Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis) (M.Sc.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Urban Planning (Faculty of Engineering)
Degree: Master of Science
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The M.Sc. in Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis) is centred on an independent research thesis. Original research on an urban issue of interest with implications for planning, policy or design will be conducted. The program focuses on critical skills in research, analysis and interpretation that are applicable in both academia and practice.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (27 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| URBP 606D1 | Research Seminar. | 3 |
Research Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Formulate and develop a research question, methods and literature review for a thesis. Present the research proposal in a seminar format. | ||
| URBP 606D2 | Research Seminar. | 3 |
Research Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See URBP 606D1 for description. | ||
| URBP 612 | History and Theory of Planning. | 3 |
History and Theory of Planning. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 690 | Thesis Submission. | 18 |
Thesis Submission. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Only open to students enrolled in the M.Sc. Urban Planning, Policy and Design (Thesis). | ||
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
9 credits selected from among the 500 or 600 level URBP courses offered by the School.
3 credits selected from the following research methods courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| URBP 505 | Geographic Information Systems. | 3 |
Geographic Information Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to fundamental geographic information system (GIS) concepts and a range of GIS applications in urban and regional planning. | ||
| URBP 608 | Advanced GIS Applications. | 3 |
Advanced GIS Applications. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduces students to real-world geographic information systems (GIS) problems and enhances the mastering of the geographic information systems as a tool for solving complex urban planning problems. Students will analyze several planning research problems spatially and introduce solutions to these issues. | ||
| URBP 633 | Research Methods for Planners. | 3 |
Research Methods for Planners. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to methods commonly used in urban research and planning practice. Topics include municipal information systems, fieldwork techniques, survey design and analysis, analysis of spatial and temporal patterns, and the evaluation of policies and plans. | ||
| URBP 640 | Introduction to Planning Statistics. | 1 |
Introduction to Planning Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 641 | Reading the Urban Landscape . | 1 |
Reading the Urban Landscape . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 642 | Introduction to Planning Data. | 1 |
Introduction to Planning Data. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 643 | Selected Geographic Information Systems Applications . | 1 |
Selected Geographic Information Systems Applications . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Selected applications in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) related to urban planning. | ||
| URBP 644 | Multivariate Statistics. | 1 |
Multivariate Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 645 | Social Research Methods 1. | 1 |
Social Research Methods 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 646 | Social Research Methods 2. | 1 |
Social Research Methods 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 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. | ||
| URBP 647 | Selected Methods in Planning 1. | 1 |
Selected Methods in Planning 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Special topics related to urban planning methods will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers. | ||
| URBP 648 | Selected Methods in Planning 2 . | 1 |
Selected Methods in Planning 2 . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Special topics related to urban planning methods will be presented by staff and visiting lecturers. | ||
Note: Students may also take research methods courses at the 500 or 600 level in other academic units at McGill or another Montreal university, subject to the approval of the School.
Elective Courses (6 credits)
6 credits offered at the 500 or 600 level by any academic units at McGill or at another Montreal university, with the approval of the School, if they are related to one or more subject areas in the field of planning. Choices usually include courses in urban geography, sociology, anthropology, law, politics, and environmental science. Students must confirm with the Thesis Supervisor prior to registration that the selected course(s) can be counted toward the M.Sc. program.