Overview
The Master of Professional Science degree (MPS) in Urban Sustainability and Resilience is an interdisciplinary STEM-designated 36-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
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A completed Bachelor's degree in an appropriate field from an accredited institution.
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A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
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A score of at least 80 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS for international students.
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Three current letters of recommendations.
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A personal statement of academic and professional goals.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ARC 621 | Housing, Infrastructure and Transportation | 3 |
| ARC 679 | An Introduction to Resilient Building and Community Design | 3 |
| GEG 620 | Sustainable Cities | 3 |
| GEG 623 | Seminar in Urban Management | 3 |
| Students Must Complete One of the Following Tracks | 12 | |
Sustainability Track | ||
| Urban Geography I | ||
Students Complete 9 Credit Hours from the Following Electives: | ||
| Economics of Sustainable Development | ||
| Landscape Arch Design II | ||
| Research Design in Geography | ||
| Historic Preservation | ||
| Tropical Architecture | ||
| Seminar on Town Design | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| History of Cities | ||
| Population, Sustainability and the Media | ||
| Geographic Information Systems II | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Spatial Data Analysis I | ||
| Spatial Data Analysis II | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Health Applications of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Climate Change and Public Health | ||
| Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance | ||
Resilience Track | ||
| Geographic Information Systems in Urban Design (Required) | ||
Students Complete 9 Credit Hours from the Following Electives: | ||
| Urban Design Competition (Urban Design and Development Charrette) | ||
| Research Design in Geography | ||
| The Science of Actionable Knowledge | ||
| Urban Design Theory and History of the Modern City | ||
| Adaptation to Climate Change | ||
| Case Studies in Sustainability and Resilience Practices and Methods | ||
| Applied Environmental Strategies: Sustainability, Resilience, and Community Engagement | ||
| Professional Advancement, Internship + Research (PAIR) | ||
| Special Problems (RAD-LAB UM) | ||
| Designing for the Internet of Things | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Population, Sustainability and the Media | ||
| Geographic Information Systems II | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Climate Change and Public Health | ||
| Health Applications of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Real Estate Development and Urbanism | ||
| Complex Urban Real Estate Transactions | ||
| Urban Redevelopment | ||
| Electives (with approval of faculty advisor) | 6 | |
| Practicum, Design Studio or Project Studio Report | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| GEG 620 | Sustainable Cities | 3 |
| ARC 621 | Housing, Infrastructure and Transportation | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEG 623 | Seminar in Urban Management | 3 |
| ARC 679 | An Introduction to Resilient Building and Community Design | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Track Core Course | 3 | |
| Track Elective | 3 | |
| Track Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Track Elective | 3 | |
| Practicum, Design Studio or Project Studio | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
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 acquired by students can contribute to future policies that lead to more sustainable development pathways.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Through the advanced understanding of the concepts and theories of both Sustainability Science, Design, Planning and Geography, students will be able to select and use advanced tools and methods to measure and assess synergies and trade-offs among governance, environmental conservation, economic prosperity, and social inclusion.
- Students will be able to translate research on sustainability development, resilience and geography into policies and programs that seek to solve some of the recurrent urban problems.
