GIS and Urban Planning (Co-op)

*Domestic applicants include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and Convention refugees.
The two-year GIS and Urban Planning diploma program will help you understand land use planning, land development, land conservation and resource management in both rural and urban communities from the perspective of both the public and private sector. As well, you’ll have access to cutting-edge technologies including GIS (Geographical Information Systems), AutoCAD, 3D Visualizations and Presentation Graphics applications. This training will be used in conjunction with our unique case study method that allows you to participate in the conceptualization of actual land development projects.
Two co-operative work terms give you practical, hands-on experience with government, planning consultants or land development companies. When you graduate, you’ll be prepared for an exciting career as a planning, design, or AutoCAD technician or a GIS operator or analyst.
The GIS and Urban planning program provides technical and design skills related to land use planning, land development, environmental design, land conservation and resource management in both urban and rural communities and from both private and public sector perspectives. Three major computer software technologies including GIS (Geographical Information Systems), CAD (Computer Aided Design) and Presentation Graphics are learned using case studies and actual land development projects. Students acquire skills to build and maintain spatial (geographic) databases; plan and design land development projects within a community context and prepare graphic presentations including 3D visualization of urban spaces.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to become a full member of the Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), as well as a Registered Professional Planner through the Ontario Planners Institute (when combined with a related degree). Graduates of this program may also be eligible for advanced standing credit to the Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning Degree program at Fanshawe College.
With flexible learning options, you can choose between studying online or in a blended learning format and graduate with the skills and experience you need to hit the ground running in the workplace. This program is also available part-time.
Please note: a laptop is recommended for this program. It is recommended that students use a PC laptop vs. a Mac laptop, as Windows is required to be able to load program-specific software. For more information on preferred requirements, visit the Laptop Requirements page on the Fanshawe CONNECTED website.
Co-Op Opportunities
The GIS and Urban Planning program offers a cooperative education component, which provides students the opportunity to gain invaluable first-hand workplace experience in their chosen field. Here are some co-op jobs that have kick-started the careers of some GIS and Urban Planning students before even graduating!
Student Planner
Assist with day-to-day tasks, research, and long-range planning projects.
GIS Heritage Assistant
Refine and deploy an app-based tour designed to enhance awareness of heritage preservation.
Planning Assistant
Help with preparations of zoning bylaws, perform research, update planning documents, and undertake special projects.
For more information regarding co-op, please check out our co-op site or contact the Co-op Office at coop@fanshawec.ca to connect with a consultant.
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s GIS and Urban Planning program can pursue a variety of careers including:
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s GIS and Urban Planning program:
GIS/Planning Technician
Manage and evolve a municipality’s geographic information system, data management, produce cartographic products, conduct research and provide technical guidance.
GIS Specialist
Understand mapping standards around projections, coordinate systems, and work with geodatabases.
Planning and GIS Technician
Assist members of a Planning Department with various planning related tasks and GIS databases.
Fall | Winter | Summer |
---|---|---|
Academic Level 1 | Academic Level 2 | Co-op |
Academic Level 3 | Academic Level 4 | Co-op |
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Russell Schnurr
Test | Score |
---|---|
TOEFL iBT | 79 |
IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
PTE Academic | 53 |
Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
Level 1 | ||||
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
WRIT-1036 | Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design | 3 | ||
This course introduces students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
COMP-1556 | Presentation Graphics 1 | 3 | ||
In this course students will study graphic design principles and apply them to a variety of planning related documents. A number of software applications will be utilized to prepare presentations and custom graphics. Students will develop research skills, prepare supporting documents, and present their findings in an open forum. The key components of a comprehensive portfolio will also be discussed and students will be required to develop their own professional portfolio. | ||||
CADD-1079 | CAD-Urban Planning 1 | 4 | ||
Urban and regional planning involves the preparation of a broad range of maps and plans for land development and land conservation from a wide range of sources and formats. This course introduces computer aided design and mapping covering drawing, editing and plotting of maps and plans for land based development projects from a planning perspective using AutoCAD. | ||||
METH-1039 | Geographical Information Systems 1 | 4 | ||
This introductory GIS course will cover basic GIS theory and concepts in the lecture portion and provide an introduction to ArcGIS software in the lab portion. A series of lab assignments will cover data views, tables, map layouts, spatial data creation, cartographic elements, labeling, and legends using the ArcGIS software. In the lecture portion the structure of ArcGIS, data acquisition, processing, storage, display and analysis, and the application of GIS to Urban and Rural planning will be covered. | ||||
PLAN-1016 | Land Use Planning | 3 | ||
This is a lecture/discussion course about the fundamentals of planning and design land based development projects within a Municipal land use planning context. The meaning and rationale for land use planning, basic land uses with urban and rural environments, historical perspectives, planning institutions, tools and decision processes, the relationship with transportation planning, and current issues such as sustainable development are studied. | ||||
PLAN-1014 | Site Planning | 2.5 | ||
This course will introduce students to digital drafting, illustration techniques, and the importance of graphics for urban and regional planning applications. Exercises and studio projects will introduce the digital drawing techniques; and emphasize the effectiveness to illustrate real land planning and design problems and projects. Site design solutions for various land development projects will be explored and prepared using digital drafting methods and techniques. Each site plan will be completed to a final draft, within a case study context, using typical design standards and zoning regulations. | ||||
COOP-1020 | Co-operative Education Employment Prep | 1 | ||
This workshop will provide an overview of the Co-operative Education consultants and students' roles and responsibilities as well as the Co-operative Education Policy. It will provide students with employment preparatory skills specifically related to co-operative education work assignments and will prepare students for their work term. |
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.