Master of Arts (M.A.) in Urban Affairs
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Urban Affairs is an interdisciplinary degree program focusing on how cities work and the challenges they face, such as economic growth or decline, globalization and immigration, and the impact of the housing market on neighborhood stability. The curriculum brings together viewpoints and analytical tools from multiple fields to provide different perspectives on the causes of urban problems and their possible solutions.
The Urban Affairs program at Loyola is a two-year professional degree focused on training students to assume leadership roles in government, nonprofit organizations, or business. Part-time students typically finish in three years. Students apply the skills developed in the program and gain work-related experience during internships or capstone policy clinics.
Required Coursework: The M.A. in Urban Affairs requires 37 hours of coursework—11 three-credit courses, plus a four-credit internship or capstone experience.
CORE COURSES: disciplinary perspectives (6 credits). Students take at least two of the following four courses:
- HIST 460. Urban America
- PLSC 410. Urban Politics or MPP 410 - Urban Politics and Policy
- SOCL 462. The Urban Metropolis
- MPP 407. Local Economic Development
ANALYTICAL TOOLS (9 credits). A one-semester course in statistical analysis is required (MPP 405). In consultation with their advisor, students select at least two additional courses that would provide a foundation for their specific career goals. Several common choices include
-
MPP 405. Statistics for Policy Analysis I (required)
-
MPP 403. Public Budgeting and Finance
-
UNIV 410. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
SOCL 412. Qualitative Methods in Social Research
-
SOWK 509. Political and Strategic Community Interventions
POLICY INTERNSHIP OR PRACTICUM (4 credits). All students complete an internship or participate in a group policy practicum project.
ELECTIVES (18 credits). Students are encouraged to select related courses in consultation with their advisor to develop expertise in a specific urban affairs area (e.g. community development or education policy.)
<< back to Public Policy and Urban Affairs