Learn more about the academic programs we are delivering in Summer 2024. If you have any questions about part-time studies, please contact us.

 

 

Overview

Toronto skyline with icons representing sustainability

What role does sustainability play within transportation planning, policy planning, and the creation of more equitable cities? How is urban planning operationalized within Ontario? What hands-on skills do you need to help plan the city that you want to live in?

Seneca's Sustainable Planning and Development certificate program answers these questions by situating sustainability at the forefront of urban planning. The courses in our part-time certificate program are designed for anyone who has an interest in planning: from those who are already working professionals who wish to advance their career development to those who have no formal training in planning. Through an 11 course program, you will be introduced to both academic and practical knowledge that is designed to support you in the development of the hands-on skills required to work in planning.

In our certificate program, you will learn about Ontario's legal framework as related to planning, explore issues of environmental sustainability, discuss emerging planning technology and urban design trends, be introduced mobility and transit planning, and explore the need for increased social equity within the planning discipline. Upon the completion of our program, you will be able to advance planning across the public, private, and civil society sectors in Ontario and beyond.

The Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians (CACPT) has granted full accreditation to the Seneca College's Sustainable Planning and Development certificate program. Please see the associations page for more details on how to become a Certified Planning Technician (CPT). You can view the list of accredited college programs across Canada on the CACPT website.

For students interested in building their skills in specific areas of planning, Seneca offers the following four-course programs:


 

Interested in learning more?

Students are invited to attend an information session to learn more about the program and to connect with our team. 

Seneca Part-Time Sustainable Planning and Development Information Session

Monday, April 8, 2024
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Register Now

Confirmation of registration and a unique link to join the information session will be provided upon registration.

Career Opportunities

Seneca's Sustainable Planning and Development certificate program provides a unique focus on planning education that is steeped in both academic and practical planning approaches. This program will equip graduates with the necessary skills to work in the expanding planning and development industry within Ontario and beyond.

Graduates can go on to pursue careers in the public, private or non-profit sectors, which include opportunities in:

  • Municipal, regional, provincial, federal government agencies that work on issues related to economic development, transportation planning, policymaking, natural resource development, environmental protection, etc
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in areas such as environmental sustainability, affordable housing, sustainable transportation, etc.
  • Public health and food security research, including regional public health departments
  • Education programming, including school boards, colleges, and universities
  • Consulting firms focused on planning, engineering, architecture, public engagement, surveying, etc.
  • Law firms, particularly those specialized in real estate or municipal planning law
  • Corporate in-house planning services for corporations seeking expansion opportunities (e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw Companies Ltd., etc.)

Entry Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
  • OR Mature student status (age 19 or older)

You do not need to apply to begin this program. Start by ensuring you meet the admission requirements listed above and then register for the courses listed on the Curriculum page when they are offered

Filter Classes: In Class     Online     Correspondence     Hybrid     Availability   

Part-time Studies courses are being offered in either of the following four formats: Online, Flexible, In-person, Hybrid. Click Availability below to see current offerings.

Curriculum

Mandatory (3 courses):

SPD121
Introduction to Planning Software Applications-AutoCAD
Availability
 

This course provides students with an applied understanding of AutoCAD software applications. Students develop refined measuring, mapping, modeling, and monitoring skills. Students also learn the basics of visualization and map design, projections, georeferencing, data manipulation, spatial analysis, and suitability analyses.

Please note: The Thursday session is a two-hour virtual lab that will provide students with the opportunity to practice using the course software.




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SPD122
Introduction to Planning Software Applications-GIS
Availability
 

This course provides students with an applied understanding of GIS and its relationship with MS Excel and its intricate dependency to raw data. Students will be introduced to all key aspects of a GIS system, from the access and integration of raw (tabular format) data to visual spatial mapped products using ArcMap. Students will focus on data scrubbing, data querying, thematic mapping, editing attribute information, spatial analyses, and advanced visualization techniques of map design.

Please note: The Thursday session is a two-hour virtual lab that will provide students with the opportunity to practice using the course software.




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SPD102
Digital Presentation Techniques
Availability
 

This course examines the use and application of computer graphics software in planning, urban design, and environmental analysis. Students receive an introduction to the principles of graphic composition, such as rendering and visualization, and the incorporation of digital techniques in a variety of presentation modes and formats.




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Elective courses (Select 8):

SPD100
Introduction to Planning Theory Practice and Law
Availability
 

This course provides students with a thorough introduction to planning with a particular emphasis on theoretical and practical competencies used by planners and planning technologists on a daily basis. Policy frameworks such as the Planning Act and the Provincial Policy Statement are examined. Emerging issues and the role of ethics and values will also be explored.




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SPD103
Research Data Collection and Analysis
Availability
 

This course provides students with an understanding of those qualitative and quantitative research methods most commonly utilized in the field of planning. Social research methods such as interviews, observational research, and statistical analysis will be considered. Students also explore the key components of quantitative analysis, including collecting and presenting data, analyzing relationships between variables, and the testing of hypotheses.




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SPD104
Site Planning and Development
Availability
 

In this course, students learn about the site planning and development process. Focus areas include site analysis, preliminary design, density, walkability and circulation, policies and by-laws, and the final approval process. An overview of the land development regulatory process is provided, which considers zoning issues, context, and infrastructure. Sustainable development techniques are also emphasized throughout the course.




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SPD105
Project Management for Planners and Technologists
Availability
 

This course educates students on all facets of small- and large-scale planning projects, including scope, schedule, budget, timelines, communication tools, and project implementation. Students have the opportunity to gain applied experience in completing different projects of varying levels of complexity.




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SPD106
Environmental Sustainability
Availability
 

This course provides students with an introduction to the concept of environmental sustainability in the planning context, by exploring the interplay between rural, industrial, and urban environments. Students are asked to consider sustainability as a potential way of addressing environmental, economic, and social issues. Key factors of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) will also be examined.




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SPD107
Planning with Diverse Populations
Availability
 

This course focuses on those factors contributing to a broad range of disparities and challenges around planning and policy-making for diverse populations. Students are introduced to the theories and analytic tools necessary to respond to collective action and address issues around social equity and justice.




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SPD108
Fundamentals of Transportation Planning
Availability
 

This course provides students with an opportunity to explore the changing face of transportation planning in the twenty-first century. Students examine different methods utilized by planning practitioners to analyze transportation problems and propose solutions, including demand analysis framework, data collection procedures, travel demand modelling and forecasting, and cost-effectiveness evaluations for new initiatives. The course also uses case studies from the Greater Toronto Area.




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SPD109
The Art of Public Consultation
Availability
 

In this course, students gain insight into best practices guiding interactions between councils, administration, media, and the public. Students are introduced to the practice of mediation, negotiation, and a number of public participation processes. Students also have an opportunity to develop their own skills in public consultation through simulations and observations.




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SPD110
Urban Design Applied
Availability
 

This course provides students with an introduction to the core principles of urban design. Course content will include a study of various methods for retrofitting existing neighbourhoods and creating new integrated neighbourhoods on greenfield sites. Other factors are considered, including strategic planning, socioeconomic viability, and design. Through a series of hands-on interactive exercises in a studio workshop setting, students learn about the challenges and opportunities facing urban revitalization projects in both small and large communities.

Please note: There are no prerequisites for this course but students may benefit from taking SPD100, SPD121 or SPD122 prior to registering for SPD110.




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SPD111
Planning and Economic Development
Availability
 

In this course, students learn more about the relationship between planning and economic development. In particular, the planning process is explored through the lens of community engagement, using situational assessments, visioning, issues identification, option prioritization, and action planning.

 




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Course Schedule

Please note: There has been a recent change to the program curriculum. SPD101 has been replaced by two seven-week courses (SPD121 and SPD122) that cover the same learning outcomes but offer students the opportunity to practice their skills with a dedicated lab each week. Students who have already taken SPD101 or have received transfer credit for SPD101 are not affected by this change.

Course Code Course Name Winter
 2024 
Summer
 2024 
Fall
 2024 
Winter
 2025 
SPD100 Introduction to Planning Theory Practice and Law    
SPD121

Introduction to Planning Software Applications - AutoCAD

Please note that this is a 7 week course offered in the first half of the semester

   
SPD122

Introduction to Planning Software Applications - GIS

Please note that this is a 7 week course offered in the second half of the semester

   
SPD102 Digital Presentation Techniques      
SPD103 Research Data Collection and Analysis      
SPD104 Site Planning and Development      
SPD105 Project Management for Planners and Technologists      
SPD106 Environmental Sustainability      
SPD107 Planning with Diverse Populations      
SPD108 Fundamentals of Transportation Planning      
SPD109 The Art of Public Consultation      
SPD110 Urban Design Applied    
SPD111 Planning and Economic Development      
 

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students are able to:

  • Support sustainable planning and development by applying planning theory and methodology, while adhering to jurisdictional planning legislation.
  • Support mid- and long-range planning considerations in Ontario by using software applications as a component of the comprehensive site evaluation process.
  • Communicate with public and private stakeholders by using current and emerging presentation tools and techniques.
  • Solve practical planning problems by interpreting data and generating recommendations and design strategies.
  • Synthesize supporting data and information of an analysis of infrastructure investments for economics, sustainability, and mobility.
  • Evaluate environmental regulation, health, and the needs of unique and diverse populations in the analysis of urban growth and transportation needs.
  • Manage projects and deliverables, taking into account scope, team composition, and desired outcomes and using project management principles, tools, and techniques.
  • Collaborate on new development projects and redevelopment opportunities by using urban design composition and site design principles.

Information Session

Students are invited to attend an information session to learn more about the program and to connect with our team. 

Seneca Part-Time Sustainable Planning and Development Information Session

Monday, April 8, 2024
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Register Now

Confirmation of registration and a unique link to join the information session will be provided upon registration.

Credit for Prior Learning

Prior Learning Assessment

Earn college credits for what you already know.
Prior Learning Assessment is a method of assessing and recognizing learning that is equal to college level learning, but has been gained outside a traditional classroom (through work experience, volunteering, outside study, etc.). If you can prove that the knowledge you have gained meets the outcomes of a Seneca course, then credit will be awarded.

How does the PLA process work?
Prior Learning is demonstrated through a "challenge" process. The process measures learning through a variety of methods which may include tests, portfolio assessment, interviews, demonstrations, essays, and work samples. The method used will be determined in consultation with a Program Coordinator.
For more information and to determine if you are eligible for PLA, please call the Program Coordinator.

The process may take from 6 to 8 weeks.

Note: Not all courses can be challenged. For more information go to PLA website or contact your Program Coordinator.

Transfer Credit

Many students who enter Seneca College will have earned academic credits in post-secondary educational institutions which they may be able to apply toward completion of a Seneca College program.

Requests for Transfer Credit must be for a specific course and must be accompanied by an official transcript and course outline. A minimum grade of "C" (60 percent) is generally required for a course to be considered for Transfer Credit.

Download a Transfer Credit Request form. An official copy of your transcript and applicable detailed course outlines should be attached and submitted. Please note it may take 4 to 6 weeks for a Transfer Credit decision.

More Information

Please visit the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation/Convocation

When you meet all program requirements and become eligible for a certificate, diploma, or degree, you must inform the Registrar by completing a Graduation Application form and paying the graduation and alumni fee. Certificates, diplomas, and applied degrees are issued twice a year in the Fall (October) and Spring (June).

For further information including deadlines and fees, please visit the Convocation website or contact the Convocation Office at theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Minimum Performance for Graduation

A student will be eligible to graduate from a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or graduate certificate program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.0.

A student will be eligible to graduate from a degree program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.5, which includes a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the courses in their main field of study and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in breadth courses.

Residency Requirements

A faculty of Seneca College may recommended a student for a certificate, diploma or degree only after the student has earned a minimum of twenty-five percent of the credit for that program at Seneca.

Associations

The CACPT has granted full accreditation to the Seneca College Sustainable Planning and Development Program. Seneca College is the only accredited part-time program in Canada and the only program offered through Continuing Education. The CACPT is the recognized voice for Planning Technicians since 1978 and are the advocates for Planning Technicians across Canada. CACPT members are part of school advisory Committees, and interact with governmental representatives for its members.

The benefits of accreditation include the following:

  1. Student member: Students in Seneca's Sustainable Planning and Development Program are eligible for student membership.
  2. Associate Member: Once students graduate from the program they can become Associate Members. Associate Members must complete the required work experience for certification as a full member.
  3. Full member: Once the required work experience is complete, all associate members become full members. Work experience required after completing the certificate from Seneca College: 3 years of work/technical planning experience prior to becoming full members of the CACPT (graduates with six (6) months of Full Time Employment in a related field may be allowed to submit this employment towards their technical experience hours).

All information for membership is available on the CACPT website.

Becoming a member of the CACPT provides the following advantages:

  • Use of the CPT (Certified Planning Technician) designation; now one of the compulsory criteria by employers when hiring Planning Technicians
  • Provides a network of employers for future graduates by advertising, promoting, and creating outreach socials for employers to provide working planning experience to the students and future graduates of the program.
  • Networking Opportunities including an Annual General Meeting
  • Exclusive Job Circulations

Program Contacts

For administrative questions, please contact:
Elisa Murillo
Program Assistant
Elisa.Murillo@senecapolytechnic.ca


For course and curriculum information, please contact:
Kristy Kilbourne
Program Coordinator
Kristy.Kilbourne@senecapolytechnic.ca


Jacqueline Bar
Academic Program Manager
Jacqueline.Bar@senecapolytechnic.ca
416-764-0984


For more information about this program, fill out the following form.