PLAN 233Social Planning and Community Development

Units: 0.50
Faculty: Environment
Subject: Planning

When it runs

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course explores the origins and practices of social planning and its relationship to the field of community development. Students will learn how interventions in the built environment and urban policy-making can be used to advance community well-being and human flourishing. Students will focus on the relationship between planning practice and social outcomes, and the importance of considering social objectives alongside the economic and environmental priorities of sustainable development. Students will expand their skills in demographic analysis to assess community needs through mapping community assets, resources, amenities, and services that support the advancement of complete communities.

Prerequisites

Students must be in level 2B or higher

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	5295	0 / 90	M 14:30–16:20
LEC 701	2094	63 / 9999	Online or by arrangement
TUT 101	5297	0 / 30	T 09:30–10:20
TUT 102	5298	0 / 30	T 14:30–15:20
TUT 103	5518	0 / 30	Th 08:30–09:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

50% liked it65% easy55% useful

From 54 ratings and 13 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

Very boring. The course material is social justice stuff, focused on learning the right vocab. The assignments and exam then ask you to apply those terms with real life and examples. It's common sense as long as you have basic empathy and you're not an asshole. That being said the course is mostly sjw bs that's so common in many planning courses. The prof ryan lok is goated tho

Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this
It was really boring for me and a lot of others, to the point where the course instructor, Ryan Lok, commented about how no one went to lectures. The midterm worth 40% was fine, but the assignments worth 25% each were kinda dumb. He made the second/individual assignment due the last day of classes and posted a big thing on Learn about how he wouldn't give extensions to then give a two day extension to everyone about 9 hrs later. lol

Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this
One of the more boring Planning classes, however if you enjoy learning about social aspects of planning such as theories, philosophies, and equity you will enjoy it. Not as much people attended the lectures compared to other classes. The course was only one midterm exam and 2 major assignments, one of which is a group project

Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this
An interesting course that teaches more about more abstract and theoretical concepts of social planning. If you are interested in social and philosophical aspects of planning, you will find this course very engaging. Ryan Lok is the GOAT of professors because he teaches every lecture with passion and care. The only drawback was the 40% midterm, which was straightforward but weighted way too much for what it's worth. Would have preferred 2 tests worth 20% each.

Apr 2025 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this
One of the most disengaged class ever experienced at UW. The overall structure of the course is poorly designed. Weight distribution is 10% tutorial participation + 25% All Multiple Choice Midterm + 35% Final Project (4k-5k words in my case) + 30% All MC Final Exam. Professor is pushing the student very hardly to meet the “Discipline”. The content is somewhat useful but the way the content was introduced is very frightening.

Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

2 posts and comments in 2 threads mention PLAN 233, January 2020 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.

Spring 2024

May 25, 2024 2nd year course selection for Planning 1 point, 2 comments

u/Canadian1girl: “… for Environmental Research 2B term - Winter PLAN 203 – Transportation Planning & Analysis PLAN 233 – People and Plans PLAN 261 – Urban & Metropolitan Planning and Development PLAN 281 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) But some of these courses don't even …”

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Winter 2020

Jan 12, 2020 PLAN/GEOG 281 Textbook 2 points, 3 comments

u/perkornah: “… I am also taking PLAN 341, PLAN 261, PLAN 233, and PLAN 203, so any advise regarding those classes would be helpful as well! …”