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Location: Professional Faculties 2182
Program number: 403.220.6601
Fax: 403.284.4399
Email address: evdsinfo@ucalgary.ca; and
evdsphd@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Environmental Design (MEDes), thesis-based
Master of Planning (MPlan), course-based
Master of Architecture (MArch), course-based

Specialization:

• Energy and Environmental Systems (Interdisciplinary, MEDes and PhD only)*

* See the Calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specializations for further information.

**The Computational Media Design specialization is no longer available. See the Calendar entry for the Computational Media Design program.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Environmental Design requires:

For applicants required to prove proficiency in English, a TOEFL score of 600 (written test); or 100 (Internet-based test); or an IELTS score of 7.5.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) An admission grade point average (GPA) above 3.50 on a four-point scale.

b) A research proposal that describes the nature of the thesis research the applicant expects to undertake. This will be used by an admissions committee as an indicator of the applicant’s ability to conduct doctoral-level research and to determine if adequate supervisory and research funding resources are available to support the proposed program. Only if such resources are available will the student be admitted. Please note that this research statement (maximum of 1500 words) must include the following sections: Background, research questions, literature review, research methodology, intellectual merit of the proposed research, and broader impacts of the proposed research. The research statement should also indicate if ethics approval is required to carry out the proposed research.

c) Three reference letters.

Master of Environmental Design (MEDes)

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Environmental Design requires:

Applications are encouraged from a variety of academic backgrounds (including first professional degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, planning and design) or a combination of undergraduate degree and work-related experience.

Applicants for the Master of Environmental Design must provide:

a) Applicants must submit a clear, concise and substantive statement of interest (1,000 to 1,500 words), which informs the Admissions Committee of:

• the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue the MEDes degree
• how the applicant’s specific educational background and professional and personal experience relates to their proposed thesis project
• the applicant’s thesis research interests and ideas to clarify the applicant’s supervisory needs

b) Required: Applicants must submit at least one example of the applicant's previous academic or professional work such as a written essay, published research paper, major academic paper, thesis, design project, or consulting report.

in addition (optional):

A portfolio of the applicant's choosing that provides examples of or illustrates the applicant’s design work, professional work, research, creative thinking, community action, planning products, or graphics and visual communication.

If any of the work submitted involved collaboration with others, the applicant should clearly identify their individual contributions. The examples of work and (if applicable) portfolio should be submitted in digital form (portable document .PDF files), uploaded by the applicant to their Student Centre, upon submission of their online application.

c) Three reference letters.

Master of Planning (MPlan)

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Environmental Design requires:

a) A clear, well-written, statement of intent which describes the applicant's preference for one of the planning streams and how the applicant's specific educational background and professional or personal experience relates to Planning as a field of study and the applicant's future vision for pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Design (related to personal and professional goals and intentions).

b) A portfolio of the applicant's work, as selected by the applicant, to include at least one example of the applicant’s previous academic or professional writing, such as a written essay, published research paper, major academic paper, design project or consulting report.

The portfolio may also include examples of the applicant’s design work or design thinking, including creative work or ideas, community action, planning or design products, or graphics and visual communication.

The requirements for digital portfolio submissions are found in the Faculty of Environmental Design website at: .

The portfolio will be submitted in digital form (portable document .PDF files), uploaded by the applicant to their Student Centre upon submission of their online application.

c) Three reference letters.

Master of Architecture (MArch)

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Environmental Design requires:

a) Prospective applicants are advised to use opportunities within their four year recognized university undergraduate degree studies to develop knowledge in design, the humanities, social sciences, arts, engineering, biological and/or physical sciences – including, wherever possible, studio, laboratory and collaborative learning experiences.

b) Applicants must demonstrate successful completion of one or more years of undergraduate-level coursework in four areas: Design, Technology, Graphics, and History/Theory (equivalent to the courses taken in the minor in Architectural Studies, or in the MArch Foundation year). In order to complete these prerequisite requirements, applicants may be admitted to the MArch Foundation or qualifying year. An assessment of these prerequisite requirements will be made by an admissions committee and applicants will be informed in offers of admission which, if any, courses at the Foundation level will be required.

c) Candidates for MArch must provide evidence of original and/or creative work in any field or medium, and provide in writing a brief description of the work. The requirements for digital portfolio submissions are found in the Faculty of Environmental Design website at: .

The portfolio will be submitted in digital form (portable document .PDF files), uploaded by the applicant to their Student Centre upon submission of their online application.

d) Three reference letters.

Doctor of Philosophy
The deadline for the submission of complete applications is February 1 for September admission.

Normally students begin their programs in September.

Master's Programs
Applications are accepted from September 1 through January 15 for September admission. There is no January admission. Please note that new admissions to any of the master’s degree programs may be limited in number on an annual basis.

A student may apply for advanced credit for previous courses that have not been used to satisfy the requirements of any other degree or diploma program. The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Advanced credit will not be given for courses taken more than five years prior to admission application. Credit will not be given for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for graduate studies admission. Advanced credit may not exceed two full-course equivalents or one third of the program whichever is less.

Course Exemptions: Students registered in a graduate degree program may receive an exemption from a specific course if they can demonstrate successful completion of an equivalent course. In order to be eligible for an exemption, the student must provide original transcripts, course outlines and samples of course assignments which will be assessed for academic equivalency. Courses for which exemptions are being sought must be from a recognized institution, and they must be graded courses with a minimum grade of "B-". Students granted an exemption from a course may be required to take another, equally weighted, course to satisfy credit hour requirements for their program.

Program Transfers: A student at the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ may request a transfer to another program of equivalent level. Any course taken in the initial program may be transferred to the new program, depending on its applicability to the receiving program.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, students admitted to any of the Faculty's graduate programs (MArch, MPlan, MEDes, PhD) are expected to complete Environmental Design 501/601 Interdisciplinary Seminar as a core course. Additionally, the Faculty of Environmental Design requires:

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Students complete Environmental Design 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, and two half course electives at the graduate level that are relevant to their area of research, chosen in consultation with their Interim Advisor or Supervisor. The PhD Co-ordinator must approve these courses.

b) Additional course work when recommended by the student's interim advisor or supervisor.

Fieldwork and research performed off-campus may be counted towards fulfillment of the full-time study and research requirement.

Master of Environmental Design (MEDes)

The Master of Environmental Design is an interdisciplinary degree concerned with designing, planning, managing, and studying human activities in the built and natural environments. The degree is thesis-based and driven by the student's Program of Study, developed in conjunction with their supervisor across the spectrum of faculty research expertise. For students with an appropriate professional background, the degree provides the opportunity to pursue research in a specific area of interest. Therefore, a clear statement of design or research interest in one of the areas of faculty research expertise is of particular importance in the admissions process. Students are admitted from a variety of backgrounds, but normally are in possession of professional design or planning degrees, post-professional design degrees, or significant work experience in a related field.

An individual student Program of Study (POS) will be submitted by all students for approval by the MEDes Graduate Co-ordinator prior to their second term registration. The POS must include the following academic requirements:

a) Required Courses:

Environmental Design 601 (HCE): Interdisciplinary Seminar
Environmental Design 753 (HCE): Research Skills and Critical Thinking

b) A minimum of two half course electives.

c) A thesis proposal approved by the Thesis Supervisor. The approved student thesis proposal must form part of the POS for approval.

d) Satisfactory Faculty of Graduate Studies student progress reports must be submitted annually.

Master of Planning (MPlan)

The Master of Planning program is designed to provide graduates with the core competencies required for certification by the Canadian Institute of Planners and its affiliate, the Alberta Professional Planners Institute. The Master of Planning Program has been granted accreditation by the Canadian Institute of Planners for the period of 2013/14 through 2017/18.

An individual Program of Study (POS) is required by all students for approval by the MPlan Graduate Director by May 31 of their first registration year. The POS must include the following academic requirements, totalling at least 17 HCEs:

a) Core required courses:

Environmental Design 601 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 621 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 626 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 625 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 627 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 631 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 633 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 635 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 637 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 644 (FCE)

b) One of the following Planning Technology courses (or approved equivalent), the other of which may taken as elective credit:

Environmental Design 602 (HCE)
Environmental Design 611 (HCE)

c) One of the following Planning Studio courses (or approved equivalent), the other of which may be taken as elective credit:

Environmental Design Planning 623 (HCE)
Environmental Design Planning 618 (HCE)

d) Four half courses (or equivalent) of elective credit, three of which must be from the following courses:

Environmental Design 616 (HCE)
Environmental Design 622 (HCE)
Environmental Design 624 (HCE)
Environmental Design 628 (HCE)
Environmental Design 671 (HCE)

Note: The course-based Master of Planning program is open to part-time students.

Master of Architecture (MArch)

The MArch is a first professional degree in Architecture accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). The MArch is a two year course-based degree with a Foundation year for those applicants without a design-related four year undergraduate degree. After its last review in 2011, the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ Master of Architecture professional program was accredited for another six years by the CACB. This is the maximum period for which programs can be accredited between reviews. Under NAFTA, this means that accredited Canadian degrees are fully recognized in the USA and vice versa. In Canada, all provincial associations recommend a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The CACB, which is the sole agency authorized to accredit Canadian professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of accredited degrees, the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the degree of conformance with established educational standards. Master's degrees may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree. A student Program of Study (POS) may be required by all students for approval by the MArch Graduate Co-ordinator. Successful completion of the MArch must include the following academic requirements:

a) Core required courses:

Foundation Year
Environmental Design Architecture 511 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 523 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 523.01 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 523.02 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 541 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 543 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 580 (FCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 582 (FCE)

First (M1) and Second (M2) Year
Environmental Design 601 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 611 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 613 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 615 (QCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 617 (QCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 619 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 621 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 661 (HCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 682.02 (FCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 682.04 (FCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 782 A (FCE)
Environmental Design Architecture 782 B (FCE)

b) One of the following block-week quarter courses, afterwards any of which may be taken or repeated for elective credit:

c) Five half-course equivalents of electives, of which, at least three half-course equivalents must be from a list approved by the Associate Dean, Academic-Architecture, circulated annually before commencement of the registration year.

A laptop computer is required for all students. Visit the website for further details: .

Doctor of Philosophy
Not given.

Master of Environmental Design / Master of Planning
Only undergraduate courses numbered 500-599 may be considered for graduate-level credit and are subject to approval by the Program Director.

Master of Architecture
With the exception of Foundation year courses, only undergraduate courses numbered 500-599 may be considered for graduate-level credit and are subject to approval by the Program Director.

Students registered in the Master of Environmental Design (thesis-based) program must complete all degree requirements within four registration years.

Students registered in either the Master of Architecture or Master of Planning (course-based) programs must complete all degree requirements within six registration years. However, it is expected that these students will enrol on a full-time basis and complete the degree requirements within two registration years (excluding the Foundation year in the Master of Architecture program).

Students registered in the PhD program must complete all degree requirements within six registration years. However, it is expected that these students will enrol on a full-time basis and complete the degree requirements within four registration years.

Doctor of Philosophy

At the time of admission, each student will be assigned an interim advisor, who may or may not become the student’s thesis supervisor. The interim advisor, in consultation with the PhD Co-ordinator, will recommend a program of courses that must be approved by the PhD Co-ordinator.

During the first year of studies, the student, with the advice of the interim advisor and the PhD Co-ordinator, will prepare a thesis proposal and propose a supervisor and the other members of a supervisory committee for approval by the PhD Co-ordinator.

Master of Environmental Design

Upon admission, each MEDes student will be assigned an Interim Supervisor appropriate to their admissions statement of intent and thesis research area who may assist with POS development and thesis proposal development. By registration in the second term of study a Thesis Supervisor must be approved specific to the student’s approved thesis proposal.

Master of Planning

Upon admission, each MPlan student will be assigned an Academic Advisor to assist with POS development.

Master of Architecture

Upon admission each MArch student will be assigned a Program Advisor to assist with program requirements and planning.

Doctor of Philosophy
Doctoral students are required to complete both a written and an oral candidacy examination. The written candidacy examination normally consists of a set of four questions set by the supervisory committee and taken in the second year of the program (or possibly the third year for students entering the program without a master’s degree), after the completion of course work and after approval of the doctoral thesis proposal.

At least six months before the written examination, the supervisory committee will prepare a written outline of the material to be covered in the exam, a recommended reading list and a draft examination schedule. Normally, the student will be given two weeks to complete the written candidacy papers. The period during which the written examination and the oral examination are conducted must not exceed one month.

The written papers will form the basis of the oral candidacy examination although questions may extend beyond the written papers to areas outlined in the notice of candidacy examination.

Final thesis oral examinations are open.

Master of Environmental Design
Final thesis defence oral examination.

Master of Planning
Successful completion of course requirements.

Master of Architecture
Successful completion of course requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy
Approval of the thesis proposal by the supervisory committee and the PhD Co-ordinator is required as noted in the “Supervisory Assignments” above. Thesis Proposals should clearly describe the project in terms of Title, Objectives, Background, Methodology and Expected Outcomes, and must include an explicit interventionist or problem-solving component.

Master of Environmental Design
Final thesis proposals will be individually approved by an approved Supervisor. Thesis Proposals should clearly describe the project in terms of Title, Objectives, Background, Methodology and Expected Outcomes, and must include an explicit interventionist or problem-solving component.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies submission requirements, all PhD and Master of Environmental Design (Thesis) students are required to submit one bound copy (bound in standard orange cloth-covered cases, bearing the author's name, title of work, year and the Environmental Design symbol (rainbow) lettered in white), and one personal data format (.PDF) copy on CD.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students but cannot be guaranteed. For information on admission and academic awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar, the EVDS website and the Awards Data Base on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Attendance at orientation for first year students is strongly encouraged.

Current information about faculty members and research interests can be found at .