M.Sc. in Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis) is centred on an independent research thesis. Original research on an urban issue of interest with implications for planning, policy or design will be conducted. The program focuses on critical skills in research, analysis and interpretation that are applicable in both academia and practice.
Required Courses (27 credits)
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URBP 606D1 Research Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Formulate and develop a research question, methods and literature review for a thesis. Present the research proposal in a seminar format.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Bornstein, Lisa (Fall)
Students must register for both URBP 606D1 and URBP 606D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both URBP 606D1 and URBP 606D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Restriction: Only open to students enrolled in the M.Sc. in Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis).
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URBP 606D2 Research Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : See URBP 606D1 for description.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Badami, Madhav Govind (Winter)
Prerequisite: URBP 606D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both URBP 606D1 and URBP 606D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Only open to students enrolled in the M.Sc. in Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis).
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URBP 612 History and Theory of Planning (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : A review of planning history and theories of planning. These are examined under three categories: explanation of urban phenomena, substantive theory, and theories of process.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall)
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URBP 690 Thesis Submission (18 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Only open to students enrolled in the M.Sc. Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis).
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall)
Prerequisite: URBP 606
Only open to students enrolled in the M.Sc. Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis).
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
3 credits selected from the following research methods courses:
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URBP 505 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : An introduction to fundamental geographic information system (GIS) concepts and a range of GIS applications in urban and regional planning.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Kramer, Anna (Winter)
(0-2-7)
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URBP 608 Advanced GIS Applications (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Introduces students to real-world geographic information systems (GIS) problems and enhances the mastering of the geographic information systems as a tool for solving complex urban planning problems. Students will analyze several planning research problems spatially and introduce solutions to these issues.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite (s): URBP 505 or permission of the instructor
Restriction (s): Open to graduate students in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Civil Engineering, Geography (or permission of instructor)
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URBP 633 Research Methods for Planners (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : An introduction to methods commonly used in urban research and planning practice. Topics include municipal information systems, fieldwork techniques, survey design and analysis, analysis of spatial and temporal patterns, and the evaluation of policies and plans.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Priority given to Urban Planning Students
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URBP 640 Introduction to Planning Statistics (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics, focusing on building confidence and intuition in using and manipulating quantitative information. Correlation, t-tests, chi-squared tests, and bivariate regression.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken URBP 642 prior to fall 2020.
Lectures held on Friday, Oct 1, 8, 22 and 29
Web add/drop deadline is October 1, 2021
Web withdrawal with refund deadline is October 8, 2021
Web withdrawal with NO refund deadline is October 22, 2021
Labs held on Friday, Oct 1, 8, 22 and 29
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URBP 641 Reading the Urban Landscape
(1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : An overview of selected passive techniques that may be used to assess the congruence between urban environments and people as they go about their daily activities. These techniques include: (1) observing physical traces, (2) observing behaviour, (3) cognitive mapping and wayfinding, and (4) the assessment of the overall quality of urban environments.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
(1-0-2)
Held on Monday, Sept 13, 20, 27 and Oct 4.
Web add/drop deadline is September 13, 2021
Web withdrawal with refund deadline is September 20, 2021
Web withdrawal with NO refund deadline is September 27, 2021
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URBP 642 Introduction to Planning Data (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Techniques of exploratory data analysis. Data cleaning and transformation. Visualization techniques. Census data and the methods most commonly used to analyze them. Principles of reproducible research.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Lectures held on Friday, Sept 3, 10, 17 and 24.
Web add/drop deadline is September 3, 2021
Web withdrawal with refund deadline is September 10, 2021
Web withdrawal with NO refund deadline is September 17, 2021
Labs held on Friday, Sept 3, 10, 17 and 24.
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URBP 643 Selected Geographic Information Systems Applications
(1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Selected applications in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) related to urban planning.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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URBP 644 Multivariate Statistics (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Methods in multivariate analysis, with an emphasis on multiple linear regression models. ANOVA (analysis of variance). Reading and analyzing multiple linear regression analysis results. Designing and running multiple linear regression models for hypothesis testing. Diagnostic tests and data clean up.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Lectures held on Friday, Nov 5, 12, 19 and 26.
Web add/drop deadline is November 5, 2021
Web withdrawal with refund deadline is November 12, 2021
Web withdrawal with NO refund deadline is November 19, 2021
Labs held on Friday, Nov 5, 12, 19 and 26
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URBP 645 Social Research Methods 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Selected social research techniques as applied in urban planning, including: the art and craft of interviewing; surveys and questionnaires; ethnography, participant observation and narrative analysis; participatory techniques.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Lectures held on Tuesday, Sept 28, Oct 5, 19 and 26.
Web add/drop deadline is September 28, 2021
Web withdrawal with refund deadline is October 5, 2021
Web withdrawal with NO refund deadline is October 19, 2021
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URBP 646 Social Research Methods 2 (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Selected social research techniques as applied in urban planning, including: the art and craft of interviewing; surveys and questionnaires; ethnography, participant observation and narrative analysis; participatory techniques.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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URBP 647 Selected Methods in Planning 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Special topics related to urban planning methods will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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URBP 648 Selected Methods in Planning 2
(1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Special topics related to urban planning methods will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: Students may also take research methods courses at the 500 or 600 level in other academic units at McGill or another Montreal university, subject to the approval of the School.
9 credits selected from among the 500 or 600 level URBP courses offered by the School.
Elective Courses (6 credits)
6 credits offered at the 500 or 600 level by any academic units at McGill or at another Montreal university, with the approval of the School, if they are related to one or more subject areas in the field of planning. Choices usually include courses in urban geography, sociology, anthropology, law, politics, and environmental science. Students must confirm with the Thesis Supervisor prior to registration that the selected course(s) can be counted toward the M.Sc. program.
