University of Illinois Launches New Masters in Sustainable Urban Management

URBANA, Ill., Oct.17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign is launching a new accelerated graduate program that addresses the global challenges of sustainable urban management.

Designed for early- to mid-career professionals, the Master of Science in Sustainable Urban Management (MSSUM) offers students an integrative learning experience addressing the complex relationships between urbanization and sustainable development. The program gives students a chance to acquire the essential skills for managing change in urban areas and tackling the sustainability problems facing the 21st-century city.

Cities are beacons of opportunity and advancement, but they also drive unsustainable lifestyles and practices that deplete resources and degrade natural systems. The MSSUM addresses the demand for urban management professionals who can understand and manage the challenges of accommodating growth and change in a way that balances the needs of economic development, environment protection and social inclusion. "Cities are where humans increasingly live in the 21^st century. Globally, urban population growth is booming, and the worldwide need for professionals who can understand and manage cities has never been so high," said Professor Daniel Schneider, Department Head.

The full-time program can be completed in one year. Its framework consists of core foundational coursework that provides hands-on experience addressing current challenges facing urban areas. In addition, students will pursue coursework and projects that focus on areas such as regional systems and informatics; energy and environment; and governance and community, all of which provide deep analysis of the range of subject-specific policy interventions and the technical tools needed for critical evaluation.

"Through this intensified period of study, we expect a rich exchange of experiences and content, welcoming a variety of working professionals, both domestic and international, to discuss sustainable urban management challenges relevant to the entire world," said Professor Rob Olshansksy, former Department Head.

The application deadline is March 15. The first cohort begins in Fall 2018. For more information about the MSSUM degree and admission requirements, contact Professor Dustin Allred at [email protected] or 217-333-6531.

SOURCE University of Illinois