Applied Land Use Planning: Rural and Regional Contexts Certificate
3 Courses
99 Hours
Online
Program Description
Effective land use planning requires a careful balance between environmental stewardship, economic development, and community sustainability.
According to the United Nations, cities occupy just 3% of the Earth’s land but are responsible for 60 to 80% of global energy consumption and at least 70% of carbon emissions—underscoring the urgent need for informed, sustainable planning practices.
The Applied Land Use Planning: Rural and Regional Contexts Certificate program equips professionals with the knowledge and technical skills needed to navigate the complexities of urban, regional, and rural planning while leveraging geographic information systems (GIS) for data-driven decision-making. Participants will explore the principles of regional planning, rural land use policy, and environmental considerations, gaining a strong foundation in planning theory, governance structures, and legislative frameworks.
Through practical applications, learners will develop expertise in GIS mapping, land development analysis, and policy approaches, ensuring they can contribute meaningfully to sustainable community growth and effective municipal decision-making.
Designation Pathway
For regulated members (Candidate and RPP members) of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI), the learning acquired during completion of courses in this program is eligible to be self-logged as structured learning for the purposes of compliance with the Institute’s mandatory Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) Program.
Questions? Please contact our program team: alup@ualberta.ca
Who Will Benefit?
This certificate program is designed for individuals seeking practical tools, policy knowledge, and technical skills to address the growing complexities of land use planning and sustainable development.
- 🗸 Municipal and regional planners seeking advanced tools and data-driven strategies to improve planning decisions and address complex growth challenges
- 🗸 Environmental consultants looking to strengthen their ability to align land use practices with environmental sustainability and compliance
- 🗸 GIS analysts and technicians interested in applying their geospatial expertise to support planning, mapping, and land development analysis
- 🗸 Economic development officers seeking to connect land use strategies with long-term economic growth and investment planning
- 🗸 Rural and agricultural land managers looking for guidance on balancing development pressures with sustainable land stewardship and policy compliance
- 🗸 Non-profit and community organization leaders wanting to better understand planning systems to advocate for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable communities
- 🗸 Elected officials and public administrators seeking foundational planning knowledge to make informed decisions, evaluate proposals, and implement sound policy
- 🗸 Recent graduates and career changers in planning, geography, or environmental science looking to build practical skills and gain a competitive edge in entering the planning profession
What You'll Learn
- 🗸Evaluate and apply geographic information system (GIS) tools to support land use planning, environmental assessments, and decision-making in municipal and regional contexts
- 🗸Assess the role of regional planning in shaping sustainable communities by analyzing governance structures, legislative frameworks, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and universal design
- 🗸Investigate the complexities of rural planning, including land use pressures, demographic shifts, agricultural policies, and environmental sustainability strategies
- 🗸Compare and contrast different planning models and regulatory approaches used in rural, urban, and regional contexts, identifying challenges and opportunities unique to each setting
- 🗸Synthesize planning principles with geographic analysis to develop data-driven solutions for land use management, policy development, and community sustainability
What You'll Earn
- 🗸 Some certificates may also provide a pathway toward a diploma. Please refer to the program map to confirm eligibility.
- This program is comprised of three courses. Courses range from 21-39 hours each, for a total of 99 instructional hours.
- It’s a flexible online experience, with courses offered asynchronously. More info about online delivery formats can be found here.
- It’s designed for part-time study and can generally be completed within one year.
- You have the flexibility to schedule courses around your availability. Most students complete 1-2 courses per semester.
- Grading is through assessments, which might include quizzes, exams, discussion forums, papers, and presentations.
- Course materials are shared in ConEd Canvas, the University of Alberta’s Learning Management System. Some courses may require additional resources, such as textbooks and/or other software (for EXLUP 4274).
- Please note that continuing education classes are not eligible for student loans.
- If you're seeking financial assistance for these courses, please explore the scholarship, bursaries and funding opportunities specifically designated for continuing education students.
- Approximate cost of the full program: $2,430 CAD.
- Flexible payment options: register and pay for all courses at once or pay course-by-course as you go.
- Courses are GST-exempt.
- Some courses may require additional resources, such as textbooks.
- This program may be eligible to stack toward a diploma program. For more information, please contact alup@ualberta.ca.
- To learn about transferability from other institutions, see our Transfer Credit information.
- International Students are welcome to enroll and pay the same course fees as local students.
- Proficiency in English and a stable internet connection are needed to participate and succeed in our courses.
- Please note that non-credit programming does not qualify for a study permit, therefore, this program cannot be used for immigration to Canada. For more information, please contact University of Alberta International Student Services.
Additional Details
Application
Register for Individual Courses
Required Courses
3 Course(s)