We live in an increasingly urban world. Cities and city-regions around the globe face pressing social, economic and environmental challenges linked to climate change, public health emergencies, deepening social inequalities and racialized divides. But cities are also the places where people are searching for collective solutions to these problems and initiate new ways of life.
In Cities, Regions, Planning, you learn to apply inclusive and sustainable planning interventions, consulting skills, governance procedures and activist tools to manage urban growth (and decline), build infrastructure, welcome newcomers, and confront environmental impacts.
The Cities, Regions, Planning program examines how cities and regions may be planned and governed in just and sustainable ways through three thematic concentrations:
- Urban Worlds 鈥 focuses on different ways of being in cities around the planet to consider how residents live, work and play in a rapidly changing global geography of interconnected urban places.
- Urban Planning and Politics - deals with the institutions, actors, struggles and processes that shape and govern cities, regions, and urban networks.
- Urban Political Ecology - focuses on the role of nature and environment in the process of urbanization, urban form and urban life.
Taught by internationally recognized urban scholars and planning practitioners, students acquire the foundational knowledge, critical thinking and technical skills to create tangible change in urban, suburban and regional environments. Students engage with communities in Toronto, across Canada and abroad gaining hands-on experiences of urban transformations, grassroots initiatives as well as design and policy initiatives.
Program Overview
The CRP program provides an innovative and intellectually stimulating curriculum that includes courses covering some of the most pressing themes and urban challenges of the 21st century from local and global perspectives. You have a variety of options on the types of degrees you wish to pursue. For example, you may wish to complete a 90-credit Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) which typically takes three years to finish, or a 120-credit degree (Honours BES or Specialized Honours BES) which typically takes four years to complete. You have several choices on how to complete the Honours BES program; for instance, you can double major or major/minor in two different programs.
Topic of study includes:
- Processes of urbanization and city life
- The regional composition of the global economy
- Planning theory and practice
- Urban and regional planning
- Urban infrastructures and mobility
- Urban health and pandemic preparedness
- Suburbanization, growth control and conservation
- Digital worlds and urban futures
- Urban care
- Urban analytics and geomatics
- Urban wildlife and habitats
- Urban risk and resilience
- Public participation in planning and governance
- Urban inequalities, gentrification and segregation
- Urban ecologies
- Communities and urban life
With increased urbanization around the world, the need to address issues within cities including those of equity, sustainability, policy, and environment are at the forefront of many governments, businesses, and organizations. Along with the development of practical, hands-on experiences, you will hone in-demand skills in critical thinking, communication, project management and coordination. Our graduates are working in both the public and private sector in a variety of fields including government, business, land use planning, policy, non-profit, and transportation.
To help you succeed, our Experiential Education Coordinator provides a variety of career support services to our students including resume help, interview prep, and career planning workshops, and maintains an exclusive job board just for our students.
Sample Career
- Urban, Social, Economic, Cultural, or Transportation Planner
- Policy Advisor and Consultant
- LEED Technical Coordinator
- Transit Supervisor or Manager
- Permits and Approvals Coordinator
- Environmental Manager
- Planning and Space Assessor
- Researchers
- Teaching
- Real estate professional
Program Curriculum
Our programs offer you a flexible and individualized approach to your studies. Customize your degree for your future - choose to complete a 3-year or 4-year degree, add optional pathways to your study plan, including double majors & minors, specialized certificates, add on a master鈥檚 degree to your time at 91亚色 U, or choose from a variety of elective course options.
One year in the program equals 30 credits per year over the fall, winter, and summer semesters. To understand what year you are in, total up your successfully completed credits.
One year in the program equals 30 credits per year over the fall, winter, and summer semesters. To understand what year you are in, total up your successfully completed credits.
This list of General Education Courses contains some of the options that can be used to meet your general education requirements. The courses in green are offered within the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. The remaining courses are offered within a different faculty at 91亚色 and may require students to gain permission from that faculty or department. Please note that not all of the courses will be available every year and in every term, make sure to consult the to learn more.
As part of your degree, you may want to add one of 2 certificates that are offered within EUC. Adding a certificate will provide you with additional knowledge and skills-sets to help level up and accelerate your career. Learn more about adding either the Certificate in Climate Solutions and Sustainable Energy or the Certificate in Geomatics: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing or set up an appointment with your Academic Advisor to learn more.
Want to complete an undergrad AND a masters in 5 years? Check out our 3+2 program to learn more and set up an appointment with your Academic Advisor to see if you meet the requirements.
Do you want to become a teacher? Check out the Direct Entry Bed program and complete two university degrees at the same time to become a qualified teacher in Ontario.
Lastly, you may want to add a Double Major or Minor to your program to increase your learning while completing your degree. Check out the to see what鈥檚 on offer and consult with your Academic Advisor to learn more about the requirements and next steps.
Turn learning into action. Cities, Regions, Planning students gain hands-on experience tackling the challenges facing communities today鈥攆rom housing and transportation to climate resilience and urban growth. Through applied projects, community partnerships, and real-world planning experiences, students build the skills needed to shape more sustainable, inclusive, and livable places.
Some examples include:
- In the upper year course, On location: Urban placemaking and the spatial politics of difference, students learn through immersive on-site fieldtrips and activities, walking tours, guest talks, and discussions in public spaces and community venues across the city, providing students with a first-hand experience of the struggles, controversies, and possibilities of place-making practices.
- Field school is a mandatory component of the 3rd year course, Doing Urban Research. The purpose of this fieldtrip is to help students learn more about how to organize a research project, conduct research through participant observation, and contextualize their field notes and personal experiences by producing a field diary. This field school provides students the opportunity to explore a different city (either Montreal or Buffalo) with their professors outside of the classroom.
- Urban Consulting Practice (The Urban Professional) is a 4th year course which will provide hands-on experience with partners in public and private urban planning practice and civil society organizations. The course not only prepares students for the fourth-year experiential placement course in the program, but also gives students a head start in choosing a career path upon graduation.
- Students in the program are also active as Managing Editors and serving on the Board of our very own peer-reviewed undergraduate Urban Studies journal titled The Toronto Urban Journal: Journal of Undergraduate Urban Studies, which is housed at CITY Institute on campus.
- Co-op, internships and Work Placement with a community organization. Learn more
- Semester Abroad at the Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica
The Official Cities, Regions, Planning Playlist
Have you ever wondered... which songs represent #91亚色UEUC programs the best? Listen to The Official Cities, Regions, Planning Playlist 馃幎
Testimonials
Ready to turn your passion into a profession? At EUC, our students and alumni are channeling their passion for the environment and social justice into meaningful careers that drive positive change.聽From hands-on learning experiences to real-world research projects, discover how EUC is empowering the next generation of changemakers. Hear their stories and get a glimpse of the exciting path that could await you!
The experiential learning opportunities offered within EUC have enabled me to build valuable connections with esteemed faculty and likeminded peers. These immersive experiences have not only equipped me with strong research skills but also instilled in me a passion for environmental stewardship, preparing me to make a tangible impact in the field.
Through the Cities, Regions, Planning and Schulich PMMP (4+1 Pathway) program, I aim to integrate urban planning principles with sustainable practices to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring healthy ecosystems andvibrant communities.
My time at the EUC has been transformative, making me feel like a true changemaker. As an international student, the welcoming 聽community, experiential education courses, and networking聽 opportunities have made me feel valued and helped bring my ideas, goals, and career plans to life.
Through the Cities, Regions, Planning and Schulich PMMP (4+1 Pathway) program, I aim to integrate urban planning principles with sustainable practices to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring healthy ecosystems andvibrant communities.
My EUCURA research investigated the ways in which Indigenous people do not have the same ability to forget, and it found that polishing the chain could be used pedagogically to expose non-Indigenous Canadians to their luxury of forgetting and it may create daily 鈥渞adical reminders鈥 of the ongoing colonization of this land.
The SHSM program has provided me valuable experience, training and certifications, which has strengthened my resume and developed skills related to my field of study. Through SHSM, I was able to feel more aligned
with my ambitions and commitment to succeed. Furthermore, the program鈥檚 benefits have made me a stronger candidate for financing opportunities by showcasing my dedication and preparation for university-level work.
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I chose to study Environmental Arts and Justice because this program combines my interests of sustainability and environmental issues with the arts and human rights. I wanted to learn how to incorporate my creative skills as an artist and a musician into my passion for the environment, all while advocating for social and environmental change.
I picked EAJ because I knew it would give me the foundations in how to apply a more creative aspect in my teaching style when I would become a teacher. Also because I was curious in how art can help drive environmental, social and political change (climate justice)聽 during our climate crisis.
Katherine Tse is a recipient of EUC's Undergraduate Research Award (EUCURA) in Summer 2024. She was part of the study on Lake Scugog where 91亚色 undergraduate students in the Environmental Science program partnered with the Scugog Lake Stewards to investigate lake ice decline.
The experiential learning opportunities offered within EUC have enabled me to build valuable connections with esteemed faculty and likeminded peers. These immersive experiences have not only equipped me with strong research skills but also instilled in me a passion for environmental stewardship, preparing me to make a tangible impact in the field.
Claire O'Hagan is one of the recipients of the inaugural EUC Undergraduate Research Awards (EUCURA) in 2022.聽As part of the award, she worked with聽Professor Joshua Thienpont聽on a project titled聽Assessing a potential tool for rapid assessment of shoreline permafrost thaw impacts to lake sediments.
With geography, we learn of the absence of neutrality in space, as there is always more to it than meets the eye. Every corner of the world bears historical struggles and inspirations for future possibilities. As a future geography and history teacher, my goal is to educate people on the importance of making and understanding connections between the two disciplines.
My time at the EUC has been transformative, making me feel like a true changemaker. As an international student, the welcoming 聽community, experiential education courses, and networking聽 opportunities have made me feel valued and helped bring my ideas, goals, and career plans to life.
My favourite part of the program is its diverse curriculum. Economic, Environmental, and Global Political Problems and their possible solutions and many more interesting concepts are part of this curriculum.
Jesse Hughes is a recipient of the聽EUC Undergraduate Research Award (EUCURA)聽and worked with聽Gail Fraser聽on the project 鈥楺uantifying predator type and abundance of nesting common terns at Tommy Thompson Park.
Through the Cities, Regions, Planning and Schulich PMMP (4+1 Pathway) program, I aim to integrate urban planning principles with sustainable practices to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring healthy ecosystems andvibrant communities.
My time at the EUC has been transformative, making me feel like a true changemaker. As an international student, the welcoming 聽community, experiential education courses, and networking聽 opportunities have made me feel valued and helped bring my ideas, goals, and career plans to life.
Las Nubes was a life changing academic experience. It gives you such a personal, unique, intimate travel experience that regular travel doesn鈥檛 provide, and I would recommend it for any student who is eligible.
My favourite part of the program is its diverse curriculum. Economic, Environmental, and Global Political Problems and their possible solutions and many more interesting concepts are part of this curriculum.
Katherine Tse is a recipient of EUC's Undergraduate Research Award (EUCURA) in Summer 2024. She was part of the study on Lake Scugog where 91亚色 undergraduate students in the Environmental Science program partnered with the Scugog Lake Stewards to investigate lake ice decline.
Jasper Wong is a recipient of the聽EUC Undergraduate Research Award (EUCURA)聽and worked on the project on Land use/Land cover dynamics and land surface temperature within the Humber River Catchment using Remote Sensing and GIS with聽Professor Adeyemi Olusola.
My time at the EUC has been transformative, making me feel like a true changemaker. As an international student, the welcoming 聽community, experiential education courses, and networking聽 opportunities have made me feel valued and helped bring my ideas, goals, and career plans to life.
The field of planning resonates with me on a personal level, and the prospect of creating meaningful connections within a community and environment has always fascinated me.
My experience at EUC has been truly transformative鈥攆ar exceeding my expectations as an international student. The supportive community, close-knit connections, and the confidence I鈥檝e gained have made EUC an unforgettable part of my journey.
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My journey has been driven by a passion for addressing climate change impacts, advocating for vulnerable communities and shaping international climate policy. From coordinating national climate strategies to negotiating on behalf of small island states, I鈥檝e dedicated myself to environmental justice and sustainable development. I鈥檓 proud to have played a role in influencing global climate targets and continuing to champion critical issues in international discussions.
[Getting involved within faculty-student programs] can be incredibly beneficial. These programs offer opportunities to build meaningful relationships beyond just academic acquaintanceships. Especially during stressful times, like navigating university life, having a supportive community can make all the difference. It's reassuring to know that others are facing similar challenges and that genuine connections can be formed.
As a student, I recommend you explore opportunities beyond what academia can offer. Take advantages of opportunities outside of the classroom. If your program offers you an opportunity to take courses abroad or if there is a learning opportunity outside of classes 鈥 go for it!
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Key Contact Information
| Name | Title | Extension | Office No. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan Kipfer | Professor; Cities, Regions, Planning Program Coordinator | 77792 | euccrp@yorku.ca | |
| Juanita Muwanga | Recruitment & Admission Officer | 22671 | HNES 125 | eucapply@yorku.ca |
| OSAS Team | OSAS Team | 33510 | HNES 137B | EUAdvise@yorku.ca |