Program Overview

Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning

The MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, offered through the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEP), prepares students to be part of a new generation of leaders – ‘practical visionaries’ – who will contribute to the development and promotion of inclusive, sustainable, and just communities. A nationally accredited urban planning program, the program is distinct from many other planning and policy programs by having a strong social justice focus. UEP is a community of practicing scholars and experienced practitioners. The faculty, students, and alumni are public-spirited individuals committed to engaged processes and just outcomes for cities, communities, and ecosystems.

Overview

Students can choose to study either full-time or enroll in the part-time track for working professionals. Dual degree programs are also available. A dual degree consists of two master's degrees awarded for work done in distinct disciplines by two schools of Tufts University or Boston College. UEP offers the following dual degrees:

• Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Agriculture, Food, and Environment
• Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Food and Nutrition Policy and Programs
• Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Law
• Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Law and Diplomacy

Program Outcomes

As a student in the program, you will learn to engage and confront the social and environmental challenges in today's world of rapid urbanization and changing climate. You'll gain the necessary skills to work towards effective policy and planning solutions through academic coursework, applied fieldwork projects, work experience, and individual research. The program's flexible curriculum allows you to work with your faculty advisor to develop a coursework track and a thesis or capstone exam that focus on your interests in urban, social, and environmental issues.

Graduates of the MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning program go on to pursue careers in a wide variety of planning and policy fields. Alumni work in settings such as local and state planning and other government agencies, environmental and conservation organizations, housing authorities, transportation agencies, community development corporations, and other community-based organizations, private consulting firms, and social welfare agencies, among others.

Application Requirements

• Application Fee
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement
  • In 3-4 double-spaced pages or up to 1000 words, please explain your motivations and purpose for applying to study in UEP. Please include the following:
    • What previous experiences have brought you to the decision to apply for graduate study?
    • What are your motivations to apply at this time and what do you hope to do after graduate study at UEP?
    • What specifically about UEP (faculty, curriculum, courses, location, mission, etc) will support your growth from your current set of experiences to your next steps?
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
• Transcripts
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• GRE not required

Tuition and Financial Aid

See Tuition and Financial Aid information for GSAS Programs. Note: This program is eligible for federal loans and Tufts tuition scholarships.

Full-Time or Part-Time Tracks

Students can choose to study either full-time or enroll in the part-time track for working professionals, attending some courses during the evenings and on weekends.

Full-Time Track

The accredited urban planning MA program usually takes two years of full-time study. The program requires completion of twelve or thirteen courses plus a thesis or capstone exam for a total of 42 credits.

Part-Time Track for Working Professionals (domestic applicants only)

Using a trimester format for graduate coursework, the part-time accredited urban planning program allows working professionals to work full-time while attending some of their courses during the evening, online, and/or weekends, allowing completion of the program within three years, depending on student pacing. Some required courses are only offered during the business day; please consult the upcoming semester’s course schedule for the most up-to-date information. Requirements are the same as full-time study.

Program Spotlights

A Practical Visionary

Peyton Siler Jones, MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning '22, has had a lifelong passion for understanding the connections between social and ecological systems, which led her to Tufts.

Career Outcomes

• Average Salary: $90K+
• Would Recommend the Program: 83.30%
• Average Age: 27

Faculty

• Laurie Goldman
  • Associate Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: housing policy; gentrification and anti-displacement strategies; workforce development; policy implementation and innovation; public and nonpro.t management; theories of change approach to program evaluation, social change, and movement building.
• Julian Agyeman
  • Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Fletcher Professor of Rhetoric and Debate
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Sustainability policy and planning; environmental and food justice; intercultural cities
• Christine Cousineau
  • Associate Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
• Kathryn Davies
  • Assistant Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Human dimensions of environmental change; socio-ecological system governance; equitable sustainability transformations; community resilience; coastal and marine systems
• Peilei Fan
  • Professor and Department Chair of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: (1) human-natural interactions and their impact on environment and social equity at multiple spatial scales, particularly in cities; (2) technology and development
• Justin Hollander
  • Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Land use planning; urban redevelopment; urban design; big data; shrinking cities
• Shan Jiang
  • Eileen Fox Aptman, J90, and Lowell Aptman Assistant Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Urban Analytics; Big Data Analytics; Urban Planning and Science; Spatial Data Science; Urban mobility;
• Hassaan Furqan Khan
  • Assistant Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: water systems analysis, urban water management, environmental justice and equity
• Penn Loh
  • Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: • Solidarity economy movements and economic democracy • Community land trusts • Popular education, social movements, community organizing • Community and climate resilience.
• Jeffrey Rosen
  • Jason and Chloe Epstein Term Professor of the Practice
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Catalytic Capital Community Investing Sustainable Finance Impact Measures Impact Investing for Racial Equity
• Rebecca Shakespeare
  • Associate Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Geographic information system; urban geography; housing; critical GIS
• Shomon Shamsuddin
  • Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Housing; Education; Inequality; Policy Implementation; Community Development
• Kristin Skrabut
  • Assistant Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Urban Anthropology and Ethnography; Global Poverty and Development; Housing and Infrastructure; Gender and Kinship; Latin American Studies; Political and Legal Anthropology
• Sumeeta Srinivasan
  • Associate Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Transportation; Health; Spatial models; Geographic Information Systems
• Jon Witten
  • Teaching Professor
  • Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning
  • Research/Areas of Interest: Land use planning; local government law; natural resources policy

Related Programs

• Public Policy
  • Master's
  • 1 year (full-time) /2 years (part-time)
  • Average Duration
  • Full-time
  • Part-time (Daytime)
  • Part-time (Evenings)
  • Commitment Options
  • On-campus
  • Format
  • 30
  • Credits
  • Application deadlines
• Environmental Economics and Urban Planning
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  • Commitment Options
  • On-campus
  • Format
  • 47-50
  • Credits
  • Fall: Jan 15
  • Application deadlines
• Environmental Policy and Planning
  • Master's
  • 2 years
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  • Part-time (Daytime)
  • Part-time (Evenings)
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  • On-campus
  • Format
  • 42
  • Credits
  • Fall: Jan 15
  • Spring: Dec 1 (part-time, domestic only)
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• Sustainability
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  • 12-24 months
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  • Part-time (Daytime)
  • Commitment Options
  • On-campus
  • Format
  • 36
  • Credits
  • Fall: Jan 15
  • Application deadlines

School/Department

• Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
• Program Director: Laurie Goldman
• Location: Medford/Somerville
• Format: On-campus
• Commitment Options: Full-time
  • Part-time (Daytime)
  • Part-time (Evenings)
• Average Duration: 2 years
• Credits: 42
• Tuition per Credit: $1899
• Eligible for Aid/Scholarship: Yes

Repairing and Empowering Policy and Planning Fellowship

The Repairing and Empowering Policy and Planning Fellowship supports five students per year to complete the MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning or the MS in Environmental Policy and Planning.