URBAN & REGIONAL STUDIES
URS delves into the physical, social, economic and political factors that shape our cities.
Urban and Regional Studies (URS) delves into the physical, social, economic and political factors that shape our cities. It looks at the role of planning to manage dynamic forces of change such as immigration, global warming, ageing populations, energy conservation, congestion, urban forests, homelessness and smog, to name just a few.
As a URS student, you will learn to approach contemporary development challenges from various frames of reference. Issues include the evolving social, ethnic and architectural character of urban neighbourhoods, the decline of agricultural service centers in the west or the governance of urban sprawl.
This multidisciplinary major will provide you with a broad range of conceptual and practical tools to understand cities and regions. URS is housed in the Department of Geography & Environment , but as a multidisciplinary major, the program includes courses outside the Department’s offerings, such as Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology and Statistics.
The knowledge and experience you gain in the URS program will provide an exceptional stepping stone, whether you choose to continue your studies to the Master’s or Doctorate level or to enter the working world. Either way, you will have the educational background to play an important role in providing an understanding of—and solutions for—some of our most pressing urban and regional concerns.
About the Major in Urban & Regional Studies
The Department of Geography & Environment offers a major in Urban & Regional Studies for the 40-course Bachelor of Arts (BA). You can declare URS as the BA major for the Combined BA/BEd or BA/BMgt programs.
Get Involved!
To find out more about these exciting opportunities to get involved with faculty research, contact the Department directly.
Stay Informed
The Registrar's Office has many great resources to help you plan your program. Our Academic Advisors are also a great resource, so connect with them early and as often as you need. They can help you understand your degree requirements and help you navigate your program planning guide. To access the Program Planning Guide for 2019-20, click here. Program Planning Guides for all other years, are available here.