PLAN 100Urbanization Today: Introduction to Cities and Regions
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Environment
- Subject
- Planning
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course considers the history of urbanization, models of urban and regional development, and ideals of good urban form in Canadian and global contexts. Students will develop a critical perspective on the historical and contemporary relationships between processes of urbanization and broader societal trends and structures. Students will explore how factors such as economic activity and trade, climate change, migration, inequality, and demographic change impact and are, in turn, influenced by urban and regional development.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5593 | 225 / 270 | M 08:30–10:20 |
| TUT 101 | 5594 | 27 / 30 | T 08:30–09:50 |
| TUT 102 | 5595 | 30 / 30 | T 17:30–18:50 |
| TUT 103 | 5596 | 28 / 30 | T 17:30–18:50 |
| TUT 104 | 5597 | 29 / 30 | T 08:30–09:50 |
| TUT 105 | 5598 | 27 / 30 | M 17:30–18:50 |
| TUT 106 | 5661 | 21 / 30 | M 17:30–18:50 |
| TUT 107 | 5713 | 24 / 30 | W 17:30–18:50 |
| TUT 108 | 5714 | 21 / 30 | M 17:30–18:50 |
| TUT 109 | 5715 | 18 / 30 | W 17:30–18:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
82% liked it75% easy79% useful
From 193 ratings and 46 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Brian Doucet deserves an award for worst prof of the year. Genuinely, someone get this guy a gold star and a cookie for being such a slimy sack of shit. I don't know what the fuck his problem was but this guy put such a sad and pitiful amount of effort into teaching this course that it was almost laughable. But I don't mean that in a happy little sunshine and rainbows way, I mean that this man could be the devil in the flesh. For the entire term Doucet imposed heinous never-ending acts of emotional and psychological warfare upon all the students in PLAN 100, and he seemed to take a disturbing amount of pleasure in watching us all suffer under his wrath. I truly will not have enough time to…
Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 7 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Oh, Brian Doucet. Where do I even start? At the first ever lecture during syllabus week, my hopes were high for this course because I thought Professor Doucet was extremely passionate about everything he shared in class, which he is. However, the lectures slowly became long ass talks about the same topics: Montréal, Amsterdam, Glasgow, blah blah blah. Big bro spent no less than 15 minutes on a single slide about Montréal. Don't get me wrong, I love Montréal too, but having to sit in an almost 2 hour lecture with a 10 minute break listening to a man talk about one single thing for 20 consecutive minutes genuinely bored me to the point I could no longer focus on what he's saying. I often…
Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Do NOT take this course unless you enjoy psychological warfare. Every single day you walk through those classroom doors, your brain immediately starts drafting a fresh escape plan. Withdrawal. Transfer. New identity. Anything.
Doucet does not teach, he yaps. For a full uninterrupted hour. About the same thing. On loop. You think you’re about to take notes? That’s adorable. There is nothing to write down. No slides. No structure. Just pictures and verbal free-fall.
Based on how he treats us, you’d think I personally ran over his dog, burned his house down, and stole his whole family. The hostility is unreal. At one point I think I briefly left my body and saw the light in the middle of his…Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Doucet marks hard for no reason. You will not get above an 85 unless you are a rhodes scholar. I am upper year and took this as I thought it was interesting, midterm avg was 60% and I studied for a week in advance and got mid 80s (allegedly one of the highest marks in the class). Also difficult to identify what doucet wants you to know as he speaks at length about each topic, readings have many concepts etc. Rubric given the night before for 1st essay, none given for second. Embarrassing. cant wait to explain to grad schools why I have 90+ in 400 levels and like an 83 in a 100 level class
Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The Course has pretty interested material but you wont be hearing about it because Doucet will be talking about himself the time, that is if he doesn't miss half of the lectures. The exams and midterms are marked hard but its not as bad as everyone says it is. Requires a solid 3 hours to study for an exam. Take this course if you want to hear about the Blue Jays the Netherlands and the endless accomplishments of supreme leader Doucet.
Dec 2025 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
20 posts and comments in 17 threads mention PLAN 100, October 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
Winter 2024
PLAN 100 1 point, 1 comment
u/dr-nightmare-: “Why does this course take so long to mark? Is it always this way every year? Still waiting for my F23 grade. Sheesh.”
Fall 2023
Winter 2023
How is Planning? 4 points, 7 comments
“Hi! I'm thinking about going into the planning program but I'm wondering how math and science extensive the program is generally. …”
u/gingham_cat: “… I’ll give you a rundown of my experience of each required course in your first year to give you a picture of how the balance is: PLAN 100: My favourite course this year. Critically analyzed the history of cities and planning movements through a social equity lens. …”
Spring 2021
How are INTST 101, AHS 100 and PLAN 100 as a CSE? 3 points, 5 comments
Fall 2020
Experiences in GEM/Switching into GEM/Switching out of ENBUS? 3 points, 2 comments
u/cookie753: “… I was in INDEV in my 1A and really enjoyed the core classes GEOG 101 and PLAN 100. I am pretty interested in human geography and physical geography, and have been since high school. …”
Fall 2020 Bird course thread 4 points, 6 comments
“Now that were a week in, what are some birdy courses this term for those looking to make some last min switches. Ill say clas 104 and geog 101 are looking easy”
u/ComputerBunnyMath123: “Not sure if they're still open but PLAN100, REC100”
Spring 2020
Minoring in GEM/geography or Urban Studies 7 points, 5 comments
u/cookie753: “… For the Urban Studies minor (already have some of the prereqs like GEOG 101, PLAN 100, ECON 101, really enjoyed the first 2) I was thinking of either theme 2 (Urban Activity and the Environment) or 3 (Urban Societies). …”
u/RedPanda26: “… I didn't take any of the PLAN classes outside of PLAN 100. It's pretty flexible too, you have to do the require classes for the overall minor, pick a theme and then do the required and elective classes for that theme. …”
Winter 2020
There’s a course on Transit this term 22 points, 11 comments
“Do you like trains? Are you a NUMTOT? Are you interested in how transit systems work and are looking for a fun, easy-moderate difficultly elective taught by a really great prof? …”
[deleted]: [deleted]
u/VelocityGoose: “PLAN-100 isn’t a required pre-req, as it’s cross-listed with CIVE-484, which has a different set. You should say that you’ve taken a stats course (I assume you did STAT-206) beforehand (as that’s what the planning/civil pre-reqs essentially are) and bring an override form.”
Spring 2019
Planning Co-op or Math Reg? 0 points, 8 comments
“I'm having a hard time choosing between these two programs. I find both program equally interesting, it's just the co-op and future prospect that's making me an indecisive lil bitch. …”
u/perkornah: “I’m in planning co-op and am really enjoying it so far. I’ve heard the first co-op is hard to get but it’s doable if you’re passionate and interview well. …”
u/perkornah: “… The core courses in 1A were PLAN 105, 104, ENVS 195, PLAN 100, and PLAN 102. In 1B they were PLAN 110, ENVS 178, PLAN 105, and two electives. They are all very theoretical but we had a lot of hands on work. …”
u/-MrGoose-: “Courses mentioned in this thread: ENVS178 ENVS195 PLAN100 PLAN102 PLAN104 PLAN105”
Spring 2018
PLAN 100 3 points, 1 comment
u/scared_of_geese: “Just wondering what the workload and course breakdown is for Plan 100. Thanks”
Acceptances Megathread [Fall 2018 Incoming Students] 142 points, 1,897 comments
“Hi all, This thread is specifically for those who got accepted to UW to discuss different issues (residences, courses, student life, etc.) and celebrate the hard work and efforts of those who have …”
u/__helloitsme: “What are the best non-math courses to take for first term (I'm doing cs co-op)? I'm currently deciding between psych101 and a philo course. …”
u/tkfi: “PLAN 100 is a great course the professor is amazing and the class is like story time. Plus there isn't that much work involved.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them