Post-Professional Master of Science, Advanced Urban Design

Urban framework proposal for Sunnyside Yards, Lydia Li and Yaya Gou from Spring 2024 M.S. AUD studio taught by Jae Shin and Damon Rich. image / provided

Zijian Xu, Jishnu Murali, and Chu Han Tarn (all M.S. AUD '24), City Theatre: Market Play. image / provided

Vicky Luo and Leah Carpenter (both M.S. AUD '24) presenting their PART 2 project The Reuse Library for Fall 2023 NYC Option Studio: Infrastructural Ritual Review led by Associate Professor Jesse LeCavalier at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center. image / Zijian Xu (M.S. AUD '24)

Urban Design Studio site visit to Montauk Cutoff, an abandoned railway infrastructure in Long Island City Industrial Business Zone. image / Melanie Chu (M.Arch. '24)

Associate Professor Jesse LeCavalier introduces Rosetta S. Elkin, who spoke about Landscapes of Retreat and climate adaptation at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center during the fall 2023 lecture series. image / Melanie Chu (M.Arch. '24)

Students work collaboratively on a conceptual model that demonstrates flood mitigation strategies and urban retrofitting in Long Island City Industrial Business Zone. image / provided

Core Studio: Infrastructural Rituals — Systems as a Framework for Urban Design (M.S. AUD student work with affiliated programs). image / provided

Urban framework proposal for Sunnyside Yards, Lydia Li and Yaya Gou from Spring 2024 M.S. AUD studio taught by Jae Shin and Damon Rich. image / provided Zijian Xu, Jishnu Murali, and Chu Han Tarn (all M.S. AUD '24), City Theatre: Market Play. image / provided Vicky Luo and Leah Carpenter (both M.S. AUD '24) presenting their PART 2 project The Reuse Library for Fall 2023 NYC Option Studio: Infrastructural Ritual Review led by Associate Professor Jesse LeCavalier at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center. image / Zijian Xu (M.S. AUD '24) Urban Design Studio site visit to Montauk Cutoff, an abandoned railway infrastructure in Long Island City Industrial Business Zone. image / Melanie Chu (M.Arch. '24) Associate Professor Jesse LeCavalier introduces Rosetta S. Elkin, who spoke about Landscapes of Retreat and climate adaptation at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center during the fall 2023 lecture series. image / Melanie Chu (M.Arch. '24) Students work collaboratively on a conceptual model that demonstrates flood mitigation strategies and urban retrofitting in Long Island City Industrial Business Zone. image / provided Core Studio: Infrastructural Rituals — Systems as a Framework for Urban Design (M.S. AUD student work with affiliated programs). image / provided

Applications for Fall 2025 entry to the M.S. AUD program are due January 3. For more details and to apply, visit the graduate admissions page.

Program Details

The New York City-based Master of Science, Advanced Urban Design program (M.S. AUD) prepares graduates to engage pressing urban, environmental and social issues with the tools of design. The program offers a specialized course of study at the intersection of urban systems, ecologies, technologies, and data in order to ask big questions, to address contemporary wicked problems, and to invigorate public realms. 

Participants in the program deepen their understanding of a range of conceptual topics while developing abilities to uncover, visualize, and translate data into designs of material, spatial, and experiential consequence. The program supports citizen-urbanists interested in making a difference through design in pursuit of new forms of engaged spatial practice. Graduates of the program will be agents of urban change, equipped with advanced skills and with expanded knowledge to apply those skills in meaningful ways.

The M.S. AUD program is directed by Jesse LeCavalier and supported by faculty active in New York City and at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center. Current and recent faculty include Vishaan Chakrabarti, author of A Country of Cities and founder of PAU;  Damon Rich, MacArthur Fellow and cofounder of Hector; Jae Shin, Rose Fellow and Hector cofounder; Shachi Pandey, founder of MUD Workshop. Students have rich elective offerings at Cornell AAP NYC. Recent instructors include Peter Eisenman, Cynthia Davidson, James Lowder, Gina Morrow, Jessica Ngan, and others.

This intensive design research program in urbanism is open to individuals holding a professional Bachelor of Architecture degree, a professional Master of Architecture degree, or a professional degree in adjacent design fields (e.g. M.L.A., M.U.D). Students with professional or terminal degrees in related design fields (e.g., M.F.A.) will also be considered.

Students with design and research interests related to urban design, urban sustainability, infrastructure systems, community engagement, visualization, and data are encouraged to apply to the M.S. AUD program.

The M.S. AUD is designated as a STEM program in Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology (CIP code 04.0902) making international graduates eligible to extend their F-1 visas for up to three years to work in the United States.

Curricula, Policies, and Rules

• M.S. AUD Curriculum and Requirements
• M.S. AUD Policies and Rules