Urban Planning and Community Development, MS
UMass Boston's Urban Planning and Community Development master's program is designed to make you an expert in the theory and practice of planning urban spaces and economies. The program brings together the expertise of faculty from several colleges within the university and builds upon decades of research and community engagement by the university’s institutes and centers, which collectively focus on the metropolitan area’s diverse population, governance, and its built and natural environments. In addition, the program takes advantage of partnerships with community-based organizations to promote economic development, affordable housing, and small business development, with a deliberate agenda to address social and environmental inequity and serve the needs and interests of underrepresented communities.
What You Can Take
Students take core courses in the foundations of planning, cities, and urban economies gaining an understanding of human settlements drawing from concepts and theories from social and environmental sciences. Students complete method and technique courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods and geographic and management information systems. Students choose a concentration (Environmental Planning or Community Development) and complete 5 courses within their area of concentration. All students complete a capstone Design Studio rounding out the 48 credit hours required for the degree.
Learning Objectives for this program can be viewed here.
Program of Study
Required Core Courses (9 courses, 27 credits)
UPCD 600 History and Theory of Planning
UPCD 613 Urban Economics and the Environment
UPCD 620 Quantitative Research Methods
UPCD XXX Master Planning (new course)
UPCD 631 Land Use Controls
UPCD XXX The Urban Development Process (new course)
UPCD 632 Law, Ethics, and Practice
PPOL 704 Research Methods II (Qualitative Research Methods)
PPOL 746 Geographic Information Systems for Public Policy
Required Capstone (2 courses, 6 credits)
UPCD 750 Planning Studio 1
UPCD 751 Planning Studio 2
Environmental Planning and Land Use Concentration (5 courses, 15 credits)
UPCD 667 Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment (Site Planning)
UPCD 701 Urban and Regional Environmental Planning (Regional Scale)
ENVSCI 718L Environmental Law and Policy: Federal Agencies, Courts, and Congress
Two electives selected from graduate courses in Environmental Sciences (ENVSCI), Urban Planning and Community Development (UPCD), Economics (ECON), or Public Policy (PPOL)
Housing and Community Development Concentration (5 courses, 15 credits)
UPCD 720 Community Development for Urban Planners (History/Theory/Methods)
UPCD 725 Contemporary Community Development (Project Planning)
UPCD XXX Financing Housing and Community Development Projects (new course)
Two electives selected from graduate courses in Environmental Sciences (ENVSCI), Urban Planning and Community Development (UPCD), Economics (ECON), or Public Policy (PPOL)
What You Will Learn
After completing your MS in urban planning and community development you will be prepared to work as a professional urban planner or community development officer. You will have deep and practical knowledge of the qualitative and quantitative methods and skills required for these professions as well as experiential understanding of the environmental, design, and economic development principles that shape the field.
What You Can Do With a Masters in Urban Planning and Community Development
MS in Urban Planning and Community Development alumni apply the practical and theoretical knowledge gained in the program to work with diverse communities, across government agencies, and in private and nonprofit sectors. Alumni are employed as regional planners with state agencies, in neighborhood organizations as community development officers, and in municipal government and nonprofits supporting integrated issues of social justice, equity, and environmental sustainability.
Application and Admission
Application Information
Deadlines: June 1 for fall, December 1 for spring
Test Scores: None (International applicants must demonstrate language proficiency)
Letters of Recommendation: 2
Other: 3.25 undergraduate GPA and Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
Information for International Graduate Applicants
English Language Proficiency: Any applicant that has not completed at least two academic years of full-time study (excluding ESL or test-prep) at an approved English-speaking college or must submit official score results for one of the following:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
International English Language Testing System academic version (IELTS Academic)
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
Countries exempt from English Language Proficiency requirement: Applicants may be exempt from submitting these test scores if they have received at least four years of education (including their undergraduate program) at an English-speaking college or university in the United States or in Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Ghana, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Trinidad/Tobago, Singapore, and United Kingdom.
Required Minimum Score for Urban Planning and Community Development: TOEFL PBT = 550, TOEFL IBT = 79, IELTS Academic = 6.0, PTE Acdemic = 53.
Institutional Code for UMass Boston
When submitting official scores, which must be sent electronically or in hard copy directly to UMass Boston from the testing agency, use institution code 3924.
VISA Information: Once admitted, applicants will be contacted by the International Student & Scholar Office with information on the visa process. Please email international@umb.edu if you have questions or need assistance. More information is available online at the International Student & Scholar Office website.
Cost of Attendance
General Information
For full costs see Graduate Tuition and Fees on the Bursar's Office webpage.
Each year the University awards more than $150 million in financial aid to our students. Financial aid funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis.
US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal financial aid. Massachusetts residents (US citizens, permanent residents, and international students) may also qualify for state financial aid in addition to reduced tuition rates. UMass Boston and alternative private lenders are two additional sources of funds to assist in covering educational costs.
To get started on applying for financial aid complete the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Tuition and Fees
The Bursar’s Office issues online bills for tuition and fees, and collects the payments to apply into the student accounts.
Make sure to log into your WISER account where you manage every aspect of your university account which includes your bills, financial aids, and To Do List.
Approximate Cost to Attend UMass Boston: Information on cost of attendance is found on the Bursar's Office webpage. Actual tuition and fees vary according to residency, number of credits taken, program and whether students enroll through campus or through Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS).
Housing
UMass Boston does not provide on campus housing for graduate students.
For information about off-campus housing, how to find a room mate, how to locate available apartments or rooms, and information about meal plans visit the Office of Student Housing webpage.
Graduate Student Aid
University-funded Graduate Assistantships
As a professional program limited assistanships are available for graduate students in Urban Planning and Community Development. These limited assistantships, awarded as teaching assistantships in the School for the Environment, are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
University-funded Graduate Assistantships are not awarded by Financial Aid Services. They are formal service contracts between you and the School for the Environment. Teaching Assistants, awarded to full-time graduate students with the expectation of 18.5 hours per week of teaching effort, receive a stipend, waiver of some fees, and full tuition credit.
The number of graduate assistantships for Urban Planning are limited based on budget. Contact your Graduate Program Director for more information. Financial Aid Award Packages may be adjusted for students receiving assistantships.
International Students: May apply for assistantships and must be enrolled full-time (9 credits) to comply with immigration regulations to receive assisantship support.
Grant-funded Research Assistantships
Many of the School for the Environment faculty have active grants and contracts which provide financial support for graduate students appointed as research assistants in the School for the Environment. Also our research centers and institutes hire graduate research assistants on a regular basis. Graduate students appointed as research assistants receive stipends as well as fee waivers and tuition credits.
Students can explore research assistantship opportunities prior to enrolling in the MS in Urban Planning and Community Development by contacting the Graduate Programs Coordinator.
Additional information about available research assistantships is available at the School for the Environment Academic Achievement Services Center (AASC@SFE) webpage.
Off-Campus Internships and Cooperative Education
The MS in Urban Planning and Community Development program has strong connections to local municipalities, community organizations, and agencies who support paid internships and cooperative education positions. Students funded through these types of appointments may be eligible for tuition credits and fee waivers.
Students can explore research assistantship opportunities prior to enrolling in the MS in Urban Planning and Community Development by contacting the Graduate Programs Coordinator.
Additional information about available research assistantships is available at the School for the Environment Academic Achievement Services Center (AASC@SFE) webpage.
Program Faculty
Program Contact
Contact sfe@umb.edu or Graduate Program Director Elizabeth Sweet at betsy.sweet@umb.edu
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