NEW Online Master of Design Studies in Urban Design
NEW Online Master of Design Studies in Urban Design
The new Online Master of Design Studies in Urban Design curriculum is designed to help professionals think and operate at the scale where cities are shaped. Students move beyond isolated projects to understand how urban form, policy, economics, and communities interact—and how design can influence those systems.
Through a sequence of studios, seminars, and applied coursework, students develop the ability to analyze urban conditions, frame complex problems, and propose implementable strategies for sustainability, equity, housing, and climate resilience. The curriculum balances conceptual rigor with practical tools, preparing graduates to lead urban design work in real-world professional contexts.
Curriculum
The curriculum progresses from foundational design principles to advanced studios and a capstone project focused on real urban challenges. Students build critical thinking and technical skills through site analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning, producing actionable proposals for transit-oriented development, housing equity, and community regeneration.
Integrating design with economics, law, and environmental strategy, the program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and applied learning. Graduates complete the curriculum prepared to lead urban design initiatives that balance heritage, innovation, resilience, and social equity.
Semester 1 | Fall
- URB3010 Intro to Urban Design
- HTC3001 City Since the Enlightenment, Theory, and Experience
- URB3011 Site, Story, and the Public Interest
- HSP3015 Law and the Built Environment
- Elective 1*
Semester 2 | Spring
- URB3012 Urban Design Studio
- DME3302 Advanced Urban Representation
- URB3014 Urban Economics, Strategy, and the Competitive City
- URB3030 Urban Design Capstone Research
- Elective 2*
Semester 3 | Summer
Total Academic Credits: 33
*Applicants without a design background will be required to complete the following two courses in place of the two 3.0-credit electives. These courses are be to completed in the first semester. HSP3015 will move to Semester 2.
