Urban Studies and Urban Planning (BA)
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Why choose Urban Studies and Urban Planning?
New York. Paris. Vancouver. Montreal. Each follows its own rhythm, shaped by geography, history and the people who live there. Explore how residential and commercial areas, community spaces, public services and transportation all work together to form a city’s unique personality. You’ll learn how to plan for future change and make decisions in the public interest.
Through labs, lectures and projects, you will:
- Study the relationships between the socio-cultural, economic and physical aspects of urban development
- Learn to gather and interpret statistical data
- Acquire technical knowledge of computerized mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Put your skills to work by analyzing real-world problems identified in Montreal neighbourhoods and creating solutions
Program Details
A Bachelor of Arts degree takes a minimum of three or four years (90 – 120 credits) of full-time study, depending on your academic background.
Concentrations:
- Major in Urban Studies (42 credits)
- Minor in Urban Studies (30 credits)
- Honours in Urban Planning (63 credits)*
- Specialization in Urban Planning (60 credits)*
*Admission is to the Major in Urban Studies. Students seeking admission to the Urban Planning programs may apply for a transfer after having completed certain courses and obtained a grade point average of 3.0 for Specialization and 3.3 for Honours.
The BA Honours and Specialization in Urban Planning are not accredited planning degrees, but prepare students for a range of planning-related jobs that do not require an accredited degree, and are excellent preparation for students considering graduate studies in planning.
More information
We consider complete applications year round and we give priority to applicants who apply by official deadlines. Late applications will be considered if places are still available for the fall term only.
| You've sent your application from: | Fall term deadline | Winter term deadline |
| Inside Canada | March 1 Certain programs have extended their deadlines. Please check program availability. |
November 1 Not all programs are available for this term. Please check program availability. |
| Outside Canada (International) | February 1 | September 1 |
We reserve the right to close admission to a program at any time after the official deadline without prior notice.
Sample classes:
- Urban Geography
- Urban Development
- Neighbourhood and Community Planning
- Transportation Impact Assessment
- Urban Ecology
More information
- Consult the undergraduate calendar for a complete list of current courses
- View course requirements on the departmental website.
Our facilities feature the latest technology that will give you experience with the tools that professionals use in the field. These include:
- A cartography studio
- Transportation Research for Integrated Planning (TRIP) Lab
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Lab
- Urban Planning and Design Studio
Graduates of the Urban Studies and Urban Planning programs leave with the knowledge and technical skills required for a career in any field that requires engaging spatial analysis of the built environment to plan change, from real estate to public policy or administration.
- Development and zoning coordination
- Urban design consulting
- Real estate analysis
- Project management
- Affordable housing organization
- Community economic development