Note: This is the 2020–2021 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
The concentration in Urban Development and Urban Design aims to produce graduates who are skilled in analysis and design for development in existing (sub)urban landscapes and urbanizing contexts, whether in North America or elsewhere. A series of courses on urban design, real estate, the politics of development, and urban governance enhance the core curriculum of the professionally-accredited M.U.P. program. Additional courses address innovative approaches to urban development, contemporary urban form, community-based design, globalization and development, and the adaptive redesign of suburban contexts, in addition to enduring topics such as housing, public space, cultural landscapes, and environmental planning. Students seeking to specialize in Urban Development and Urban Design apply at the end of their first year of study; admission into the concentration is based on performance in the first year of study and demonstration of spatial literacy, numeric competency, skills in graphic communication, and understanding of complex development processes.
Required Courses (45 credits)
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URBP 553 Urban Governance (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Critical perspectives on the governance of contemporary cities and urban regions, with a focus on North America. The relationship between planners and other important local governance actors, including municipal governments, the realestate industry, and community groups. The role of planning and planners in challenging or perpetuating urban social, political, economic, and environmental inequities.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall)
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URBP 609 Planning Graphics 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Designed to familiarize the student with graphic techniques used in professional planning work, as well as to heighten environmental perception. Weekly lecture which reviews theory and practice followed by a weekly studio assignment involving the application of practical skills.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Doucet, Suzanne (Fall)
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URBP 610 Planning Graphics 2 (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Designed to familiarize the student with graphic techniques used in professional planning work, as well as to heighten environmental perception. Weekly lecture which reviews theory and practice followed by a weekly studio assignment involving the application of practical skills.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Doucet, Suzanne (Winter)
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URBP 611 Planning Graphics 3 (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Designed to familiarize the student with graphic techniques used in professional planning work, as well as to heighten environmental perception. Weekly lecture which reviews theory and practice followed by a weekly studio assignment involving the application of practical skills.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Nugent, Michael (Winter)
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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 2020
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall)
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URBP 622 Planning Studio 1 (6 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Introduction to planning practice based on real-world urban research and planning at the neighbourhood level. Topics: problem definition, methods for data collection and analysis, goal setting, design and analysis of alternative plans, public policy, plan implementation, and professional presentation techniques. Students work in interdisciplinary teams on assessments of current living conditions and on plans to improve them, including policies and projects related to housing, public space, infrastructure and services, and community development. Research and recommendations are presented in oral presentations and written reports.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Bornstein, Lisa (Fall) Bornstein, Lisa; ELSWORTHY, MARK (Winter)
Research and design studio.
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URBP 623 Planning Studio 2 (6 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Research and planning techniques for land development. Students work in teams to do research on context, program and precedents and develop a detailed plan for a site that poses urban and/or environmental challenges. Topics: site analysis, market analysis, and financial analysis; land-use regulation, real-estate development, residential planning, and housing policy; data collection and analysis, design and evaluation of alternatives, and project implementation.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
(1-5-12)
Prerequisite: URBP 622
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URBP 624 Planning Studio 3 (6 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Exploration of complex planning problems at the local or regional scale, chosen depending on the experience and research interests of the participants, for the acquisition of research and planning skills in greater depth. Students work in teams to fulfill a mandate for a public, private or third-sector client. Substantive issues vary according to clients. Topics: project management, client-consultant interactions, and professional communication.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Shearmur, Richard George; Brown, David (Winter)
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URBP 628 Practical Experience
Overview
Urban Planning : An internship related to the practice of urban planning is required. The practical experience must be of at least 360 hours' duration and be supervised by a professional in the planning field. An evaluation of the student's performance by the supervisor, as well as a short report by the student, forms the basis for assessment.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 630 Supervised Research Project 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : The Supervised Research Project is intended to focus a student's interests on a particular area of enquiry at the end of studies for a Master's Degree in Planning. It should ideally provide the transition into practice or more advanced studies. Joint research projects are allowed.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Bornstein, Lisa (Fall) Shearmur, Richard George; Bornstein, Lisa (Winter)
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URBP 631 Supervised Research Project 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Continuation of the requirements for the Supervised Research Project.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 632 Supervised Research Project 3 (6 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Continuation of the requirements for the Supervised Research Project.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 635 Planning Law (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : A comparative study of private and public control of land use and development, including master plans, zoning bylaws, subdivision control, urban redevelopment, expropriation, regional planning, environmental protection, and heritage conservation.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: LeChasseur, Marc-André (Winter)
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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: Fall 2020
Instructors: Shearmur, Richard George (Fall)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken URBP 642 prior to fall 2020.
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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: Fall 2020
Instructors: Luka, Nik (Fall)
(1-0-2)
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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: Fall 2020
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall)
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
A minimum of 9 credits are selected from Group B; the remaining credits can be selected from Group B or Group C as indicated below.
Group A (1 to 3 credits)
1-3 credits from the following:
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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 2021
Instructors: Kramer, Anna (Winter)
(0-2-7)
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URBP 643 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the field of urban planning. Theoretical and technical basic notions of GIS and cartography such as: sources, quality, model, display, analysis, management, and storage of spatial data.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Kramer, Anna (Winter)
Group B (9 to 14 credits)
(9-14 credits)
At least 9 credits (three courses) from the following:
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URBP 555 Real Estate and Planning (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Basic concepts of real estate and property rights and how these are valued. The specificities of property markets and their segmentation. The paradox of realestate uniqueness. Actors and processes of realestate development and investment in practical terms (proforma analysis, investment analysis, leases and property management) and broader terms (institutional investors, financialization). Segmentation of development processes among local, supralocal and international actors, including consultants. Roles of the planner and planning regulations; how these affect property values and property development with specific reference to Québec planning legislation and powers. Market evaluation and analysis of the development potential of specific sites.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Shearmur, Richard George (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken URBP 617 in winter 2017.
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URBP 557 Rethinking Zoning (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Zoning and land use planning, and their evolution within social, legal, economic and environmental contexts. The legacy, limitations and potential of zoning. The competing interests in planning of preserving neighbourhood character and accommodating growth. Zoning as a strategic point of negotiation between real estate capital and public goods. The use of inclusionary zoning and the up-zoning of low-density residential neighbourhoods to address affordable housing crises in Canadian and American cities. The practice, politics and potential of zoning towards housing justice.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Kramer, Anna (Fall)
(3-0-6).
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URBP 604 Urban Design Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Concepts and methods used in contemporary urban design: historical influences, epistemological debates, practical techniques, and philosophical concerns.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
(1-2-6)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ARCH 604.
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URBP 620 Transport Economics (4 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Economic and financial aspects of urban transport policies and planning. Introduction to impact assessment techniques for major transport projects and policies; discussion of political debates concerning transport financing.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Elgeneidy, Ahmed (Fall)
Prerequisite: An introductory course in microeconomics or permission of instructor.
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URBP 629 Planning Theory and Practice in a Globalizing World (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Planning theory, urban policy and planning practices in comparative perspective Topics covered include: global and local processes shaping cities and urban challenges worldwide; contemporary planning theories, including those from the Global South; and the impacts of planning and governance on urban form, economic growth, ecological balance, and equity, among other urban challenges.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: URBP 622 or permission of instructor.
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URBP 651 Redesigning Suburban Space (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Planning and urban design strategies for transforming suburban and exurban settings in North America to meet contemporary needs. Critical approaches to responsible practice in existing cultural landscapes. Adaptive reuse of public space, intensification, densification, transit-oriented retrofit of urban form, community-based design development.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Luka, Nik (Fall)
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URBP 656 Urban Innovation and Creativity (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Exploration of contemporary debates on creativity and innovation as inherently urban phenomena linked to interactions and 'buzz' that occur in urban contexts; discussion of policy impacts including how urban and metropolitan growth is premised upon the capacity to enhance creativity and innovation. Examination of what is meant by creativity and innovation, how they can be connected, and why they are seen as vital to economic development. Arguments for and critiques of 'creative cities' and 'innovative urban areas'. Creative class, geography of innovation, culture and urban development, metropolitan creative-city policies, geographic paradoxes that arise.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken URBP 618 in Winter 2014 (when topic was "Creative Cities: Creativity, Innovation and Urban Agglomerations".
Group C (0-5 credits)
0-5 credits from the following or other 500 or 600 level courses (see note below):
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ARCH 515 Sustainable Design (3 credits)
Overview
Architecture : This course will address sustainable design theory and applications in the built environment with students from a variety of fields (architecture, urban planning, engineering, sociology, environmental studies, economics, international studies). Architecture will provide the focus for environmental, socio-cultural and economic issues.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Jemtrud, Michael (Winter)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: ARCH 377 or permission of instructor.
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GEOG 525 Asian Cities in the 21st Century (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : This course examines current themes relating to mass urbanization in Asia in a range of contexts and the forces that shape the built environment of Asian cities. Various approaches to understanding Asian cities and current theoretical debates will be investigated, including recent critiques of western-centric theorizations of urban change in the region. The course examines a variety of themes through which students will gain familiarity with some of the major strands relating to urban change in Asia: national identity, neoliberalism, social exclusions, migration, religion, ethnicity and sustainability.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Moser, Sarah (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 325, or 9 credits of Geography courses in Urban Geography, or permission of the instructor.
Open to graduate students and final year undergraduates.
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URBP 501 Principles and Practice 1 (2 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : This six-week intensive course exposes students to issues and techniques that are applicable in diverse professional planning contexts. The subject matter, geographic area, scale of intervention and institutional location of planning varies from semester to semester. The course focuses on a specific case study and is taught by a visiting lecturer with professional experience in the selected subject matter.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Bornstein, Lisa; Gold, Ian Jeffrey; Weinstock, Daniel; Choudhury, Suparna; Shah, Jai (Fall)
(2-0-4)
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URBP 503 Public Transport: Planning and Operations (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Overview of topics in planning and operations for public transport with special emphasis on best-practice strategies of contemporary urban systems.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Restriction: Graduate students and U3 students only.
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URBP 504 Planning for Active Transportation (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : The importance of transit, walking, and cycling as modes of transportation in sustainable urban environments. Planning, design, and operation of mass transit systems, bikeways, and footpaths.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Elgeneidy, Ahmed (Winter)
(3-0-6)
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URBP 506 Environmental Policy and Planning (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Analytical and institutional approaches for understanding and addressing environmental issues at various scales; characteristics of environmental issues, science-policy-politics interactions relating to the environment, and implications for policy; sustainability, and the need for and challenges associated with interdisciplinary perspectives; externalities and their regulation; public goods; risk perception and implications; the political-institutional context and policy instruments; cost-benefit analysis; multiple-criteria decision-making approaches; multidimensional life-cycle analysis; policy implementation issues; conflict resolution; case studies.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Badami, Madhav Govind (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Restriction: This course is open to students in U3 and above
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URBP 514 Community Design Workshop (4 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Context-focused community-based architectural projects undertaken in collaboration with external partners. Exploration of challenges, needs, and opportunities in architectural and urban-design interventions on real sites through interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
(2-4-6)
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking ARCH 514.
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URBP 530 Urban Infrastructure and Services in International
Context
(3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Issues of practical and theoretical importance in relation to urban infrastructure and services in the international context: science and technology, political economy, policy analysis, policy implementation, public finance, and institutions and governance.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 541 Selected Topics in Planning (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Methods and techniques pertinent to contemporary practice in urban planning.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Dhar, Tapan (Winter)
(1-0-2)
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URBP 542 Selected Topics in Visual Analysis (1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Methods and techniques of visual analysis pertinent to contemporary practice in urban planning.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
(1-0-2).
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URBP 543 Special Topics (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Special topics related to Urban Planning will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 556 Urban Economy: A Spatial Perspective (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Economic functions played by cities; economic processes governing city formation, city growth, and the internal spatial organization of cities. Describing and understanding how cities can be interpreted as economic phenomena. Economic origins of cities, the industrial revolution, city systems and networks, the role of mobility and telecommunications, innovation and creativity as urban phenomena, the internal spatial logic of metropolitan areas.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 607 Reading Course: Urban Planning (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : The Reading Course offers an opportunity to explore, under the supervision of a staff member, subject areas relevant to urban planning.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Shearmur, Richard George (Fall)
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URBP 616 Selected Topics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Special topics related to Urban Planning will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 617 Selected Topics 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Special topics related to Urban Planning will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 618 Selected Topics 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Special topics related to Urban Planning will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 619 Land Use and Transport Planning (4 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : Analysis of transport and land use interactions in urban areas. Study of the impacts of transport systems on travel behaviour, residential and work location decisions, and urban form; discussion of implications for planning practice.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Elgeneidy, Ahmed (Winter)
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URBP 625 Principles and Practice 2 (2 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : This six-week intensive course exposes students to issues and techniques which are applicable in diverse professional planning contexts that vary in terms of their subject matter, location, scale and the role played by planners. The course focuses on a specific case study and is taught by a visiting lecturer with experience in the selected subject area. Course topics are systematically varied over a two-year cycle.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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URBP 626 Principles and Practice 3 (2 credits)
Overview
Urban Planning : This six-week intensive course exposes students to issues and techniques that are applicable in diverse professional planning contexts. The subject matter, geographic area, scale of intervention and institutional location of planning vary from semester to semester. The course is taught by a visiting lecturer, adjunct professor or Ph.D. student.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 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: Fall 2020
Instructors: Shearmur, Richard George (Fall)
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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: Winter 2021
Instructors: Kerrigan, Danielle (Winter)
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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 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 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: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall) Kramer, Anna (Winter)
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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: Fall 2020
Instructors: Wachsmuth, David (Fall)
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URBP 649 Visual and Spatial Methods
(1 credit)
Overview
Urban Planning : Topics related to visual and spatial methods in urban planning will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Students may also take courses at the 500 or 600 level in any academic unit at McGill or at another Montreal university, subject to the approval of the School.
