Post-Professional Master of Science, Advanced Urban Design

MS AUD student work
Zijian Xu, Jishnu Murali, and Chu Han Tarn (all M.S. AUD '24), City Theatre: Market Play. image / provided
Students viewing pinned work in studio
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)
View of New York City
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)
Faculty presenting lecture
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)
Aerial view of student painting work
Students work collaboratively on a conceptual model that demonstrates flood mitigation strategies and urban retrofitting in Long Island City Industrial Business Zone. image / provided
A series of posters on a wall.
Core Studio: Infrastructural Rituals — Systems as a Framework for Urban Design (M.S. AUD student work with affiliated programs). 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 2024 entry to the M.S. AUD program are due January 3. More information on requirements and a link to the application can be found in the admissions section of our website

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 Behnaz Assadi, Ifeoma Ebo, Nahyun Hwang, Florian Idenburg, Alicia Imperiale, Elisa Iturbe, Nima Javidi, Shawn Rickenbacker, Peter Robinson, and many 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.

Banner image by Ohjin Jo and Thakan Navapakpilai (both M.S. AAD '22), created as part of the spring 2022 option studio Prototypologies.

Curricula, Policies, and Rules

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