Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management
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"The world's thorniest challenges have never been more urban or more global. We need to prepare leaders who can work in this environment to makes change happen for the public good. And they need to be able to do this in a wide range of settings—in government, in the private sector, in small nonprofits, and in large international agencies. The urban policy program fulfills this mission through an unparalleled emphasis on experiential learning, in which students address policy and management issues for real clients - and through our steadfast focus on social justice."
Alec Ian Gershberg
Chair of the Urban Policy Analysis and Management Program
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Improving Quality of Life for Urban Communities
The Masters of Science program in Urban Policy Analysis and Management trains professionals committed to improving the quality of life for urban communities and their residents. It was one of the first programs of its kind in the country, and we continue to innovate. The heart of the urban policy program is an experiential curriculum designed to give students a sound foundation in the theory, techniques, and practice of urban policy analysis and management. There is no better learning laboratory in the world than New York City, but urban challenges are increasingly global. The program is committed to a comparative learning pedagogy to create knowledge that fosters innovative strategies to combat urban challenges. Graduates work in leadership positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and they acquire flexible skills that support varied career trajectories. Find out more about alumni careers from our most recent alumni survey (PDF).
The flexible curriculum can be tailored to the interests and needs of individual students. The core curriculum emphasizes:
- Applied, client-centered courses, in which students work on policy or management issues for government officials and nonprofit executives
- A solid foundation in and critical assessment of the traditional techniques of policy analysis
- Systematic exposure to alternative theoretical and political perspectives
Beyond the core curriculum, students can specialize in housing and community development, economic and workforce development, social policy, or finance for community and economic development. Our newest specialization is in Global Urban Futures, which brings together urban experience from around the world and the United States, combining theory and practice with fieldwork in New York and other American cities as well as cities in developing countries.
There are many opportunities for public and intellectual engagement—especially through programming and projects at the Center for New York City Affairs, The Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, the Observatory on Latin America, the India-China Institute, the Center for Transformative Media, and the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center.
Curriculum
Overview
The centerpiece of the Urban Policy Analysis and Management program is an experiential curriculum designed to give students a sound foundation in the theory, techniques, and practice of the profession. Using a variety of instructional approaches, including case analyses, computer-based problem sets, and actual policy and management problems posed by public officials and nonprofit executives, the program familiarizes students with the settings and problems they are likely to face as professional analysts and managers.
To fulfill the master of science degree requirement of 42 credits, each student creates a program with two components:
- The required program core (27 credits)
- Five electives, including one international or cross-cultural course (15 credits)
Core Courses (Required)
The Urban Policy Analysis and Management master's program is built around a core of eight courses (27 credits) through which students learn the intellectual and technical principles and values of the profession.
Required Internship
To supplement the knowledge gained in their courses, full-time students and career changers without previous experience in urban policy analysis are required to complete a noncredit internship during the summer between their first and second years of study. Internships are arranged through the Milano School's Office of Career Development and Placement. They typically provide intensive involvement with professionals in actual work settings in appropriate agencies and firms, which helps students sharpen their abilities and build confidence in their professional potential. Most internships offer a stipend. Many lead to valuable contacts for future employment.
Electives
To complete the master of science program, students develop substantive and functional expertise in policy and management by taking five elective courses chosen in consultation with an academic advisor. Electives can be selected from a wide range of courses offered by the Urban Policy program, other Milano School programs, and other graduate programs of the university.
If you have specific questions about the Urban Policy program, please contact:
Lauretha Slaughter
Program Manager
Milano Urban Policy Program Office
72 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor
New York, NY 10011
SlaughtL@newschool.edu
