Major map:

Regional and Urban Planning

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - View all program options

Learn how to get the most out of your degree and prepare for your future career.

Professional planners direct the development of cities, towns, neighbourhoods, and rural areas. They are frontline workers on many of society’s most engaging issues including climate change, suburban sprawl and planning with Indigenous communities. Planners work with citizens, developers and elected officials to create great places that optimize the use or preservation of society’s environmental, economic, social, cultural, aesthetic, and infrastructure assets. The USask Regional and Urban Planning Program prepares students to work toward achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to create a more sustainable and better future for all, especially Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Not a USask student?

Learn more about studying regional and urban planning at USask and apply for admission.

Explore your major

Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.

Year 1 courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

ECON 111.3 | Introductory Microeconomics
POLS 111.3 | Politics Power and Government

You choose

One course (3 c.u.) from either SOC 111.3 Foundations in Sociology Society Structure Process, OR SOC 112.3 Foundations in Sociology Social Construction of Everyday Life
From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements

Academic tips

Explore information about your major in the course and program catalogue and the Regional and Urban Planning program page
Meet with an academic advisor for help choosing your courses and planning your degree
Visit the student Learning Hub for help developing your academic skills

What will I learn?

Learn about the challenges of managing urbanization in a variety of contexts and about the latest innovations in planning policy and design
Gain knowledge in land-use planning that integrates modern technologies, active transportation and transportation infrastructure, climate change solutions, energy conservation, protecting water supplies, and caring for natural areas
Learn about community engagement, policy analysis and government processes, economics, planning and development law, geomatics, and conflict resolution

Gain relevant experience

Familiarize yourself with study abroad programs to make informed decisions in your later years of study
Explore undergraduate research opportunities
Consider enrolling in an experiential learning course

Create local and global connections

Join the Planning Students' Association (PSA)
Visit the USask Community Centre to make connections and build community
Get involved in your campus community through student groups, campus rec, and USask events
Before you register in your first-year courses, sign up to be a part of a Learning Community
Get to know your faculty and their research interests

Get career ready

Meet with a career educator at Career Services to explore your career possibilities
Take a career assessment to learn more about your strengths, personality, interests, and values
Create your résumé and cover letter to take advantage of part-time and summer job opportunities
Develop your LinkedIn profile to begin building your professional brand

Featured courses

PLAN 305.3 Urban Design and Active Transportation
PLAN 341.3 Urban Planning
PLAN 442.3 Regional Planning
PLAN 445.3 Planning with Indigenous Communities
SOC 204.3 Rural Sociology and Rural Development

Explore your major

Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.

Middle Years courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

You choose

SOC 204.3 Rural Sociology and Rural Development, OR SOC 206.3 Sociology of Communities and Community Development
POLS 306.3 Local Governance and Policy OR POLS 328.3 Public Policy Analysis
From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements

Academic tips

Check DegreeWorks or meet with an academic advisor to ensure your degree is on track
Apply for scholarships and bursaries
Declare your major in PAWS
Consider enrolling in the Regional and Urban Planning Honours program
Consider adding to your major with a certificate in Geomatics, Urban Design, or Water Science

Add to your major

Choose from a variety of certificates to complement your major.

Gain relevant experience

Explore study abroad options or gain support as an international student through the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC)
Become a peer mentor with the College of Arts and Science, Student Learning Services, or Peer Health
Sign up for a Student Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
Get involved in research by applying for a research assistantship

Create local and global connections

Join the Planning Students' Association (PSA)
Consider applying for a membership with the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute (SPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)
Engage with your community through volunteering
Meet with new people and grow your cultural understanding through Building Bridges and Global Connections

Get career ready

Discover job opportunities, explore career options, and meet professionals at Career Services events and career fairs
Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
Expand your professional network on LinkedIn
Get a better understanding of your career possibilities through career informational interviews
Conduct occupational research through Job Bank and LinkedIn

USask Student Competencies

USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:

Engaging in our intercultural society
Nurturing successful relationships
Leveraging technology
Adaptive design and problem solving
Communicating meaningfully
Cultivating well-being

Explore your major

Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.

Final Year courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

PLAN 442.3 | Regional Planning
PLAN 490.3 | Senior Planning Studio
PLAN 495.3 | Professional Planning Practice

You choose

PLAN 410.3 Planning Internship OR PLAN 411.0 Planning Work Placement
From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements

Apply to graduate

Consider applying to a graduate program

Geography (M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.)

Find a program

Gain relevant experience

Apply for the Planning Internship or Planning Work Placement to gain applied work experience
Consider running for a leadership position with the Arts and Science Student Union (ASSU) or the USask Students' Union (USSU)

Create local and global connections

Join the USask Alumni and Friends community
Consider applying for a membership with the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute (SPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)
Consider connecting with professional associations, such as:

Get career ready

Update your résumé, cover letter or CV to apply for jobs
Attend Careers Day to meet with employers and make connections
Explore the ECO Canada job board for environmental-related careers
Book a Mock Interview appointment with Career Services to prepare for your interview
Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
If you are new to Canada, take time to learn about how to search for a job in Canada

USask Student Competencies

USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:

Engaging in our intercultural society
Nurturing successful relationships
Leveraging technology
Adaptive design and problem solving
Communicating meaningfully
Cultivating well-being

Possible destinations

People with a regional and urban planning degree take their knowledge and skills into many different industries and occupations. Note that some of the career paths listed here require further education and training.

Career paths

Architect
Campus Planner
Chief Executive Officer
City Councilor
City Manager
Conservation Manager
Development Officer
Economic Development Officer

Election Officer
Environmental Auditor
Environmental Consultant
Housing Policy Analyst
International Aid Worker
International Development Officer
Land Use Planner
Landscape Architect

Parks Planner
Real Estate Developer
Regional Development Manager
Rural Planner
Tourism Researcher
Transportation Planner
University Professor
Urban Planner

Urban planning is a very employable degree both in a direct sense, with the accreditation you can become an urban planner, and in a broader sense because it's such an interdisciplinary degree. It opens up so many more fields such as working in policy, law, transportation, public engagement, non-profit, government, development, or even in commercial real estate, where I find myself now. I've found that many of the skills and concepts we were taught in the RUP program are applicable to the professional world, as well as being an active citizen in your local municipality.

—Mireille, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in regional and urbal planning '24

Where do USask alumni work?

AODBT Architecture & Interior Design
Associated Engineering
Beaton Planning
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation
CanQuest Consulting
Casa Boldt Consulting Corp
Catterall & Wright
City of Edmonton
City of Lloydminster
City of Prince Albert
City of Regina
City of Saskatoon
CORE Geomatics Group Inc.
Crosby Hanna & Associates

GeoVerra
Government of Saskatchewan
ISL Engineering
JLL Real Estate Services
KMSC Law LLP
Landmark Planning and Design Inc.
Meewasin Valley Authority
Metis Nation-Saskatchewan
Meridian Development
Northbound Planning Ltd.
O2 Planning + Design Inc
Prairie Wild Consulting Co.
Rural Municipality of Corman Park
Rural Municipality of Edenwold

Rural Municipality of Sherwood
Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association
Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth
Scatliff + Miller + Murray Inc.
Silver Creek Developments
Situate Inc.
Stantec
TCU Place
Tenco Service Design
Urban Systems Ltd.
University of Manitoba
University of Saskatchewan
Wallace Insights
Wallace Krueger Architects Ltd.

Explore Canadian salaries for various occupations using the Job Bank Career Planning Tool

"The Regional and Urban Planning program at USask provided me with numerous skills ranging from cultural awareness to technical programs such as ArcGIS, each of which has aided me greatly in my career already. The variety of skills taught throughout the program also has me confident that I could succeed in a variety of professions. Most of all, the community within the program provided me with invaluable industry contacts as well as friends and mentors that have continued to prove useful after graduation."

—Sydney, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in regional and urbal planning '25

"One the things that I value the most in the RUP program is that we get together as a team to solve real world issues that cities or even small rural communities face. This makes me feel like people and the world depend on the work I do! My planning internship experience has helped me build more connections, expanded my planning interests in areas like mobility, transportation planning, accessibility, and opened so many doors for me. I can confidently say that this program and internship have given me a strong advantage when it comes to future employment!"

—Robert, fourth-year regional and urban planning student