The MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, offered through the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEP) at Tufts, prepares you 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. Our faculty, students, and alumni are public-spirited individuals committed to engaged processes and just outcomes for cities, communities, and ecosystems.

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 mater'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
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
Transcripts
Three Letters of Recommendation
GRE not required

Contact gradmissions@tufts.edu for general information about applying and Rebecca Shakespeare for UEP specific information.

Tuition and Financial Aid

See Tuition and Financial Aid information for GSAS Programs.

Racial Equity in Policy and Planning Fellowship

The Racial Equity in 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.

Faculty

Laurie Goldman

Senior Lecturer

Social welfare and housing policy; policy implementation; public and nonpro.t management

Julian Agyeman

Professor and Department Chair of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Fletcher Professor of Rhetoric and Debate

Sustainability policy and planning; environmental and food justice; intercultural cities

Aggeliki Barberopoulou

Lecturer

Natural Hazards, hazard mitigation, historical earthquakes and tsunamis

Christine Cousineau

Lecturer

Kathryn Davies

Lecturer

Human dimensions of environmental change; socio-ecological system governance; equitable sustainability transformations; community resilience; coastal and marine systems

Mary Davis

Associate Professor

Environmental health; occupational health; economic analysis

Academic Leave

Justin Hollander

Professor

Land use planning; urban redevelopment; urban design; big data; shrinking cities

Shan Jiang

Eileen Fox Aptman, J90, and Lowell Aptman Assistant Professor

Urban Analytics; Big Data Analytics; Urban Planning and Science; Spatial Data Science; Urban mobility;

Penn Loh

Senior Lecturer and Associate Chair of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning

Environmental justice; solidarity and new economy; community organizing

Rebecca Shakespeare

Lecturer

Geographic information system; urban geography; housing; critical GIS

Shomon Shamsuddin

Associate Professor

Housing; Education; Inequality; Policy Implementation; Community Development

Sumeeta Srinivasan

Senior Lecturer

Transportation; Health; Spatial models; Geographic Information Systems

Jon Witten

Distinguished Senior Lecturer

Land use planning; local government law; natural resources policy

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.

Meet Tufts UEP

Tufts UEP is a community of practicing scholars—our faculty, students and alumni are public-spirited individuals committed to engaged processes and just outcomes for cities and communities.

Student Spotlight

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.