General Admission Contact
The New School for Social Research
Office of Admission
72 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor
New York, NY 10011
212.229.5600 or 800.523.5411
SocialResearchAdmit@newschool.edu
The New School for Social Research is pausing admissions to this PhD program for one year while we undertake a comprehensive review of the doctoral program. Because of this review, we will not be admitting a new cohort of PhD students for the 2026-27 academic year.
We encourage you to remain connected with us and to check our website for updates on the program and the next admissions cycle.
The Public and Urban Policy MS program prepares you to go out in the world—and change it. You engage with policymakers through real-world client work, applying a multidisciplinary approach and social justice lens to solve timely and complex policy problems. You develop the skills needed to evaluate critical public policy issues in real time, design creative solutions, and collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders.
The master's in Public and Urban Policy explores multidimensional aspects of design and policy, quantitative methods and data visualization, and equity-focused policy. The breadth of policy-related courses and electives students can take across The New School is exceptional, ranging from classes exploring the latest insights in the social sciences at The New School for Social Research, urban design at Parsons, international affairs, management, and more. Our subject areas encompass emerging and interdisciplinary fields of study. Choosing an area of emphasis deepens your knowledge and develops your skills, preparing you for professional success.
New York embodies the promise and challenges faced by global cities. It is where students get firsthand experience at policymaking in our Urban Policy Laboratory. Working under the supervision of a faculty supervisor, student teams advise clients in government and the nonprofit sector on pressing policy and management issues. Students also have the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Center for New York City Affairs, an applied policy research organization focusing on how public policy affects low-income communities and offering analysis and solutions that make the city more just and equitable. Explore the diverse centers and institutes at NSSR, each of which is dedicated to addressing critical policy and management challenges across New York City and beyond. Our labs offer students in the program the opportunity to generate new ways to engage with our city outside of the classroom to generate groundbreaking research and solutions in urban policy.
The U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Graduate Schools ranking named the New School for Social Research’s program No. 16 in the Urban Policy specialty area. Small class sizes ensure that you are able to work directly with the engaged world-class faculty who help make our program one of the best in the country. Discover current research and work initiatives led by distinguished faculty and students, highlighting the forefront of policy, management, and urban issues in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Graduates of the Master of Science in Public and Urban Policy program are employed in all sectors. Our graduates work in government agencies, consulting firms, mission-driven businesses, and nonprofit organizations. They are ready to challenge the status quo wherever they go.
The Public and Urban Policy MS program is accredited by NASPAA, the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. NASPAA is the global standard in public service education and the recognized global accreditor of master's degree programs in public administration, public policy, public affairs, and nonprofit and related fields. The program is also affiliated with the Association for Public Policy and Management (APPAM), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), and the Urban Affairs Association (UAA).
The New School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.