Urban Design Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

The Urban Design Graduate Certificate equips professionals and graduate students with foundational urban design knowledge and skills. The program fosters critical thinking, a holistic perspective, and the ability to design livable and sustainable urban spaces. Graduates can pursue careers in designing new communities, public spaces, and other urban elements, contributing to the shaping and accommodation of urban growth.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Urban Design Graduate Certificate is a program designed for professionals and graduate students who want to gain a deeper understanding of urban design principles and practices. The program aims to provide students with:

• Foundational knowledge: A comprehensive understanding of the history and evolution of cities, encompassing both the art and science of urban design.
• Design skills: The ability to design livable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing urban spaces that address current and future challenges.
• Critical thinking: The capacity to analyze urban problems, develop multidisciplinary solutions, and promote sustainable design and management practices.

Assessment:

• Coursework: Students must pass each course with a minimum grade of C.
• Performance: Graduate students are expected to demonstrate a high level of performance in their coursework and to prove an advanced knowledge of the topics through written documents, presentations, and other materials required by faculty.

Careers:

• Growing demand: There is a growing demand for professionals who can design places that shape and accommodate urban growth, promote livability, and conserve the natural environment.
• Design roles: Urban Design professionals are expected to design new communities, public places, streets, commercial districts, corporate and academic campuses, parks, and play a role in the renovation of neighborhoods, towns, cities, and metropolitan regions.
• Holistic approach: Urban Design professionals examine the form, space, movement, time, activity patterns, and setting of cities, using holistic, systematic, and sustainable thinking to shape the built environment.

Other:

• Target audience: The program is open to professionals and graduate matriculated and non-matriculated students.
• Program start: Students can start the program in any semester but are encouraged to contact an advisor and apply early.
• Course requirements: To obtain the certificate, students must complete four core courses in theory, analysis, implementation, and two electives totaling 18 credits.
• Student interest: Students should have a keen interest in cities, places, and people, and be interested in learning about design, planning, and policies to create better places for people.