The Rural Planning and Development program within the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development is the only accredited program in Canada offering a graduate degree in planning for rural and remote communities. The University of Guelph is internationally recognized for its high quality professional programs in rural planning and development and attracts students from all over the world, including the United States, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the European Union. Entering students come from a wide range of undergraduate programs and can expect to establish their own academic agenda for their continuing intellectual and professional development.

 

The RPD program focuses on the interacting systems of rural people, institutions, activities, structures, natural resources, environments, politics and social processes. We are concerned with rural and remote communities, their problems, strengths, future, and interactions within the larger regional, national and global political and economic settings. Graduates of our program contribute to the generation of knowledge and the development of plans to advance the welfare, sustainability and integrity of rural communities. As a graduate you will be able to work globally in the public and private sectors for national and international NGOs’, as planners, researchers and project managers.