Curriculum

The Master of Professional Science degree (MPS) in Urban Sustainability and Resilience is an interdisciplinary 36-credit program offered jointly by the College of Arts & Sciences' Department of Geography and Sustainable Development and the School of Architecture. The curriculum leverages the knowledge, skills and hands-on practical engagement necessary for students working toward contributing to the urban challenges confronting cities on the front lines of climate change. The degree is also STEM-designated which allows international students to apply for a STEM-OPT Extension of 24 months.

The MPS Program has been structured as a two-year, four-semester program, but students wishing to accelerate through the program are given an opportunity to do so, if in good academic standing.

• ARC 621 - Housing, Infrastructure and Transportation

  Case studies in sustainable urban design. Survey and assessment of innovations in community design and building. Examples from the late nineteenth century to contemporary practice illuminate environmental, social, and economic goals and impacts in urban design.

• ARC 679 - An Introduction to Resilient Community Design

  This course introduces students to the relationships between climate, resiliency, architecture and urbanism; building awareness of the growing challenges and opportunities ahead, and the intersections between these disciplines. What does resilience mean in the broader context, and how should escalating stressors and shocks be addressed? Students learn about climate sciences, then research, document, and analyze evolving resilient design strategies, at the scale of buildings, neigborhoods and cities, in the end, applying those lessons to a given case study site; developing a holistic set of resilient design recommendations. During the course, students interact with specialists in the fields of architecture and urban design, as well as related fields, such as engineering, social, marine and environmental sciences, and/or policymakers, to better comprehend first-hand the interwoven scientific, social environmental, and governmental ramifications to resilient design. Lastly, students learn the mechanics of participatory design methods employed to engage communities in related efforts.

• GEG 620 - Sustainable Cities

  The emerging field of urban sustainability from an interdisciplinary perspective. This course presents major theories and methodologies in sustainable urbanism, especially in terms of urban resilience, economic inequality, urban ecology, and environmental justice.

• GEG 623 - Seminar in Urban Management

  Identification of and responses to urban problems in large cities in European and Latin American metropolitan areas. Emphasis is on demographic, cultural/ethnic, service-provision, environmental, transportation, and land-use problems. Approach is via case studies, theory applications, and planning practicalities.

All students enrolled in the Master of Professional Science in Urban Sustainability & Resilience are required to select a concentration track. Students may choose between a track in sustainability and a track in resilience. All students will take 1 track core course and 3 track electives. A total of 12 credits will be taken within the track of your choice. Click here to view the course offerings for the Sustainability Track. Click here to view the course offerings for the Resilience Track.

Electives may be taken in the School of Architecture, School of Education and Human Development, the College of Engineering, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences, the Miami Herbert Business School, the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, the Miller School of Medicine, and the Department of Anthropology, the Department of International Studies, and the Master of Arts in International Administration within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Please see the curriculum requirements on the MPS Program Bulletin page

Students in the program have three alternatives for a capstone project, which include: journal-worthy research paper, internship opportunity, or a track-related architectural or urban design studio.
Students from the first graduating class interned with the Office of Resilience for Miami Dade County.