Department of Urban Studies and Planning
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DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND the department's eld-based practicum subjects and research, PLANNING and through internship programs. In eldwork, students acquire competence by engaging in practice and then bringing eld experiences back into the academic setting for reflection and The Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) oers four discussion. Students may work with community organizations, degree programs: a Bachelor of Science in Planning; a two-year government agencies, or private rms under the direction of faculty professional Master in City Planning (MCP); a one-year Master of members involved in eld-based projects with outside clients. In Science in Urban Studies and Planning (reserved for mid-career some cases, stipends may be available for eldwork or internship students); and a PhD in Urban Studies and Planning. In addition, programs. The Department of Urban Studies and Planning is DUSP has other, nondegree programs and aliations: the Special committed to educating planners who can advocate on behalf of Program in Urban and Regional Studies (http://spurs.mit.edu) (for underrepresented constituencies. mid-career professionals from developing countries); the Community Innovators Lab; the Center for Advanced Urbanism (http:// During the month of January, the department oers a series of "mini- cau.mit.edu); and the SENSEable City Lab (http://senseable.mit.edu). subjects" in specialized elds not covered by the regular curriculum, Once students are admitted and enrolled at MIT, it is possible to including both noncredit and for-credit oerings. apply for certicate programs in urban design (oered jointly with Specic opportunities for concentration and specialization available the Department of Architecture) or environmental planning. to students are detailed in the descriptions of the degree programs City and regional planners in the United States and other parts of the that follow. world are involved not only in physical and economic development, but also in management of the environmental, social, and design consequences of development. They engage in a variety of activities Undergraduate Study aimed at shaping the forms and patterns of human settlements, The Department of Urban Studies and Planning oers a Bachelor of and at providing people with housing, public services, employment Science in Planning; HASS Minors in Urban Studies and Planning, opportunities, and other crucial support systems that comprise a International Development, and Public Policy; and a variety of HASS decent living environment. Planning encompasses not just a concern concentrations. There is also an accelerated SB/MCP program which for the structure and experience of the built environment, but also a allows exceptional students to complete their undergraduate and desire to harness the social, economic, political, and technological master's degree work in ve years. forces that give meaning to the everyday lives of men and women in residential, work, and recreational settings. Planners operate at In addition, DUSP also hosts MIT's Teacher Education Program the neighborhood, metropolitan, state, national, or international (TEP), described under Career and Professional Options (http:// level, in both the public and the private sectors. Their tasks are the catalog.mit.edu/mit/undergraduate-education/career/teacher- same: to help frame the issues and problems that receive attention; licensure-education) in the Undergraduate Education section. TEP to formulate and implement projects, programs, and policies provides an option for students interested in exploring new ideas in responsive to individual and group needs; and to work with and for teaching and learning as applied to K-12 schools. Studies in TEP can various communities in allocating economic and physical resources also lead to licensure in math or science teaching at the high school most eciently and most equitably. or middle school levels. Planners are oen described as "generalists with a specialty." The Bachelor of Science in Planning (Course 11) specialties oered at MIT include city design and development; The Department of Urban Studies and Planning oers an housing, community, and economic development; international interdisciplinary preprofessional undergraduate major (http:// development; and environmental policy and planning, as well as catalog.mit.edu/degree-charts/planning-course-11) designed cross-cutting opportunities to study urban information systems, to prepare students for careers in both the public and private multi-regional systems, and mobility systems. These planning sectors. The major also provides a foundation for students who specialties can be distinguished by the geographic levels at which are considering graduate work in law, public policy, international decision making takes place—neighborhood, city, regional, state, development, urban design, management, and planning. The national, and global. Subspecialties have also been described in subjects in the major teach students how the tools of economics, terms of the roles that planners are called upon to play, such as policy analysis, political science, and urban design can be used to manager, designer, regulator, advocate, educator, evaluator, or solve social and environmental problems in the United States and futurist. abroad. In addition, students learn the skills and responsibilities of A focus on the development of practice-related skills is central planners who seek to promote eective and equitable social change. to the department's mission, particularly for students in the Aer satisfying the core requirements, students use their electives MCP professional degree program. Acquiring these skills and to pursue a specic track. We suggest one of the following, but will integrating them with classroom knowledge are advanced through accept self-designed options to better meet a student's interest: Department of Urban Studies and Planning | 3 DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING urban and environmental policy and planning; urban society, history, Bachelor of Science and the MCP at the end of ve years. Admission and politics; or urban and regional public policy. The required is intended for those undergraduates who have demonstrated laboratory emphasizes urban information systems and oers skills exceptional performance in the major and show commitment to the for measurement, representation, and analysis of urban phenomena. eld of city planning. Criteria for admission include the following: In the laboratory subject, students also explore the ways emerging technology can be used to improve government decision making. • A strong academic record in Course 11 subjects • Letters of reference from departmental faculty Students are encouraged to develop a program that will strengthen • Practical experience in planning, which could be gained through their analytic skills, broaden their intellectual perspectives, and test internships, practicums, studios, Undergraduate Research these insights in real-world applications. Students must complete Opportunities Program experiences, summer jobs, etc. a senior project that synthesizes what they have learned. This • A mature and passionate interest for the eld that warrants project may consist of an analysis of a public policy issue, a report further study on a problem-solving experience from an internship or other eld experience, or a synthesis of research on urban aairs. Students can obtain more information on the ve-year program from Sandra Wellford, undergraduate administrator, Room 7-346A, Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science (Course 617-253-9403. 11-6) Urban settlements and technology around the world are rapidly co- Minor in Urban Studies and Planning evolving as flows of population, nance, and politics are reshaping The six-subject Minor in Urban Studies and Planning oers students the very identity of cities and nations globally. We already see the opportunity to explore issues in urban studies and planning in rapid and profound change, especially in mega-cities, including some depth. Students initially take two Tier I subjects that establish pervasive sensing, the growth and availability of continuous data the political, economic, and design contexts for local, urban, and streams, advanced analytics, interactive communications and regional decision making. In addition, students choose four Tier II social networks, and distributed intelligence. Examples of new elective subjects, which provide an opportunity to focus on urban technologies facilitated by or requiring big data and new informatics and environmental policy issues or to study urban problems and concentrated in urban areas include, but are not limited to, institutions. Students are encouraged to cra a minor that reflects autonomous vehicles, sensor-enabled self-management of natural their own particular interests within the general parameters of the resources, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure biometric identity, minor program requirements and in consultation with the minor the sharing or gig-economy, and continuous public engagement advisor. opportunities through social networks and data and visualization. Requirements The Bachelor of Science in Urban Science and Planning with 11.001[J] Introduction to Urban Design and 12 Computer Science (Course 11-6) (http://catalog.mit.edu/degree- Development charts/urban-science-planning-computer-science-11-6) emphasizes 11.002[J] Making Public Policy 12 the development of fundamental skills in urban planning