What We Do

Mission Statement:The Urban Core of a Cosmopolitan University

Boston University’s City Planning and Urban Affairs programs are dedicated to the education and professional training of future leaders, practitioners, and innovators in the fields of planning, public policy and urban development. To this end, the programs are committed to providing an education that is accessible, flexible, global in outlook, dedicated to the preservation and good stewardship of the environment, and grounded in cutting-edge practices and research from the field. The programs are driven by a collaborative spirit that harnesses the academic, professional, and social resources within Boston University and beyond. By accomplishing this mission, the BU CP/UA programs become the core of urban studies and reflection within a cosmopolitan university and a world-class city.

Overview

When you join a Master of City Planning (MCP) or Master of Urban Affairs (MUA) program at Boston University’s Metropolitan College, you gain valuable insight into a wide variety of issues and concerns in planning for urban and regional development. By engaging in real-world case studies and close analysis of present-day and historical urban issues and data, you will develop the skills and knowledge to confront the social, economic, and geographic challenges facing urban policymakers and planners today.

   
  City Planning and Urban Affairs are exciting multidisciplinary fields that cover a range of issues from transportation planning, the study of land use and law, environmental planning and issues, urban design, and comparative international urbanization,
just to name a few.

Along with coursework geared toward several career options, you’ll find a variety of specializations to explore within the urban and regional planning fields:

  • Transportation Planning examines regional transportation systems in relation to economic health, environmental quality, and overall vitality in the region. Students focus on how transportation policy objectives translate into investment decisions; and identify the economic, social, and environmental consequences
    of those actions.
  • Land Use and Law exposes students to the theoretical and practical aspects of land use controls and the legal frameworks that underpin the regulation of land. Students examine the major debates and policies of our time, such as sustainable development, affordable housing, economic development, and poverty, to name a few.
  • Housing and Community Development affords a broad overview of housing and community issues, including urban renewal, affordable housing, the role of community development corporations, and community policing. In addition, students study the technical and financial aspects of the real estate development process.
  • Environmental Planning addresses a wide range of issues concerning the interdependencies of built and natural environments. Topics range from the fundamental principles and techniques of environmental planning to specialized seminars that include disaster mitigation, transportation planning, and the impacts of urbanization in the global context.
  • Urban Design courses contribute to the understanding of the physical aspects of planning and designing urban forms. Students explore the potential and possibilities of these forms in terms of civic, social, and public endeavors, while benefitting from lessons learned through a real planning project in the City of Boston.
  • Comparative Urbanization courses on international development and comparative urbanization challenge students to replace limiting notions of cities as being “developed” or “underdeveloped,” fostering a more fruitful approach that seeks to identify the commonalities among and across cities of the world.