Master of Community Planning in Nanaimo Canada | Vancouver Island University

Explore the Master of Community Planning program at Vancouver Island University. Community planners significantly influence the growth of neighborhoods, towns, cities, and regions. These professionals also guide communities in addressing pressing challenges like climate change and economic concerns, including tourism, by fostering sustainable urban development, often referred to as ecocities.

VIU's MCP program integrates research, hands-on learning through community-based projects, and engagement with planning professionals to equip students with diverse skills. This accredited program meets the standards of the Canadian Institute of Planners, standing alongside Canada's most established planning schools.
The Master of Community Planning (MCP) is a practice-oriented program accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). Students can join CIP as student members during their studies and pursue full membership after graduation.

Key program focus areas include:

Planning for small cities and towns;
Urban and community design, with emphasis on GIS applications;
Rural-urban transition planning;
Indigenous community planning (with focus on Vancouver Island and coastal BC First Nations);
Sustainable economic development, including tourism; and
Contemporary challenges like climate adaptation and post-carbon community planning.
This rigorous program emphasizes practical application, allowing students to address real-world planning scenarios. Through independent study, collaborative projects, seminars, and interactions with industry professionals, students develop comprehensive planning expertise. The curriculum particularly highlights urban design and visual communication tools like GIS.

The two-year MCP program runs from September to April each academic year, with potential summer fieldwork between years. While designed as a cohort-based, two-year experience, students may extend their studies if additional time is needed to complete their thesis or capstone project.

Upon graduation, our students possess interdisciplinary knowledge to shape communities locally and globally. They gain practical skills to help citizens and municipalities navigate social, economic, environmental, and sustainability challenges that define our evolving world.