Duration: 1.5 years/3 semesters, full time, 45 credits in-person
Eligibility: Open to students holding a professional degree in architecture or landscape architecture; exceptions possible.
STEM designated

Participatory Urbanism

Located in the heart of New York City, the Master of Urban Design at Spitzer is a three-semester, design lab-based, STEM-designated program that transforms cities and communities by shaping inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsive solutions for a rapidly urbanizing world.

Through the integration of design, research, ecological thinking, and infrastructural planning, our interdisciplinary curriculum challenges outdated policies and urban paradigms. It equips students with the leadership, technical expertise, and innovative vision required to navigate and redefine complex urban systems. Through collaborative design research with other Spitzer programs and centers, as well as partnerships with public and private institutions, students tackle transformative projects that address
environmental concerns, advance social and spatial equity, and embrace the evolving role of technology.

Graduates emerge as leaders in urban design, planning agencies, architecture, and multidisciplinary firms, policy institutions, and academia, driving impactful solutions for the challenges of urbanization.

STEM DESIGNATION

This MUP in Urban Design program is listed within the U.S. government’s official STEM fields list, meaning graduates with F-1 visas may be eligible for U.S. work authorization for up to three years. See the STEM OPT Hub for more information.

TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS: 45

Per-semester courseload: 15 credits

The program is designed to be completed in three full-time, sequential semesters (fall, spring, fall). For students who desire a longer course of study, it is possible to distribute the credits over up to two academic years/four semesters.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants to the Urban Design program should hold a professional degree in either architecture or landscape architecture. Applicants from other backgrounds will be considered in exceptional circumstances and on demonstration of a high level of design ability. Prospective students should embark on the program with a solid familiarity and comprehensive understanding of design, which includes proficiency in contemporary digital platforms. This involves some level of experience with computer-aided design applications for crafting and analyzing both three-dimensional constructed environments and two-dimensional graphic communication and design.

HOW TO APPLY

Fall Term 3