Course Descriptions

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Note: Costs in addition to tuition may apply to certain sections of this course. Please contact the department for information.

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours

The purpose of this course is to help students develop their understanding of urban design strategies and active transportation concepts that can be used to improve people’s experiences and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of society. The learning outcomes are to explain why humanistic urban design is important in cities and communities; to communicate the breadth of urban design and active transport network features used to enhance public life; to critique the specific design elements of selected public spaces, sidewalks, streets, transport elements; and, to assess the potential to transfer specific design elements to Saskatoon, Canada, or another city with which the student is familiar. The intended skills-based learning outcomes are to undertake independent enquiry and self-directed learning; to demonstrate critical analysis and reflection skills; to evaluate options to improve the built environment by infusing humanistic urban design elements; to critically discuss active transportation network element integrations with urban design features; to develop improved confidence and demonstrate independence in self-directed way-finding; to lead topical discussions with peers, with supportive prompts and assistance provided by the instructor; and, to transmit a clear perspective on the key city elements of humanistic urban design and networks visually, orally and in writing.

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240.3 or permission of the instructor.
Note: Students with credit for PLAN 298.3 Urban Design and Active Transportation (Study Abroad Amsterdam) are not eligible to receive credit for this course. Cost in addition to tuition will apply to this course. Students must have a minimum cumulative weighted average of 65% to participate in this course, and must also have completed 30 cu by the start of the course.

The course examines 21st century approaches and frameworks in urban planning, situating these briefly in the evolutionary context of planning movements from the late-19th and 20th centuries. Examples of topics engaged with include: zoning, pricing and urban form; infrastructure asset management planning; neighbourhood, street and public space (re-) design; planning for multiple transport modes; Indigeneity and interculturalism in planning and design; culture planning. The course combines experiential and class-based learning. Individual and group field-based projects form a significant part of the course assessment. A field trip is incorporated into the course.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 246 or GEOG 341 may not take this course for credit. This course was labeled GEOG 341 until 2014.

Designed for students interested in urban studies and planning, this course reviews legal concepts and issues associated with the functions of municipalities, and especially with their powers for controlling and planning land use. The focus wherever possible, is on Saskatchewan urban and rural areas, and on Saskatchewan legislation and case law.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 343 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labeled GEOG 343 until 2014.

A lecture/seminar on the history, context and elements of the built urban environment. Function and form, and aspects of urban aesthetics are discussed in relation to streetscapes, open spaces and heritage conservation. The relationship of urban design with trends in social thought and with cultural patterns is addressed. The studio consists of design exercises including graphic presentations and applications in computer-aided design.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 346 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labeled GEOG 346 until 2014.

Introduces the geographical aspects of transportation theory and planning. Major topical areas that are emphasized are: travel, behaviour, network design, and planning and policy for the future.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240 or 9 credit units from the CE Program Core.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 265 or GEOG 350 may not take this course for credit. This course was labeled GEOG 350 until 2014.

Several forms of urban data exist that pertain to the residents’ demographics and travel behaviours, neighbourhoods urban form and land uses, and cities transportation and infrastructure systems. In this course, students will focus on integrating, analyzing and mapping several types of most common urban datasets, developing their quantitative reasoning and visualization skills, within the scope of the planning profession.

Weekly hours: 1.5 Lecture hours and 1.5 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 222.3; ECON 211.3; and one of COMM 104.3, EPSE 441.3, GE 210.3, PLSC 214.3, PSY 233.3, SOC 225.3, STAT 242.3, STAT 244.3, STAT 245.3, or STAT 246.3.

Applies quantitative and qualitative research methods to selected case study projects. Students will design a research framework, design any needed instruments, gather their data, and present results. Working in small groups, students will collect data using methods such as written surveys, content analysis, focus groups, and participant observation.

Weekly hours: 1 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240 or GEOG 280.
Restriction(s): Enrolment in the RUP program.
Note: Students with credit for RUD 390 or RUP 390 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labeled RUP 390 until 2014.

This course examines several important aspects of planning history and theory in the urban and rural contexts. Notable topics include the evolution of both planning and planning theory in light of evolving community forms, infrastructure systems, and social economic and environmental conditions; comprehensive, incrementalist, and advocacy planning.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240.
Restriction(s): Enrolment in the RUP program.
Note: Students with credit for RUP 395 may not take this course for credit. This course was labeled RUP 395 until 2014.

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Students undertake 80 hours/term (roughly six hours/week) of unpaid work at a company or organization undertaking planning or planning-related work. The internship will occur in a workplace environment, with location details determined in consultation between the workplace internship supervisor, course coordinator, and student. Students will have the opportunity to learn about professional, intellectual, organizational, and other practical issues that occur in a planning or planning-related work environment, and consider how their university studies in planning relate and bring value to that environment. A reflective journal, participation in three seminars, and presentation at end of the term are required, in addition to deliverables agreed upon at the start of the internship between the workplace internship supervisor, course coordinator, and student, if applicable. Student grades are determined by the course coordinator, with structured input from the workplace internship supervisor.

Weekly hours: 6 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): Three of PLAN 341, PLAN 343, PLAN 346, PLAN 360, or PLAN 390.
Note: This course is restricted to fourth year students in Regional and Urban Planning. Permission of Department is required.
Note: At the discretion of the course coordinator, priority may be given to students who have not completed, or are not currently enrolled in, PLAN 411, depending on availability of internship opportunities.

Students gain applied work experience at a company or organization undertaking planning or planning-related work for a minimum of 420 hours of paid employment over 3-12 months, after having reached third or fourth year standing in the Regional and Urban Planning major. Students are responsible for securing their own placement, though it must be approved by the course coordinator as suitable planning or planning-related work for enrolment in PLAN 411.0. Typically, work placements are full-time during the Spring/Summer (May-August), during the months when students are not enrolled full-time in course-work on campus. However, flexibility is applied in order to allow for part-time work over a longer duration. The Planning Work Placement gives students the opportunity to learn about professional, intellectual, organizational, and other practical issues that occur in a planning or planning-related work environment under the supervision of a suitable employer.

Prerequisite(s): 60 credit units at the University level; and permission of the Department. Restricted to students in Regional and Urban Planning.
Note: There is no tuition cost for PLAN 411.0. This is a Pass/Fail course, with little involvement, except basic administration, by USask personnel. The Pass/Fail grade is assigned by the course coordinator based on the submission of a 1-2 page final report – signed and dated by the workplace supervisor and student – at the end of the placement indicating: 1) The number of work placement hours and months during which they were completed; 2) a synopsis of work placement activities and reflections on their relationship with planning knowledge gained in the classroom, and the students professional development. Students must enroll in PLAN 411.0 as early in the work placement as possible, subject to applicable term deadlines for registration. If completion of the placement does not coincide neatly with the end of the term of registration, an ‘In Progress’ notation will be assigned until the course coordinator receives the signed final report.

The process and practice of planning for water resources in a Canadian context. A focus on water and land use policy and water governance structures including federal, provincial, First Nations and local scales of inquiry. Institutional arrangements affecting water management in Canada will be investigated. Topics will include integrated watershed management, watershed plan preparation, source water protection, alternative stormwater and wastewater management, and access to safe drinking water.

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240 or GEOG 280, or permission of the instructor.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 329 or PLAN 329 will not receive credit for this course.

The course focuses on the application of knowledge to contemporary challenges in urban planning and development. Emphasis is on project-based and experiential learning through group and individual projects, in-class simulation exercises, and a fieldtrip. Examples of topics engaged with include: growth management and smart growth; inner city and suburban (re-) development challenges; downtown and city centre planning; site planning; heritage and adaptive re-use; land development and subdivision design; transportation and land use planning; mediation and negotiation in urban development. Teaching will be linked with current issues in urban Saskatchewan when appropriate.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): PLAN 341, or permission of the department.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 441 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labeled GEOG 441 until 2014.

Over the past century a regional approach to planning has shaped and informed the Canadian landscape as reflected in provincial programs directed at agricultural land protection, watershed conservation, and metropolitan growth strategies. This course examines the historical and present-day context for regional planning in Canada from its origins in agricultural assistance to its current manifestation in sustainable development and bioregionalism. Regional planning as a governance structure and institutional framework will be a common thread through the course. Emphasis will be placed on the interpretation and function of rural and urban landscapes from a regional perspective. Upon completion of this course students will have an appreciation for the dynamic forces shaping Canadian regions, awareness of regional governance structures, as well as an understanding of current trends in regional planning in Canada.

Prerequisite(s): Two of GEOG 240, PLAN 341 or PLAN 346.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 442 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labeled GEOG 442 until 2014.

The course focuses on the application of the theory and methods of Indigenous planning and planning with Indigenous communities in reserve, rural, urban, northern, and international contexts. Emphasis is on project-based and experiential learning through group and individual projects, guest lectures and a field trip.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240; or 60 credit units at the University.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 445 or GEOG 849 will not receive credit for this course.

A lecture/seminar on advanced topics of the built urban environment through the study of theory, history, site context and case studies. The evolution of urban design will be considered through detailed analysis of urban form, streetscapes, open spaces and architecture. Local and global examples will be studied. The course engages students through graphic analysis, design exercises and discussion sessions. Exercises and assignments involve the use of computer-aided design software tools and techniques.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Tutorial hours
Prerequisite(s): Two of GEOG 240, PLAN 341 or PLAN 346.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 446 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labeled GEOG 446 until 2014.

This course introduces the emerging land use and transportation planning issues, policies, trends, modelling, and analytical tools. It focuses on the areas of land use and transportation systems integration, public transport planning and operations, and planning for active transportation and shared-mobility options. Students will understand and learn how to adapt evidence-based approaches to evaluate land use and transportation systems performance.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 240.3 and PLAN 360.3; or permission of the instructor.
Note: Students may have credit for only one of PLAN 481 or GEOG 881.

Students will focus on identifying a planning problem, identifying options, analyzing those options, and setting up the policies and tools needed to solve the problem. With help from academics and professional planners, students will pull together a comprehensive report that is both academically rigorous and built on sound planning principles.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): PLAN 390.3
Restriction(s): Enrolment in the RUP program.
Note:PLAN 395 is recommended. Students with credit for RUD 490 or RUP 490 may not take this course for credit. This course was labeled RUP 490 until 2014.

Students will work on an applied, experiential learning project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Research and field methods are an essential part of any planner’s toolkit. This course is designed to allow students to apply their theoretical and technical knowledge to a local community planning issue of concern. Students will employ field skills in an independent research project. The student will develop a research proposal for approval by the faculty advisor, employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods and produce an honours thesis followed by a presentation highlighting thesis content and major findings. The honours thesis and presentation will be graded by the faculty advisor.

Weekly hours: 3 Reading hours
Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): PLAN 390 and permission of the instructor.
Note: Enrolment in this course is restricted to students in the Regional and Urban Planning program.

Translates planning theory into professional practice in diverse contexts. Notable topics include enabling legislation and regulatory context, professional ethics and codes, roles and responsibilities, private and public practice, decision making, interdisciplinary practice, public participation, and current trends in planning practice. Issues are explored through seminar discussions and debates.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Permission of the department required.
Prerequisite(s): PLAN 395.3
Restriction(s): Enrolment in the RUP program.
Note: PLAN 390 is recommended. Students with credit for RUP 495 may not take this course for credit. This course was labeled RUP 495 until 2014.

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours