Dalhousie University: Preparing planners for a modern world

“If you’re drawn to the idea of studying in a beautiful, historic city by the Atlantic Ocean, Dalhousie University — located in the heart of Halifax — may be the perfect place for you. With 12 faculties and plenty of professional programmes, there’s a lot to choose from. And if you’re interested in shaping cities or communities, you’ll find your ideal home in the Dalhousie Faculty of Architecture and Planning . Programmes offered through the School of Architecture and the School of Planning deepen your understanding of the built environment while developing the skills needed for professional success — for example, 95% of Master of Planning graduates secured a job within their first year. Practice makes planners Dalhousie’s Master of Planning , recognised by the Canadian Institute of Planners, nurtures students to tackle population growth, urbanisation, and sustainability. “Students engage in in-class activities that help them learn key planning competencies, and then in professional and community-engaged opportunities to practice these new skills,” shares Assistant Professor Joanna Kocsis . “Faculty in the School of Planning scaffold these experiences with reflection and feedback, followed by opportunities to practise competencies again. This creates what teaching scholars call the ‘double loop learning,’ allowing students to understand what works and why, so they can generalise lessons across contexts.” That learning continues in studio group projects, where you can work on the skills you’re less confident in. “This winter, for example, some of our students felt very wary of their ability to skillfully engage with marginalised community members, so we paid extra attention to these soft skills in class and had a few practice runs before setting up our big community event,” shares Kocsis. “Students remarked that the practice made them feel prepared for the broad range of responses they received in their community outreach efforts, which conveniently boosted their professional confidence right before summer co-op interviews began.” Architecture without boundaries The same hands-on approach is at the heart of the Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS) and Master of Architecture (MArch) programmes . In the last two weeks of July, students from both programmes work on design-build projects that address sustainability, net-zero design, and construction material modelling issues. No two projects are the same. Previous students have created small buildings, landscape installations, films, and performances. Some projects are built on the university’s Sexton Campus, while others take students to communities across Canada and as far as Botswana and India. Ready to lead Whichever programme you’re in, your faculty members will support you – a dedication enabled in many ways by the shared studio space that brings everyone together. “Faculty can drop by the studio at any time and find students working there, creating opportunities for informal, impromptu conversations to share ideas, offer guidance, and get to know one another!” Kocsis says. Graduate Khyali Patel, from India, found their support invaluable. “The faculty not only guided us academically but also supported us through personal and professional challenges, including navigating immigration and settling into a new environment,” she says. And although she didn’t come from a planning background, she found herself thriving thanks to the programme’s hands-on, collaborative environment. “I worked with peers from diverse backgrounds, which broadened my perspective,” she says. “Opportunities like field courses, including attending the Atlantic Planners Institute Conference in New Brunswick, were invaluable for networking and learning about the region and its challenges.” By graduation, Patel felt like she belonged in the planning community. “I continue to draw on my time at Dalhousie today, especially when collaborating with diverse teams and addressing complex planning challenges,” she says. “The support from instructors has extended beyond graduation as well — they have continued to guide me in navigating the job market, providing references and mentorship, which helped me secure my current role as a Planner with the Halifax Regional Municipality.” Follow Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Architecture and Planning on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook , and X

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