Mar 14, 2025  
University of Alberta Calendar 2025-2026 
    
University of Alberta Calendar 2025-2026

Master of Business Administration / Master in Urban and Regional Planning Combined Program (Business)


The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the Faculty of Business offer a program of combined study which permits highly qualified students to earn both the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning and the MBA degrees after three years of full-time study.

Inquiries regarding the combined MBA/MSc in Urban and Regional Planning combined degree program may be directed to the Associate Chair in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, or the Masters Programs Office in the Faculty of Business.

Entrance Requirements


Students must meet the entrance requirements of both the MBA program and the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning (two-year stream).

Each student must first be admitted to either the MBA program in the Faculty of Business or the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning (two-year stream) in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. After completing the first year of the program, students are eligible to apply to the combined MBA/MSc in Urban and Regional Planning program.

Applicants must provide a letter of intent. The MBA requirement for professional work experience will be waived. Applicants may be interviewed by both the Alberta School of Business Real Estate Program and the School of Planning.

Program Requirements


The first year may be taken entirely within the MBA program and the second year in the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning Program with two Business electives. These can be reversed for students who start in the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning program.

The third year is split between the two programs.

Students in the combined program are required to complete a minimum of 87 units, including a 3 unit exercise in Business and a 6 unit capping exercise in Planning.

Business Portion


The Business portion of the program consists of 48 units, including a 3 unit Business capping exercise.

Urban and Regional Planning Portion


The Urban and Regional Planning portion of the program consists of 39 units, including a 6 unit Planning capping exercise.

Spring/Summer Internship


Students may complete a summer internship in either or both of the Spring/Summer sessions of the program.

Ethics Requirement


Students fulfill the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement  through registration in PLAN 511 .

Professional Development Requirement


Students in the combined MBA/MSc in Urban and Regional Planning program fulfill the GPS Professional Development Requirement  through their program.

Length of Program


Students enrolled in the combined program on a full-time basis can complete the program in three years.

The maximum time to complete the course-based combined MBA/MSc in Urban and Regional Planning program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.

Upon the successful completion of the three year program, candidates will receive both the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning and the MBA degrees. The MBA degree will not be conferred prior to the completion of the MSc in Urban and Regional Planning degree and vice versa.