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Master's of resource management planning
Master's of resource management planning (MRM)
Program at a glance
- Supervised by a member of faculty
- Graduates are certified by the Canadian Institute of Planners
- Per term regular fee program
- Five to seven terms to complete
- Eleven courses including one elective
- Some original research
- Library submission required, journal publication possible
Program overview
The REM Planning Program (REPP) is the only planning program in Canada that specializes in interdisciplinary training in policy, natural science, and social science applied to natural resource and environmental planning. REPP is a professional planning program accredited by the Planning Standards Board for the Planning Profession of Canada and the Planning Institute of British Columbia. Students graduating from the Resource and Environmental Planning Program receive the degree of Master’s of Resource Management (Planning).
Students take an integrated sequence of courses in complementary fields, pursue further courses in planning, and complete a research project. The aim is to increase familiarity and competence in understanding the dynamics of natural resources, the strategies and techniques of natural resource and environmental planning and management, and the biological, physical, social, economic, and institutional implications of resource decisions. Students also become familiar with various quantitative methods of analysis and aids to decision-making.
Core courses
REM 602-5: Professional Planning Practice
REM 611-5: Applied Ecology
REM 621-5: Ecological Economics
REM 631-5: Climate Change and Environmental Management
REM 641-5: Environmental and Planning Law
REM 642-5: Sustainable Community Planning and Regional Development
REM 643-5: Public Engagement, Environmental Conflict and Dispute Resolution
REM 644-5: Policy Analysis for Social and Environmental Change
REM 698-3: Field Resource Management Workshop*
REM 801-5: Approaches to Sustainability Research and Practice
REM 699-10: Research Project
* This is a mandatory workshop that is held in late August for new REM students. It provides an opportunity for students and faculty to get acquainted, and to introduce students to a variety of resource management issues that are discussed in the program.
In addition to the required courses, students take one graduate elective course, usually focused on their areas of specialization.
In exceptional cases, if a student provides evidence of advanced education that is equivalent to one of the required courses, a waiver may be granted for that course, thereby reducing the number of required courses by one (see the Course Waiver Policy for details).
The coursework normally fills the Fall and Spring semesters in two consecutive academic years.
Example MRM–Planning student schedule
| Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REM 801 | REM 641 | REM 699 | REM 621 or REM 611 | REM 643 | REM 699 |
| REM 602 | REM 644 | REM 642 | REM 631 | ||
| REM 621 or REM 611 | Elective | REM 699 | REM 699 |
Research project (REM 699)
The final product of a REM research project is a high-quality written report on a problem in resource and environmental management or planning. The project will include original research and incorporate knowledge gained through courses or in the field.
It is expected the REM students will produce a high-quality project; these will be published by the SFU Library and possibly in other academic or non-academic outlets. Please discuss report length and structure with your supervisor. The length of the report will vary by project and discipline, however a typical report will be 50–60 pages in length (around 14,000 words). It is expected that all Planning and Project stream students will complete and defend a project (REM 699) within the 5–6 term completion expectations.