• Design and Urban Ecologies MS

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    Students walk and converse during a class field trip in New York.

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    Gabriela Rendon, Program Director

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    • Design and Urban Ecologies
    • Parsons
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  • The master’s in Design and Urban Ecologies takes a design-led, justice-centered approach to understanding and transforming cities and urbanization processes. By integrating design, planning, policy, and community advocacy, the program prepares students with the skills and experience needed to tackle today’s urban challenges. Inspired by The New School’s commitment to environmental and social justice, students from diverse backgrounds work closely with community partners to develop plans, strategies, initiatives, and policy platforms leading to ethical and responsible urban change.  

    Program Highlights

    • Urban Ecologies

      Explore how cities embody contested systems where capital, nature, and social reproduction intersect with ecological processes. 

    • Designing for the Public Good

      Work directly with and for underserved and excluded communities to support their efforts, amplify their movements, and influence urban change through design, planning, and advocacy for the public interest. 

    • Justice-Centered

      Apply ethical, participatory, and human-centered research methodologies, planning approaches and design strategies to advance social, economic, and environmental justice within urban ecosystems.  

    • Engage with New York City

      Leverage our extensive network of activists, experts, and organizations, and agencies that make New York City a powerhouse in urban activism and critical planning. 

    • Confronting Urban Challenges

      Develop tools, initiatives, projects, and plans to address pressing issues such as housing, health, migration, climate, mobility, governance, and community development—always in dialogue with global trends and local realities.  

    • Applicant Profile

      This interdisciplinary program attracts students from diverse backgrounds, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, law, governance, political sciences, design, architecture, and environmental studies. 

    • Degree Master of Science (MS)
    • Format Full-time, on campus
    • Credits 60
    • Duration 2 years

  • Curriculum

    The curriculum involves a sequence of design studios connected with other core courses in which students combine research, policy, planning, design, and advocacy while collaborating with civic groups, community organizations, nonprofit corporations, and public agencies. You can tailor your studies with a graduate minor or choose from a range of electives. You can also complete a certificate in fields including creative community development or social justice management.

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  • Career Paths

    Graduates are prepared for careers across nonprofit, private, and public sectors. Alumni of the program currently work in fields including urban and regional planning, community development, public and urban policy analysis and development, strategic design and management, socially engaged practice, urban research and analysis, and nonprofit and government management. Students develop a solid research foundation, preparing them for doctoral programs.

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    Explore Our Community

    Discover what our students, alumni, and faculty are doing in NYC and worldwide.

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  • Student Work

      See Our Work

    • Parsons faculty represent a broad range of expertise and are acknowledged as leading practitioners and scholars in their fields.

    • Beyond the Classroom

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        Research Labs

        Research is integral to the Parsons learning experience, and students and faculty work together to challenge existing paradigms and advance emerging scholarship and practice. Explore the thematic research laboratories housed at Parsons and throughout The New School.

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        Industry Engagement

        Connect to the organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs driving global creativity and commerce. In classes, internships, and extracurricular projects, you gain marketable problem-solving skills in sectors ranging from government and nonprofits to tech and creative industries.

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        Internships

        New York City’s thriving creative industry and cultural institutions are part of your Parsons education. Our Career Services Office is enmeshed in the art and design industries and can help you advance your career with industry-oriented internships. 

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        Funded Opportunities

        Funds are earmarked for graduate travel, research, and work to support your study. Opportunities include paid teaching assistantships, research fellowships and assistantships (including ones offered throughout The New School), ample student employment, and other grants available to U.S. domestic and international students alike.

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        Making & Academic Resources

        Enjoy access to extensive resources including New School libraries, computer labs, archives, and studios, along with Parsons’ state-of-the-art Making Center, facilities offering a broad array of tools to support your creative and academic growth.

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    Undergraduates

    To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

    Undergraduate Adult Learners

    To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

    Graduates

    To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.