Urban and Public Affairs, MA

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Students will be well prepared for a variety of careers in community-based non-profits; advocacy and public interest organizations; political organizations; governmental agencies; think tanks, philanthropic organizations; and private sector entities; as well as for further graduate study.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will:

Demonstrate a theoretical, practical, and ethical understanding of community change, through practices including public policy advocacy, campaigns, and/or political/community organizing
Critically analyze problems in urban and regional policy and politics using a variety of research methods
Demonstrate the capacity for effective oral and written communication
Evaluate and develop urban and regional policy, while learning to situate models of social change within historical and regional contexts
Contribute to informed public discourse around contemporary political and urban policy issues through addressing issues in public policy, advocacy, community organizing, politics, and public service

Major Requirements (33 units)

Required (17 units)

UPA 630 - Urban Power Seminar
UPA 633 - UPA Colloquium I
UPA 634 - UPA Colloquium II
Note: Students must take UPA 634 3 times
UPA 650 - Comm-Engaged Research Methods
UPA 651 - Leadership For The Common Good
UPA 652 - Masters Capstone Project

Elective Courses (16 units)

UPA - 660 - The Politics of Public Policy
UPA 661 - Urban & Regional Planning
UPA - 662 - Urban Public Finance
UPA 663 - Globaliz., Justice & The City
UPA - 664 - Cities, Law, & Inequality
UPA - 665 - Urban Racial Politics
UPA - 666 - Applied Democratic Theory
UPA 667 - Housing, Community and Policy
UPA - 668 - The Economics of Social Justice
UPA - 669 - Urban Field Course
67X… Policy Theme Seminars
UPA - 671 - Education Reform
UPA - 672 - The Immigrant City
UPA - 673 - Urban Food Policy
UPA - 674 - Non-Profits and Public Policy
68X… Practical Politics Theme Seminars
UPA - 681 - Labor and Community Organizing
UPA 682 - Campaigns & Pol. Mobilization
UPA - 683 - Grassroots Movement-Building
UPA 690 - Special Topics
UPA 698 - Directed Reading

Additional Requirements

Practical Politics Saturday Workshops

Students must also take three (3) Practical Politics Saturday Workshops. These workshops are offered every semester. Registration takes place through the Program Manager.

Internship (300 hrs)

This intensive internship is required for completion of the degree. Students are expected to successfully complete 300 hours working with an urban or public affairs organization, including political campaigns, advocacy organizations, governmental agencies, community or neighborhood associations, or other similar entities. Internship placement is facilitated by faculty and staff, and directed by an on-site supervisor. Internships can begin early in the first year of the program, but many internships take place in the summer after the first year of coursework. The internship hours must be completed prior to beginning the capstone project, typically at the beginning of the second year of coursework.