MS DESIGN AND URBAN ECOLOGIES The MS Design and Urban Ecologies is a 60-credit applied research and design-oriented program that reframes through a critical transdisciplinary approach the study of cities and the production of new forms of urbanization with a social and environmental justice focus. Drawing from design, planning, policy, political economy, activism, and community advocacy, this action-based program envisions the creation of new transformative urban practices addressing the complex ecologies of cities and current urban challenges.
curriculum Urban History Lab
Urban Colloquium 1
3 credits
3 credits
Urban Theory Lab 3 credits
Urban Colloquium 2 3 credits
DUE Methods 1 3 credits
DUE Methods 2 3 credits
DUE Studio 1 6 credits
DUE Studio 2 6 credits
Elective choice 1 3 credits
Elective choice 2 3 credits
DUE Methods 3 3 credits
DUE Studio 3 6 credits
Elective choice 3 3 credits
Elective choice 4 3 credits
DUE Methods 4 3 credits
Thesis Studio 6 credits
4
SEMESTER
3
SEMESTER
2
SEMESTER
1
SEMESTER
60 CREDITS
Students can create their own urban concentration or select a graduate minor: Anthropology and Design Capitalism Studies Civic Service Design Creative Community Development Design Studies Design and Urban Justice Global Mental Health Global Urban Futures Managing for Social Justice Methods and Concepts of Political Economy Migration Studies Transmedia and Digital Storytelling
Students conduct comprehensive research and frame thesis project on Studio 3 and develop, along with community partners, an actionable project during the Thesis Studio.
Hands on laboratories and seminars with NYC’s communities and experts
Sequencial courses offering a wide array of research and visualization methodologies
Electives from the different programs across The New School
Studios where students, guided by faculty, develop their thesis project
MSdue
CRITICAL EXPLORATIONS AND HANDS ON LEARNING
Exploring different urban methodologies, students examine the production of cities, the processes that impact and transform them, the people that shape and inhabit them, the metropolitan regions to which they are connected, and the ecological systems that sustain them. Through seminars and studios, the program engages students in conversions and collaborations with those influencing urban change, from citizens, activists, and community leaders to urban experts, policymakers, and elected officials.
JUSTICE-CENTERED
Aligned with The New School’s commitment to environmental and social justice, students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines work closely with marginalized groups, underrepresented communities, and under-resourced organizations. Using critical research, they devise design strategies, visualization techniques, and participatory instruments to develop and implement leading-edge projects that facilitate ongoing and new collective efforts and urban visions.
DESIGN YOUR OWN PAthWAY
This program is based on a scalable and flexible degree structure that allows students through a diverse selection of electives and graduate minors to design their own pathway following their interests and passions. During the two-year studio-based program, students complement their studies exploring courses and engaging in diverse academic initiatives offered within Parsons and across The New School.
LOCAL AND GLOBAL The program offers optional intensive summer and winter Global Urban Studio Intensives as well as international exchange programs and semester-abroad opportunities through a network of partner institutions across the world.
By Jacob Winkler
thesis projects
LOCAL
REGENERATIVE GROW ECONOMY IN EAST NE Ashley Leher
THE NEXT WORLD MA AID TOWARDS “LIBERA Daniella Castillo
ENDENGE(RING) IMMI STORYTELLILNG TO RE Sana Akram
DELIVERING THE LAST MILE: DELIVERISTAS’ WORKER CENTERS AND COMFORT STATIONS Roberta Werthein
NAVIGATING THE SEA USE ACTIVISM IN GOW Jordan Packer
INDUSTRIOUS INTERMEDIARIES: DISPLECMENT, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND INDUSTRAIL REHABILITATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Jason Azar
NATIONAL GROUNDING THE DATA-BASED CITY: A PROPOSAL FOR GRASSROOTS PRACTICES IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Emily Bowe RE-SITE-ING REPARATIONS: LOCATING HARM AND CAPACITING REPAIR IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS Jason Brown TOWARDS FOOD SOVERAIGNITY: CRITICAL AGROECOLOGY AND COOPERATIVE FARMING IN NORTH CAROLINA Emily Sloss FINDING A COMMON LANGUAGE IN OUR LOCAL FINANCIAL TOOLS: ECONOMIC RESILIENCY AS HOUSING INTERVENTIONS IN LOS ANGELES Lyric Kelkar
Global
WOMEN INTERMEDIARIES OCCUPYING SP NETWORKS OF KNOWLEDGE AND CARE IN Jacqueline Castañeda
RESISTING EXCLUSIONS, ORGANIZING AG RAPIDLY URBANIZED NEW DELHI Sruti Penumatsa
RESILIENCE PLAN FOR MARGINAL PROTEC FLOOD, EROSON, AND LANDSLIDE IN RIO Mariana Kiwi Barros
SHIFTING URBAN ECOLOGIES IN SAN ROQUE, QUITO Mateo Fernández-Muro, Tait Mandler, Gamar Markarian, Masoom Moitra, Maria Morales, Sinead Petrasek, and Alexandera Venner
BEYOND POLDEREN: EXPOSING THE VOID JUSTICE IN THE NETHERALANDS Claudia Rot
WTH: SOWING A COMMUNITY EMMEDED FOOD EW YORK
AKING: BUILDING WITHIN AND BEYOND MUTUAL ATED LIFE WAYS” IN NEW YORK CITY
Global Studios
IGRANT SPACE: EXPLORING COLLABORATIVE EDISCOVER LITTLE PAKISTAN IN BROOKLYN
DESIGNING INFRAESTRUCTURES OF INCLUSION IN RIO DE JANEIRO Studio 2021
OF GENERICA: TOWARDS ABOLITIONIST LAND WANOUS
APROPIATING PUBLIC SPACE: THE CASE OF HONG KONG’S FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS Studio 2018
PACE PRODUCTION: N MEXICO
GAINST DISPLACEMENT IN
CTION STRIPS: IN RISK OF DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
DS OF ENVIRONEMTANL
TO THE WATER: A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG’S FLOATING LIFE AND OTHER STORIES Studio 2016
CAREER PATHS NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCIES AND GLOBAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS URBAN AND ARCHITECTURE CONSULTING FIRMS AND CORPORATIONS SOCIAL IMPACT AND URBAN STRATEGY STARTUPS ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
APPLY! LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/ms-design-urban-ecology/ EXPLORE OUR COMMUNITY sds.parsons.edu/urban CONCTACT US urban@newschool.edu INFORMATION ABOUT APPLICATION PROCESS thinkparsonsgrad@newschool.edu