Chicago faces many questions about its urban future:
- How can urban communities be made more sustainable?
- How can low carbon urban transitions be equitable?
- What should cities do with old industrial sites?
- Can urban transportation networks modernize?
- Where should cities invest their economic development dollars?
- What is the role for community organizations in these debates?
These questions are at the center of the Master of Arts in Sustainable Urban Development (MASUD). With classes in Chicago’s Loop and Lincoln Park campuses, this 13-course (52 credit hour) interdisciplinary graduate program integrates academics with practical learning. Instructors draw on the city’s resources and incorporate expert guest speakers, site visits, and industry-standard Geographic Information Systems (GIS) digital mapping technology.
A genuinely interdisciplinary program that incorporates analyses from fields such as Urban Planning, Public Policy, Sociology, Geography, Public Service Management, Environmental Studies, Real Estate, the MASUD introduces students to sustainable urban development policy, data collection and analysis, planning processes, strategies for implementation, modes of communication, and evaluation mechanisms.
The first year of study provides a theoretical background as well as an introduction to the technologies used in urban development and planning. The second year of the curriculum is dedicated to teaching advanced courses and completing a required internship and a capstone/portfolio component.
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