The MAAPPS/MA Planning degree program permits students to obtain the Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies (MAAPPS) and the Master of Arts in Planning through enrollment in both the Institute of  Asian Research and the School of Community and Regional Planning.

Dual Degree Program Committee

The dual degree program will be subject to oversight by a Dual Degree Program Committee comprised of a representative from SCARP and a representative from IAR to be designated by their respective directors. The Dual Degree Program Committee shall have responsibility to oversee admissions, coordinate graduate student program supervision, and provide program oversight. MA Planning’s Advisor for the Master’s degree program shall serve as well as Graduate Program Advisor for the Dual Degree Program.

Requirements

Students are required to complete all course requirements for graduation in each of the School of Planning and MAAPPS programs, subject to the following adjustments:

1.  Students enrolled in the dual degree program who complete the MAAPPS Core Course (IAR 500) required for the MAAPPS degree will receive six credits toward completion of their Master’s degree in Planning.
2. Students enrolled in the dual degree program who complete 6 credits of course work in SCARP acceptable to their respective MA Planning and MAAPPS program supervisors will receive credit for these courses toward both the MA Planning and MAAPPS degrees.
3. Students enrolled in the dual degree program will be required to complete a 12-unit capstone. This may be fulfilled as either (1) a combined research thesis for 12 credits or (2) a combined 12-credit practicum, as currently defined in the MAAPPS program. In this case, half the credit units will be allocated respectively to their degree in both SCARP and IAR.
4. With these modifications, a total of 78 credits will be required for graduation, divided as follows: in MAAPPS, 24 credits; in MA Planning  48 credits; plus a further 6 credits in courses shared by MAAPPS and MA Planning  (the 78 unit total includes a combined MAAPPS/MA Planning research thesis for 12 credits.) This amounts to a reduction of 18 credits compared to the two degrees if they were undertaken without a dual program.

Model Curriculum Schedule

Without limiting the capacity of students to select alternative schedules to satisfy the requirements of the dual program, a model curriculum schedule would be as follows:

Year One (September - December)

Students complete the first year curriculum for the MA Planning including required core subjects and electives (12 credits. ) To assist in choosing electives, students should select one of the four Thematic Streams offered by SCARP as part of the dual degree, as well as a cognate Thematic Stream from among the five offered by IAR as part of the dual degree. Both selections should be done with advice of their respective supervisors.

Year One (January - August)

Students begin completion of elective and core course requirements for the MA Planning (6 credits) as well as elective courses for MAAPPS (6 credits).

Year Two (September - December)
Students begin the MAAPPS core course (IAR 500) as well as continue with electives for the MA in Planning (9 credits+3credits for IAR 500).

Year Two (January - August)
Students complete the MAAPPS core course (IAR 500) (3 credits) as well as 9 electives credits in MAAPPS. Students opting for MAAPPS internship should begin to make arrangements for this. All students should register for the combined degree thesis.

Year Three (September - December)
Students continue to take planning electives (9 credits) as well as a MAAPPS elective (3 credits).

Year Three (January - August)
Students complete all planning course requirements (6 credits) as well as the combined thesis requirements (12 credits).

Total Credits: 78 (MAAPPS: 30 // MA Planning: 48)
 

Conferring of Degrees

The MAAPPS and MA Planning will be conferred at the completion of the dual program after all requirements for both degrees have been met. Students who choose to receive either the MAAPPS or the MA Planning prior to completion of the dual program may apply for one of the degrees provided all requirements for that degree have been satisfied. Students selecting this option must simultaneously withdraw from the dual program.

For more information on the MA Planning program visit SCARP at UBC.