The School

SCARP's Mission is to advance the transition to sustainability through excellence in integrated policy and planning research, professional education and community service.  SCARP's Vision is Sustainability through the Democratization of Planning.

The School of Community and Regional Planning at U.B.C. was one of the first dedicated planning schools in Canada. With over six decades of experience in graduate planning education and research, SCARP pioneered the integrated approach to planning for development. Our Master's and Ph.D. degrees have long been recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners and the American Institute of Certified Planners (SCARP PAB Report 2009 and SCARP CIP Report 2010) and is an associate member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.  PAB final Assessment report and Accreditation Letter and CIP assessment report.

As one of the largest graduate planning programs in Canada, SCARP has the equivalent of 11 full-time faculty, 100 students enrolled, and a teaching program characterized at once by diversity and integration. We are also small enough that students and faculty are able to enjoy regular one-on-one contact. 

SCARP benefits from a strong relationship with the Planning Institute of British Columbia and the Canadian Institute of Planners.  The affiliation includes reciprocal institutional development, faculty membership and student mentorship.

Information on Planning Schools, Planning Education & Planning Careers can be found on the 16th Edition ACSP's Guide to Undergraduate & Graduate Education In Urban & Regional Planning. 

SCARP is a unit within the Faculty of Applied Science http://apsc.ubc.ca/ at the University of British Columbia.

Programs

Masters Degree - professionally accredited Master of Arts (Planning) or Master of Science (Planning).  The SCARP Masters degree program is a generalist degree. We offer two specializations in Urban Design and Indigenous Community Planning.  The other focus areas vary from having two to four classes that student can take to focus their classroom teaching in a particular direction.

PhD Degree - an advanced research degree program.  SCARP's PhD program provides students with a collegial and convivial environment in which to pursue interdisciplinary research at the intersections of planning theory and practice. We aim to foster planning scholars and practitioners who can think critically, research inventively, and communicate their ideas effectively.