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CLASS 2024 Sustainable Urban Development

Cities across the world face many questions about their 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 and spatial analysis technology. A genuinely interdisciplinary program that incorporates perspectives from fields such as Urban Planning, Public Policy, Geography, Sociology, Public Service Management, Environmental Studies and 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.

The MA in Sustainable Urban Development may also be expanded to include select graduate certificate programs covering particular areas of interest. Students participating in a combined MA/certificate program should consult with their academic advisor to determine what coursework might count toward both programs. A separate application process for the certificate is required. Students who are interested in any of the following combination programs should contact the Graduate Student Services Office for additional information.

  • Sustainable Urban Development + Graduate GIS Certificate​
  • Sustainable Urban Development + Community Development Certificate
  • Sustainable Urban Development + Global Health Certificate
  • Sustainable Urban Development + Metropolitan Planning and Development Certificate
  • Sustainable Urban Development + Sustainable Urban Food Systems Certificate
  • Sustainable Urban Development + Social Research Certificate
Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Degree Requirements 52
Total hours required 52

Learning Outcomes

​Students will be able to:

  • Identify and describe the practical and theoretical links between sustainable urban development and issues of economic development, community development, social justice and the environment.
  • Articulate details and apply critical insights about strategies being used to transform U.S. urban areas to make them more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
  • Define and describe contemporary urban issues and debates by citing and critiquing contemporary scholars and through employing either qualitative or quantitative methodologies using either primary (including fieldwork) or secondary sources.
  • Articulate, research, and present publicly an assessment of critical social, environmental, and economic issues facing contemporary U.S. cities.
  • Use with competence geographical information systems and/or other technology to assess and analyze sustainable urban development and design.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Students complete 13 courses (52 credit hours).

Required Core (5 courses)

Course Title Quarter Hours
SUD 401SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT I: PLANNING, POLICY & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT4
SUD 402SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT II: APPLIED ANALYSIS OF URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY4
SUD 404URBAN DESIGN LABORATORY4
SUD 501PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR IN SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT4
SUD 502CAPSTONE - PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO4

Interdisciplinary Requirements (5 courses)

Geography
Course Title Quarter Hours
GEO 441GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT4
GEO 442GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT4
Public Service 
Course Title Quarter Hours
Select two of the following:8
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVICE
METROPOLITAN PLANNING
POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Statistics 
Course Title Quarter Hours
Select one of the following:4
STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
APPLIED STATISTICS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (USING EXCEL)
APPLIED STATISTICS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (USING SPSS)
STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS FOR GIS
STATISTICS AND DATA ANALYSIS
STATISTICAL METHODS USING SAS

Electives (3 courses)

Course Title Quarter Hours
Select three of the following:12
URBAN ECOLOGY
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE: ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS, HUMAN NEEDS, & SYSTEMS THINKING
PROGRAMMING IN PYTHON FOR GIS
GIS ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
WEB GIS AND SPATIAL DATA VISUALIZATION ON THE WEB
SPATIAL DATA SCIENCE
STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS FOR GIS
NATURE, SOCIETY, AND POWER
THE CITY
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES (FORMERLY GSB 595)
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
SUSTAINABLE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVICE (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
POLICY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
METROPOLITAN PLANNING (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
ENERGY POLICY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS AND MEDIATED SOLUTIONS
URBAN RESILIENCE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION POLICY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
SPECIAL TOPICS (Sustainability & the Built Environment)
DATA ANALYSIS (if not taken as an Interdisciplinary Requirement)
URBAN DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY
BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT: PRACTICE AND IMPLEMENTATION
SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOOD SYSTEMS
SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORTATION
URBAN PLANNING
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND FOOD JUSTICE
SPECIAL TOPICS
INDEPENDENT STUDY
TECHNICAL WRITING
GRANT AND PROPOSAL WRITING

Other courses may be taken as electives, with advisor approval.

Non-Credit Courses

Course Title Quarter Hours
SUD 600CANDIDACY CONTINUATION0
SUD 601CANDIDACY MAINTENANCE0

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