MSc in Rural Planning & Development
Degree
- MSc (Master of Science)
Program Type
- Coursework
- Thesis
Delivery
- On-campus
Entry Terms & Deadlines
Domestic:
- Fall (September): July 15
International:
- Fall (September): April 15
Duration
- Full Time: 24 months
- Part Time: 48 months
Guide processes of change in rural planning and development.
The MSc in Rural Planning and Development is offered through our School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) and provides the opportunity for graduate study, research and professional development in either Canadian or international context.
Interdisciplinary study
Explore the challenges and opportunities faced by rural communities to find approaches, solutions, and processes of change for rural communities.
2-year accredited program
Ensure your career is on the right path with this two-year program accredited by the Professional Standards Board and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Join world-class research programs
Benefit from the strong research networks developed by your supervising faculty members. Meet mentors and colleagues locally and globally.
Unique in Canada
University of Guelph has Canada’s only planning program exclusively focused on rural, Indigenous, and remote communities.
Focus on your interest
Study in either the Canadian or international stream and choose an emphasis: Community and Social Development; Land Use Planning; Resource and Environment Planning; Rural Policy, or Indigenous Planning.
Learn from the best
Work and study with leading national and international scholars and practitioners in rural planning and development.
The MSc program offers courses in all three semesters: Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April), and Summer (May – August). The MSc program typically offers at least one online course in each semester. Student may enroll in either full-time or part-time studies in the MSc program. Students select from three routes for completion of their studies:
- Thesis Route: Five (5) required courses, five (5) electives + thesis
- Major Research Paper Route: Five (5) required courses, seven (7) electives + a major research paper
- All-Course Route: Five (5) required courses + nine (9) electives
Students also select to study in one of the following streams:
- Canadian Stream: The focus of the Canadian stream is on rural, Indigenous, and remote communities in Canada. Students gain critical knowledge and skills sets in planning theory, planning law, plan formation, implementation, project management, and evaluation. These skills are developed and demonstrated through community-based course projects, case studies, and student research.
- International Stream: The International stream prepares students for practice and research in rural and regional development planning in the international context. It focuses on the rural regional dimension within a national or global context, in particular the policy, planning and management processes that are driving development interventions. It emphasizes applied research and practice based on a firm foundation of theory.
Both streams are recognized by the Professional Standards Board, the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Collaborative Degree Opportunities
Rural Planning and Development participates in the International Development Studies (IDS) collaborative specialization. The MSc degree for students in this program will have the specialist designation Rural Planning and Development: International Development Studies. Please consult the International Development Studies listing for a detailed description of the collaborative specialization including the special additional requirements for each of the participating departments.
Rural Planning and Development participates in the collaborative specialization in One Health. Master’s students wishing to undertake thesis research or their major research paper/project with an emphasis on One Health are eligible to apply to register concurrently in Rural Planning and Development and the collaborative specialization. Students should consult the One Health listing for more information.
More information on courses and admission requirements can be found here.
Meet Your Profs
I help communities, whether it be local governments, regional governments, make perhaps better environmental decisions regarding the natural world around them. I think better can be qualified in a lot of ways but hopefully what I'm doing is allowing through different processes to make decisions that are a better reflection of local cultures, values, and visions for the future.
My research centres on understanding how the theory and practice of evaluation is linked to planning practice and planning theory.
The central research goal of my research is to examine the concept of resiliency and sustainability within the context of resource-based communities to address the often problematic relationship(s) between resource reliance, community well-being, and adaptive capacity.
Global transitions are creating both opportunities and challenges for the future of rural communities, both in Canada and internationally. My research focuses on rural revitalization in the face of these global transitions. My current research explores the role of rural governance, place-based development, philanthropy, rural policy, community economic development, and rural immigration and mobility.
Agriculture in less-developed countries cannot achieve its full potential if the gender dynamics of different groups are not addressed. We must move beyond examining individual factors (e.g., biology, socioeconomic status, sex, gender, and race) and consider the relationships and interactions between them and across multiple levels, to bring attention to important differences within population groups that are often portrayed as relatively homogenous.
How to Apply
Application to this program is more like the process of a job application (rather than the process you went through applying for your undergrad degree).
You apply directly online at Applying to Guelph.
Additional planning options
You may also be interested in the Master of Planning (MPLAN).
Contact
For questions on applying and admissions:
Lorena Barker
School of Environmental Design and Rural Development
rpd@uoguelph.ca
519-824-4120, Ext. 56780
For questions on program options:
Leigh West
Ontario Agricultural College (OAC)
lewest@uoguelph.ca
519-824-4120 Ext. 52101
Hear from Rural Planning Students & Alumni
The most challenging thing about my program has been balancing a high number of courses with my research assistantship. But this has also been a huge advantage since it has given me the ability to work through my degree efficiently and gain invaluable research experience.
In one of my policy classes with Prof. Nic Burnet we had to do a policy paper on a current issue. I’ve always had an interest in how the built form can impact people’s health and well-being, and I came across a news article on safe injection sites. From a planning perspective, where to put these sites and the policies that surround them is an important topic of conversation.
