Professional Development

Your future starts here! At SURP, we’re dedicated to helping you prepare for a successful career in Urban and Regional Planning. Our professional development resources are designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and connections you need to thrive in your chosen field.
On this page
- Skill Development Opportunities
- Career Resources and Support
- School of Urban and Regional Planning Associations
- Professional Associations
- Mentorships
Skill Development Opportunities
Enhance your professional toolkit with experiences that build your practical skills and industry knowledge.
Students are encouraged to participate in competitions and extracurricular learning opportunities. Student competition postings are available in the SURP D2L.
Students are encouraged to explore job listings and internships to further their professional development. Student job postings are available in the SURP D2L.
PLE 780: Field Internship and PLE 785: Field Placement are Core Elective Table I or Table III courses PLAN, PLAB, or PLAD students can take to obtain on-the-job experience. Moreover, these two courses offer students the opportunity to link theory with practice, conduct research, learn about professional practices in organizations in the field of urban and regional planning, and gain work experience.
Internships are paid and associated with the PLE 780: Field Internship course. Students are responsible for finding their own internship and can do it in the fall, winter, or spring/summer semesters.
A student can do both an internship and a placement. You are not allowed to do more than one internship and/or placement. The credit for PLE 785 and PLE 780 can only be used once.
PLE 780: Field Internship and PLE 785: Field Placement are Core Elective Table I or Table III courses PLAN, PLAB, or PLAD students can take to obtain on-the-job experience. Moreover, these two courses offer students the opportunity to link theory with practice, conduct research, learn about professional practices in organizations in the field of urban and regional planning, and gain work experience
Placements are unpaid and associated with the PLE 785: Field Placement course (a list of placement opportunities is provided by SURP in the Fall and Winter semesters)
A student can do both an internship and a placement. You are not allowed to do more than one internship and/or placement. The credit for PLE 785 and PLE 780 can only be used once.
Field trip courses, PLG 531, PLG 532, PLG 533, PLG 534, PLG 731, PLG 732, PLG 733, and PLG 734, offer students an unparalleled opportunity to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical, on-the-ground experience. These immersive trips allow students to observe diverse urban environments, analyze socio-economic and governance structures, and evaluate real-world planning challenges firsthand.
Through site visits, professional briefings, and collaborative research, students enhance their critical thinking, field research skills, and ability to address complex planning issues in diverse contexts. This hands-on approach fosters a deep understanding of urban dynamics and prepares students for leadership roles in the planning profession, equipping them with both global perspectives and practical insights to shape vibrant, sustainable communities.
Studio courses provide a dynamic, hands-on learning environment where students tackle real-world planning challenges. Through collaboration with external clients, students engage in all aspects of the planning process, from research and fieldwork to the development of actionable recommendations and proposals for implementation. These courses emphasize teamwork, effective communication, and the ability to manage projects within client-based contexts, fostering essential professional skills. By applying their knowledge to practical scenarios, studio courses equip students with the critical problem-solving and project management skills needed to thrive in diverse planning roles.
Career Resources and Support
The TMU Career, Co-op & Student Success Centre (opens in new window) is the central resource for professional development resources and career help. They provide support and services such as:
- Workshops: Topics include resumes, job searching, portfolio creation, LinkedIn profiles, and more.
- Advising appointments: One-on-one support for career advising, graduate school applications, LinkedIn photo sessions, and more.
- Student Success Navigator: Connects students to campus resources for academic and career support.
- Career Boost (on-campus jobs): A work-study program providing paid on-campus jobs to help students gain valuable work experience
School of Urban and Regional Planning Associations
Students can look to SURP-based groups like the Toronto Metropolitan Association of Planning Students (TMAPS) and the School of Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Association (SURPA) for career support and networking opportunities.
TMAPS organizes events for students throughout the year, such as industry panels, workshops, and the annual TMU x Waterloo Conference.
SURPA hosts the annual Spring Reception, which gives students the opportunity to connect with alumni and their peers.
Professional Associations
We encourages you to expand your experiences and opportunities in the field by joining professional associations. These groups offer a great way for you to build your professional knowledge, skills and contacts, and to explore career options. Many also offer discounted student membership fees.
CIP is a member-based organization (external link, opens in new window) for planning professionals across Canada and beyond. Our members work in both the public service and the private sector, across fields such as land use planning, environmental resource management, land development, heritage conservation, social planning, transportation planning, and economic development.
CIP advocates for planners and the priorities of the planning profession and offers a wide range of member services and career development opportunities. We also work closely with Provincial and Territorial Institutes and Associations (PTIAs) (external link, opens in new window) , which regulate the planning profession and govern the rights and responsibilities of their members.
The Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) (external link, opens in new window) is the recognized voice of Ontario’s planning profession with over 4,700 members who work in government, private practice, universities, and not-for-profit agencies in the fields of urban and rural development, community design, environmental planning, transportation, health, social services, heritage conservation, housing, and economic development. Our student members attend undergraduate and graduate planning programs at six accredited Ontario universities. Members must meet quality practice requirements and are accountable to OPPI and the public to practice ethically and to abide by a Professional Code of Practice. Only full OPPI members are authorized by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Act, 1994, to use the title Registered Professional Planner (or RPP).
In 2012, the Professional Standards Board (external link, opens in new window) for the Planning Profession in Canada (PSB) was established to administer the certification process of professional planners on behalf of the Provincial and Territorial Institutes and Associations (PTIAs), which regulate the planning profession across Canada, and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Black Planners and Urbanist Association (external link, opens in new window) is a network of 40+ Black professionals working in planning, design, and real estate development. A few of us began to connect through involvement in the Black Planning Project and this quickly developed into periodic times of professional discussions over dinners in Fall 2018. In January 2019, we collaborated with A Different Booklist for an event called ‘Dinner with a Black Real Estate Developer’ to learn about the experiences of Black professionals working in this space and we explored how we could work together to support those entering the field and advancing the development of Black spaces and communities.
The Urban Land Institute's (external link, opens in new window) mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. We provide our members with independent forums for discussion and debate about city building issues and best practices. ULI Toronto carries forth that mission, while helping to shape a sustainable and thriving future for the Toronto Region. We are supported by over 2600 public and private sector members.
Mentorships
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