Want a career that makes an impact? We’ve got the plan.

Go beyond urban planning and learn to tackle the environmental and social challenges facing the world's urban, rural, and natural areas. Learn how to manage the growth of cities, design efficient transportation systems, protect parks and other natural areas, preserve heritage, and more.
This multidisciplinary program covers everything from economic and legal issues to design skills, land development, and GIS technology. Whether you choose to put your degree to work for government, academia, or the private sector, you'll be ready to create a sustainable future through smart planning.
Because this is a co-op program, you’ll graduate with 20 months of paid real-world experience. Use your five co-op work terms to explore the many areas within planning so that when you graduate, you have a network of potential employers and you know which career areas you'd like to pursue.
In Canada for integrating sustainability issues in a planning degree program
Gain 20 months of paid work experience through co-op
Earn a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Planning
Planning admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
Admission averages: Low 80s
Planning at Waterloo
Jacklyn loves Planning at Waterloo. She feels like she’s at home because she’s surrounded by people who share her interests in sustainability and the environment.
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Monthly topics include how to choose a university program, tips for a successful senior year of high school, and more.
Questions? Ask a student!
Contact an Environment student ambassador to learn about their experience.
Ask them questions such as why they chose their program, what the classes are like, and how you can get involved on campus.
First-year courses and beyond
September to December
- PLAN 100 - The Evolution of Planning
- PLAN 102 - Professional Communication
- PLAN 104 - Perspectives on Planning
- PLAN 105 - Introduction to Planning Analysis
- ENVS 195 - Introduction to Environmental Studies
January to April
- PLAN 103 - Planning, Administration, and Finance
- PLAN 110 - Visual Approaches to Design and Communication
- ENVS 178 - Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics
- Two electives
Sample upper-year courses
PLAN 203 – Transportation Planning and Analysis
PLAN 210 – Urban Planning Design and the Environment
PLAN 320 – Economic Analyses for Regional Planning
PLAN 432 – Health, Environment, and Planning
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
Get relevant experience in urban planning and build a career network before you graduate. By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Read about how Jacklyn used her co-op term to create safer and inclusive communities on our Beyond Idea's website.
Sample co-op job titles
- Planning policy assistant
- Student planner
- Planning assistant
- Junior project manager
- Coordinator land development
- Safety research assistant
- Rail operations co-op student
- Innovation operations and outreach assistant
Sample co-op employers
- City of Windsor
- Town of Kingsville
- WSP Canada Inc.
- Regional Municipality of Peel
- Mattamy Homes
- Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs
- City of Kitchener
- EcoVue Consulting Services Inc.
Customize your degree
You can add additional areas of expertise by including one or more of the areas of focus in Planning.
- Decision Support and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Environmental Planning and Management
- Land Development Planning
- Urban Design
You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo student, such as Geography and Environmental Management, a popular choice among Planning students.
What can you do with a degree in planning?
Waterloo Planning graduates have been very successful pursuing careers as planners in transportation and transit, land development, and policy for municipalities, conservation groups, as well as in the private sector as consultants, developers, project managers, and more.
Recent graduates
- Development Planner – Town of Whitby
- Land Use Planner – Aird & Berlis
- Senior Urban Designer – FoTenn Consultants
- Transportation Planner – Metrolinx
- Senior Project Planner – WSP
- Landscape Designer – Fossil Landscapes
- Community Planner – County of Frontenac
Visit our Waterloo Stories website to learn about what Katrina is doing with her Environment degree.
Learn about the future of careers in environment, sustainability, and climate change.
Further education
While the full range of further education depends on your individual interests, these are common areas where graduates pursued a master's, PhD, or other professional program.
- Urban and regional planning
- Environmental planning
- Geographic information systems
- Local economic development
- Urban design
- Business (MBA)
- Architecture
- Law
Possible professional designation
Programs in Ontario recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners
Apply directly to the Planning program on your application
"The best thing about Waterloo is the recognition you get from employers who appreciate your high caliber education. Plus being in classes with only 90-120 students lets you get to know people who share the same interests."Alifia, third-year Planning co-op student
"Co-op has given me direction and confidence. I would have felt absolutely clueless upon graduation, but now I know what kind of career I want – and I have work experience from five co-op terms that sets me apart from other job applicants."Miila, fourth-year Planning co-op student (minor in Geography)
"Planning is a close-knit community. People are friendly and willing to help. I also love applying what I learn in class to creating more livable communities. Each co-op term is a new experience and gives me hands-on experience working in my field."Adrian, third-year Planning co-op student
"The best part of co-op is the real-world experience. In Planning, there are different paths to take. Co-op helped me discover what areas interest me – and helped me better understand my course material by applying it during my work terms."Abby, second-year Planning co-op student
Ready to learn more?
See planning in action
Field trips let you see good — and bad — planning across Southern Ontario. You’ll even have the option of taking a three-week field course at Oxford Brookes University, one of the U.K.'s most highly regarded urban planning schools.
Jump start your career
And because it’s accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners, you’ll already meet many of the requirements to become a Registered Professional Planner.