Department of City Planning

Studio courses form the core of the curriculum. With a strong emphasis on collaborative practice and team work, these courses engage students in work with local partners in urban neighbourhoods and rural towns, with the Manitoba Capital Region, and with Indigenous communities in the province. Studios provide a venue to synthesize and put into action lessons learned in the program’s core, option and elective seminar courses. Conversely, the seminars provide opportunities to reflect on the experience gained in the field during studio projects.

All students are required to complete three studios that address a range of issues and scales:

• CITY 7410: Planning Design 1—Neighbourhood Scale (6 credit hours)

Plus two of the following three choices:

• CITY 7420: Planning Design 2—City/Region Scale (6 credit hours)
• CITY 7430: Planning Design 3—Urban Design (6 credit hours)
• CITY 7440: Planning Design 4—Indigenous (6 credit hours)

Seven core courses are required of all students in the program. These provide foundations for understanding both the theory and practice of planning. Combined with the studios, these address many of the competencies required for professional certification by the Professional Standards Board.

All students are required to take the program’s seven core courses:

• GRAD 7300: Research Integrity Tutorial (0 credit hours)
• GRAD 7500: Academic Integrity Tutorial (0 credit hours)
• CITY 7020: Planning Research Methods (3 credit hours)
• CITY 7030: Planning Theory (3 credit hours)
• CITY 7310: Law and Local Governance (3 credit hours)
• CITY 7340: Urban Development (3 credit hours)
• CITY 7470: Professional Planning Practice (3 credit hours)

All students are required to take two courses out of a roster of options. This allows each individual to tailor their curriculum to more closely fit their own personal and professional interests. Currently, these courses are:

• ARCG 7080: Transportation and Urban Form (3 credit hours)
• CITY 7460: Urban Ecology and Environmental Management (3 credit hours)
• CITY 7070: Housing and Urban Revitalization (3 credit hours)
• EVLU 4018: Principles of Urban Design (3 credit hours)

Students enrolled in the capstone stream are required to complete 6 credit hours of electives. Students in the thesis stream are not required to take electives, but may elect to do so (in consultation with their academic advisor) if the courses support their research agendas.

Elective courses provide graduate students with the opportunity to work with other faculty and students from within the Faculty of Architecture, as well as the larger university community. Our students have forged links with the Departments of Anthropology, Geography, Engineering, Native Studies, and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), among others. Some students have even taken elective courses at other universities.

At present, City Planning faculty members are offering the following elective courses:

• ARCG 7080: GIS for Planners (3 credit hours)
• EVLU 4006: Child-friendly Cities (3 credit hours)
• EVLU 4006: Healthy Cities (3 credit hours)
• EVLU 4006: Sustainable Community Design (3 credit hours)

All students conclude the MCP program with either a capstone project or a thesis.

Capstone project (6 credit hours)

The capstone project allows students to undertake focused original research on a planning topic of their choosing. The goal of the project is to conduct in-depth research on an issue of importance for planning practice. As part of the capstone, students will demonstrate the critical thinking, analysis, writing and presentation skills necessary for professional practice.

The capstone project is an independent piece of professional work. It may take the form of a professional report or an alternative format (e.g., design analysis, computer program, exhibition, evaluation tool, film). All alternative formats must be approved by your supervisor and be accompanied by written scholarly analysis.

The capstone project is completed within a 6 credit hour studio that spans the fall and winter terms of year 2.

Thesis (0 credit hours)

Like the capstone project, a thesis or practicum allows students to undertake focused original research on a planning topic of their choosing. While the goals are similar, the research expectations are higher for the thesis. These projects will typically be undertaken by students hoping to continue on to doctoral studies, students whose interests align with faculty interests and funding or students working with communities that present complex issues.

Students completing the thesis stream will work independently with their supervisory committee to undertake their research. Typically, students will compete their thesis by the end of the summer of their second year in the program.