Overview

The Master of Professional Science degree (MPS) in Urban Sustainability and Resilience is an interdisciplinary STEM-designated 30-credit program offered jointly between the College of Arts & Sciences' Department of Geography and Sustainable Development, and the School of Architecture. The curriculum leverages the knowledge, skills and hands-on practical engagement necessary for students working toward contributing to the urban challenges confronting cities on the front lines of climate change.

Admission Requirements

  • Online Application

  • Application Fee

  • A personal statement of academic and professional goals.

  • Three current letters of recommendation.

  • A completed Bachelor's degree in an appropriate field from a regionally accredited institution.

  • A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

  • Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. Official transcripts in languages other than English must also be submitted with a certified English translation.

  • Resume

  • A score of at least 80 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS for international students. Students from countries whose primary language is English are not required to take this exam. 

  • GRE scores are optional per University Policy.

Curriculum Requirements

Core Courses
ARC 621Housing, Infrastructure and Transportation3
GEG 620Sustainable Cities3
ARC 679An Introduction to Resilient Building and Community Design3
GEG 623Seminar in Urban Management3
ARC 694Geographic Information Systems in Urban Design3
GEG 659Resilience Economics3
GEG 665Land Use Planning3
or ARC 685 Special Problems
GEG 616Urban Analytics Geovisualization3
or ARC 685 Special Problems
Practicum or Design Studio3
ARC 643
Case Studies in Sustainability and Resilience Practices and Methods
ARC 609
Architecture Design
ARC 680
Professional Advancement, Internship + Research (PAIR)
GEG 625
Advanced Independent Study in Geography I
GEG 630
Practicum in Sustainability
GEG 635
Internship in Geography
Elective3
With approval from their advisor, students may choose any 600-level elective at the University of Miami.
Total Credit Hours30

Sample Plan of Study (1.5 Year Full-Time)

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
GEG 620 Sustainable Cities 3
ARC 621 Housing, Infrastructure and Transportation 3
ARC 694 Geographic Information Systems in Urban Design 3
GEG 665 or ARC 685 Land Use Planning
or Special Problems
 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
GEG 623 Seminar in Urban Management 3
ARC 679 An Introduction to Resilient Building and Community Design 3
GEG 659 Resilience Economics 3
GEG 616 or ARC 685 Urban Analytics Geovisualization
or Special Problems
 3
 Credit Hours12
Year Two
Fall
Practicum, Design Studio or Study Abroad 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours30

Mission

This interdisciplinary MPS in Urban Sustainability and Resilience program aims to provide the knowledge, skills and hands-on practical engagement necessary for students working toward contributing to the urban challenges of the 21st century.

Goals

  • Focusing on how the stressors and shocks of a changing climate and sea-level rise will impact the urban realm in areas such as health, housing, and crime, students will gain an understanding of the spatial and temporal transitions involved in pathways toward urban sustainability and resilience
  • Students will gain skills in methodology, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), urban design, remote sensing, data visualization, and qualitative or quantitative methods. The knowledge students acquire can contribute to future policies and programs that lead to more sustainable urban development pathways. 

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the critical concepts, frameworks, and theories relevant to sustainability and resilience in urban environments.
  • Students will use advanced methods to assess, measure, and track urban sustainability and resilience across time and space.
  • Students will engage with various sectors to identify and solve sustainability and resilience issues in urban areas using participatory approaches.
  • Students will develop innovative solutions to urban problems by translating interdisciplinary research into urban sustainability and resilience policies and programs.