Today's challenges: future possibilities

Message from the director

Welcome to the School of Planning at Waterloo!

We think that this is such a great time to study and work in Planning. There is so much important work to be done. Our professors and student colleagues study, and carry out research about, many complex and interconnected challenges that are experienced in our communities: for example - affordable housing, the local impacts of climate change, environmental conservation and policy, active transportation, urban economic change, participatory planning processes, and equity and inclusion, among many other subjects. We work in a range of subfields of Planning that include social planning, environmental planning, community sustainability, urban design, transportation, housing, urban economics, heritage and more.

This is Canada’s largest and one of the longest-established Planning Schools. Our School is an interdisciplinary community, reflecting and building on the learning and research culture that was established in 1969. We maintain strong connections with the Planning profession, and we focus on combining conceptually rich education with applied experience.

Located in the Faculty of Environment's LEED Platinum certified Environment 3 building, we are the only Planning School in Canada to offer programs at the Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD levels. Our BES, MA, and MES (Planning) programs are accredited by the Canadian Planning Profession. Our students explore Planning practice and theory, and they gain practical experience through experiential learning opportunities that include co-op jobs or internships. The PhD program welcomes scholars with career aspirations in academia or the policy world.

We are proud to provide a high-quality, experience-based education that is the foundation for students’ future success, whether in Planning practice, related fields, or further studies.

Mark Seasons PhD, FCIP, RPP
Professor and Director

Find out more about Planning!