Urban and Regional Studies

The MA and MSc interdisciplinary degrees in urban and regional studies gives graduate students access to the expertise of diverse, nationally and internationally recognized researchers from a variety of faculties and disciplines in a coherent, thematic framework.

Graduates of the program will come away with a nuanced understanding of topics relating to urbanization and regional development, and the ability to apply interdisciplinary methods and perspectives to research in this field.

Program milestones

• Establishing a faculty supervisory committee
• Completing coursework
• Preparing, presenting, and defending a thesis research proposal
• Completing thesis research and writing, and defending the work

Coursework requirements

18 credits are required for the MA degree, and 12 credits for the MSc degree, including:

• Proseminar in Interdisciplinary Studies (IGS 524)
• Theme Seminar in Urban, Rural, and Regional Dynamics (IGS 583)
• A research methods course
• Additional coursework, selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor

The student’s academic and professional history will determine if the student undertakes a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree.

The PhD degree is centred on conducting original, cutting-edge research in the field of urban and regional studies. Graduates of the PhD program are prepared for careers requiring advanced independent research and teaching in academia, government, and industry.

Program milestones

• Establishing a faculty supervisory committee
• Selecting and completing coursework
• Preparing, presenting, and defending a thesis research proposal
• Passing an oral candidacy exam
• Completing thesis research and writing
• Defending the work

Coursework requirements

The amount of coursework will vary according to the disciplines in which the student engages; however, it is expected that at least nine credits of coursework will be required, as approved by the student’s supervisory committee.

nadia mahmoudi

MA Student in URRD

My name is Seyedeh Nadia Mahmoudi, a graduate student in IGS, urban dynamics at UBCO, M.B.A. holder from Amirkabir University, and a B.A. in Urban Planning and Designing.  At UBCO, I got involved in the SMARTer growth project to work on Social cost-benefit analysis for the SMARTer Growth Neighbourhoods design manual. My responsibility was to draw a cash flow diagram using the Monte Carlo risk assessment with the case study on Capri Landmark. I am currently involved with more RA and TA positions relevant to my focus. My Master Thesis at UBCO is about urban Spatial structure and its interaction with people, and I work on the livability and sustainability of the city. My goal is to contribute to developing new ways of informed decision-making to upgrade living conditions with an emphasis on sustainable Built-structure.  My research interests include urban spatial structure, Sustainable urban planning, human geography, Land use planning, Sustainable active transportation and public transit.

william walczak

PhD Student in URRD

William is the CEO of Hiilite (hiilite.com), CEO of RepairExpress (repairexpress.com), and is currently pursuing his PhD in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan campus. He believes that maximum potential is only achieved when the most inquisitive minds play in concert with the right technology, in a fun environment. He knows that collaborating with ambitious and persevering individuals and organizations leads to the best results. However, this can only happen when everyone is engaged, has ownership of the outcome, and has clear and measurable goals. To work well with William, get excited and passionate about the process, product, and potential.  His academic focus and research interests are consumer behavior, machine learning, predictive analytics, consumer experience, and marketing. His goal is to help move his industry forward and help make marketing, and marketing technology more accessible and effective.

Johanna Elizabeth Manrique Hernandez

PhD Student in URRD

Economist and consultant, I am an econometrist and spatial data analyser. I have over 7 years of experience instructing at a university level, 6 years of experience in economic research, a strong background in computer specialized programs such as R, Stata, Eviews, JMulti, SPSS, Arcgis, Geodata, Tableau and Advanced Excel, skills in statistics, econometrics, spatial econometrics, prediction models, data analytics and programming. I have researched labor markets, migration, and international trade using micro data.

murray derksen

PhD Student in URS

I am a PhD student looking into refugee arrival (first 12 months) and integration into small and mid-sized cities in the Thompson-Okanagan region of British Columbia. I did my MA at UBC with a focus on the role and impact of religious institutions in refugee settlement in the City of Kelowna, BC. I am looking to expand those findings and compare some of the experiences of newcomers (former refugees) to see how the arrival and integration of these new Canadians can be enhanced.

dina alkharabsheh

PhD Student in URS

Through the early years of my life, I have developed a passion for designing the built environment, as I have always believed that design has a noble role in improving people’s quality of life, hence, I wanted to be an architect. I practiced full-time in the field of architecture for seven years (2014-2021), and during that period I designated three years (2015-2018) to study Spatial Planning in the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the German Jordanian University, and I was honored to work with teams on award-winning projects, some of which are competition calls by the UN-Habitat. My educational and professional background has shaped my interest in research related to quality of life in cities, human rights, and human development. Consequently, my PhD dissertation aims to create a global urban indicator that could contribute to highlighting development priority issues, and influencing the decision-making processes in a framework that seeks sustainable social justice.

To examine the work of previous UBC Okanagan graduate students, search on cIRcle, the University’s digital repository for research and teaching materials.

DYNAMIC CITY

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of about 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

NATURAL BEAUTY

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Check out this 360-degree video: Kelowna From Above (best viewed using desktop Chrome or Firefox or YouTube’s mobile app).

CAMPUS HOUSING

Full-time UBC Okanagan students can live in residence, which offers modern living with easy access to academic and personal support. Residences are surrounded by hiking and biking trails, plus panoramic views of the campus and valley.

• Student Residence
• Important Housing Dates

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

• Living Off Campus Resources
• Kelowna Off Campus Student Housing Facebook group*

* UBC does not verify or endorse information shared on this third-party website, which is offered here as a public resource only.

College of Graduate Studies: CoGS offers orientation events to support you in your first steps as a graduate student at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Stay active: Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and play—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness and Wellness Centre and our 1,561 square-metre gymnasium, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and nationally ranked varsity athletics. Have a ball in Sports and Recreation.

Relax: The Graduate Collegium is a gathering place where grad students can hang out, eat lunch, spend time with their fellow students, and attend or host special events. The lounge-style room is open seven days and week and is outfitted with comfortable furniture, kitchen facilities, and individual and group-work spaces.

College of Graduate Studies: Your hub for administrative support and such things as graduate workshops for professional development and for assisting you from the admissions process through to your graduation.

Centre for Scholarly Communication: Supports graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty in disseminating their research. The Library’s CSC provides one-on-one consultations and workshops, including writing support for theses, dissertations, journal articles, and grant proposals.

Centre for Teaching and Learning: Provides support related to teaching, TA training, and use of technology in educational programming.