
Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning
London, Canada
DURATION
120 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
CAD 70,541 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international costs | Canadian costs: CAD 29,784
Introduction
Participate in building sustainable, harmonious, democratic communities through environmental design and planning. Engagement with people and places responsibly, respectfully and creatively is cultivated through the education and experience of Fanshawe’s Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning program. This pragmatic degree connects design thinking to learning and doing through case studies and community-based projects. In conjunction with co-op work semesters, you prepare for a rewarding career locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.
Your Learning Experience
The Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning (BEDP) degree offers to learn within four integrated academic cores: environmental design, planning, geographic information systems (GIS), computer-aided design, and communication. Emphasis is on the use of GIS for context analysis and computer-aided design visualization. The curriculum has artistic and scientific appeal. Students explore, analyze, conceptualize, and present design and planning problems, opportunities, ideas, and solutions. Sustainability is a programming principle for action. It informs design and planning goals related to places’ ecological, economic, socio-cultural, and aesthetic dimensions and is demonstrated through applied community projects.
This four-year, honours degree combines the theory, knowledge, and techniques of landscape architecture, urban design, and planning with training in geographic information systems and computer-aided design. Become proficient in the application of industry-standard digital technologies and cutting-edge design and communication methods to real-world problem-solving and presentation of ideas.
Work on case studies and community-based projects with sustainability in mind. Through this environmental design program, you may participate in four cooperative work placements, applying your academic and experiential knowledge and skills to community projects. A capstone project culminates the degree. It requires you to demonstrate proficiency in problem identification, analysis, conceptualization, and communication of your design-thinking and solutions. Academic projects and four work terms (one a compulsory co-op placement) allow students to apply their learning and gain valuable practical experience leading to careers in both the private and public sectors upon graduation. Alternatively, the BEDP degree qualifies one for graduate studies in allied fields: architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, geographic information systems/science, and design.
Graduation qualifies you for private sector employment with planning and GIS consultants, landscape architects, and developers; or in the public sector, with municipalities, conservation authorities, and provincial ministries. The degree also prepares you for graduate academic programs.
CIP Code: 04.0401
Admissions
Curriculum
Core Courses
Take all of the following Mandatory (Core) Courses: The Minimum Cumulative GPA for Core Courses is 2.5
Group 1
Level 1
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 1 requirement below.
- Environmental Design Fundamentals
- Environmental Design and Planning History
- GIS 1
- Design Visualization 1
- Co-Op Educ. Employment Prep
Group 2
Level 2
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 2 requirement below.
- Site Design
- Site Planning
- GIS 2
- Design Visualization 2
- Architecture
Group 3
Level 3
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 3 requirement below.
- Neighbourhood Design
- Neighbourhood and Community Planning
- GIS 3
- Design Visualization 3
Group 4
Level 4
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 4 requirement below.
- Urban Design
- Urban Planning
- GIS 4
- Design Visualization 4
Group 5
Level 5
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 5 requirement below.
- Rural and Regional Design
- Rural and Environmental Planning
- GIS 5
- Design Visualization 5
Group 6
Level 6
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 6 requirement below.
- Environmental Design and Provincial Policy
- Regional and Provincial Planning
- GIS 6
- Design Visualization 6
Group 7
Level 7
In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 7 requirement below
- World Environmental Design
- National and International Planning
- GIS 7
- Design Visualization 7
Group 8
Level 7 Additional Requirement: Take BUSI-7001 or INNV-7001
- Business and Professional Practice
- Innovation Applications
Group 9
Level 8
- Capstone Integrated Project
Group 10
Co-op Requirement
Students Must Complete 1 Co-op Work Term
- Co-op Work Term
Non-Core Courses
Take all of the following Mandatory (Non-Core) Courses:
The Minimum Cumulative GPA for Non-Core courses is 2.0
Group 1
Level 1
- Professional Writing for Applied Degrees
Group 2
Level 3
- Statistics
Group 3
Level 4
- Demographic Studies
Group 4
Level 5
- Macro Economics
- Environmental Issues
Group 5
Level 6
- Multi-Media Literacy
- Environmental Psychology
Group 6
General Education - Electives
Take 6 General Education Elective Credits at the Introductory Level from two of the following subjects - Humanities (HUMA), Social Science (SOSC), Global Culture (GBLC), and Science (PHYS) - Normally taken in Levels 2 and 3
Group 7
Take 6 General Education Elective Credits at the Upper Level (Non-Introductory) - Normally taken in Levels 4 and 7.
Program Outcome
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Identify the varied nature and characteristics of sites, neighbourhoods, communities, and regions.
- Investigate and analyze complex environmental planning and design problems.
- Conceptualize and propose solutions to environmental planning and design problems.
- Evaluate proposed solutions to environmental planning and design problems/opportunities.
- Participate in the full range of environmental planning and design activities such as land development and municipal planning.
- Facilitate participatory environmental planning and design activities such as public meetings and workshops.
- Apply planning and design principles in general, and more specifically those related to sustainability, ecology, and environmental aesthetics, to the planning and design of the built and natural environment.
- Apply contemporary digital technologies such as geographic information systems and computer-aided design to the investigation, analysis, and communication of environmental design problems/opportunities and the presentation of design solutions.
- Create professional-quality written and graphic documentation such as reports, plans, and presentations.
- Communicate effectively using various digital media such as computer-aided design, visualization software, and geographic information systems.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning program are well prepared to pursue a range of dynamic design and planning careers in both the private and public sectors, including:
- Urban design
- Urban, rural, and regional planning
- Landscape architecture
- Geographic information systems/science
- Environment animation
Here are some examples of entry-level career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning program:
Municipal Planning Position
Review development applications, prepare reports to the council, assist senior staff with planning studies, and conduct site reviews.
Planning and Urban Design Technician
Responsible for data management and analysis, the preparation of maps and report figures, and preparing conceptual site designs and layouts.
Landscape Architectural Intern
Participate in the full range of landscape architectural project work under the direction of a senior landscape architect.
Planning and GIS Technician
Work with the Geographic Information System to develop and maintain Web GIS applications, create and maintain spatial data, complete data analysis, and produce mapping products.
Solid Waste Planning Co-ordinator
Responsible for the preparation of recommendations and reports related to solid waste management including collecting and synthesizing information, undertaking research, and formulating practical solutions and strategies.
The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects website notes employment opportunities for graduates.
Co-op Opportunities
The Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning program offers a cooperative education component to provide students the opportunity to gain invaluable first-hand workplace experience in their chosen field. Here are some co-op jobs that have kick-started the careers of some Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning students before even graduating!
Junior Urban Planner
Prepare and submit development applications, evaluations, zoning and plan reviews and coordinate consultation programs.
Junior Landscape Designer
Perform site reviews, develop conceptual plans, complete contract documents, prepare presentation material, and assist senior landscape architects in all aspects of project work.
GIS Technician/Analyst
Assist in planning and implementing GIS solutions. GIS usage on many of the ArcGIS platforms including data management on ArcGIS Desktop (and ArcGIS Pro) and building maps and dashboards with ArcGIS Online.
Technical Assistant/Asset Management
Support the development of the Asset Management Plan, with respect to capital projects, plans, and programs as required. Support the long-term planning of infrastructure renewals through primary data collection, asset condition assessments, and database management.