We try to define what a planner is, set the planner's terms of reference, and outline the expected role of the planner in the community as well as cover the traditional areas of planning process, methodology, and philosophy. Planning is a perspective and its concerns cut across all linguistic, cultural, social and political borders. It shares interests with virtually every discipline and professional program in a university but at the same time is quite focussed. This need for interdisciplinary, integrative thinking and communication can be fulfilled in the School program. Graduate students are provided with many research opportunities and can pursue their interests with the advice and help of experienced faculty.
Numerous issues exist which hold promise for exciting research.
Important regional concerns include the structuring of urban development in the city-region, the encounter of city and country, and the conservation of resources and scenic beauty. Some challenging contemporary urban concerns are the shift of focus from growth to distributional issues, the sustainability of cities and regions, dramatic changes in the demography and social mix of the inner city, and the impact of new technologies on the form and structure of the city. Beyond these, there are researchable issues related to the evolution of the planning field itself and its application as a generic methodology, in the form of strategic planning, in both the private and public sectors here and abroad. School of Planning graduate program web site. Be sure to fill out our online form to receive an information package about one or more of the graduate programs in the Faculty of Environmental Studies.