Urban and Social Policy
The Urban and Social Policy (USP) Concentration gives students the skills and tools to design, implement, and evaluate innovative policies aimed at addressing urban and social challenges.
The interdisciplinary Urban and Social Policy (USP) Concentration prepares students for a successful career in urban and/or social policy, with two distinct focus areas to fit their own unique academic and professional interests.
The Urban Policy focus area provides students with an understanding of the policy challenges and opportunities that are particular to cities in both the developed and developing world. Students learn to design, implement, and evaluate policies in fields such as city management, civic engagement, community development, land use, housing, urban education, and transit, along with recent urban policy innovations in environmental sustainability, smart cities, technological integration, and business development.
The Social Policy focus area prepares students to design, implement, and evaluate social policies that increase access to economic opportunity for women and minority populations, as well as policies that manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, recidivism, homelessness, and public health.
Who It’s For
There is no academic or professional prerequisite for students who wish to pursue Urban and Social Policy. The concentration can serve as a starting point for recent college graduates and others who are new to these policy areas. At the same time, students with a few years’ professional experience will find many advanced courses and new issues to explore.
Curriculum and Courses
The Urban and Social Policy (USP) Concentration is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with the content knowledge, critical thinking, and analytic skills needed for a successful career in urban and/or social policy, while offering students the flexibility to specialize in policy focus areas that fit their own unique academic and professional interests.
Optional Minors Available
- Urban Politics, Governance and Management
- United States Domestic Policy
- Urban Social Policy
- Urban Economic Development and Housing Policy
- Urban Sustainability and Environmental Policy
- Education Policy
- Health Policy
Student Career Paths
Many USP alumni go on to work for the City of New York, State of New York, US federal government, or comparable agencies in other cities, states, and countries. Our alumni are also well-represented at consulting firms, universities, community and advocacy organizations, philanthropy, and other employers in the private and nonprofit sectors.
Related Degree Programs
Designed for students looking to facilitate and lead international cooperation, the MIA equips students to understand international political and legal institutions, and develop the skills of conflict resolution, diplomacy, and inter-cultural competency necessary to achieve change on the worldwide stage.
Developed for students looking to lead the policymaking process, the MPA provides a data-rich analytical education, equipping students to understand policy challenges and to develop, implement, and evaluate policy solutions. The MPA is STEM-designated so that students in all policy domains will be eligible to apply for OPT extensions where relevant.
Contact Us
Ester Fuchs
Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science; Concentration Director
IAB Room 1428 | [email protected]
Jesse Rentz
Concentration Coordinator
[email protected]