MA Program
The Urban Studies Department at Queens College Offers a Master of Arts degree in Urban Affairs, which provides an interdiscipinlary approach to the study of cities, especially New York City. We prepare students for professional work in urban administration, organization and policy in the public and nonprofit sectors.
- The master’s program provides opportunities for students to learn about current issues in urban affairs.
- Courses are taught by practitioners, including government officials and directors of community-based organizations.
- We offer some online courses which allow students to learn in a flexible environment
- Students have internship opportunities which enable them to gain practical knowledge of policy, organizing, advocacy, and management.
- The Urban Studies Lecture Series gives students the opportunity to meet scholars and professionals doing urban research, community organizing, and policy work.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MASTER DEGREE IN URBAN AFFAIRS?
Our students are well prepared for advancement in government agencies or non profit and
community organizations. Career options include:
- Administration
- Community Organizing
- Advocacy
- Policy Analysis
- Agency Operations
- Research
- Service Delivery
WHO ARE OUR STUDENTS?
The students in our MA program come from a range of occupations. Some are government employees looking to advance their careers, others are returning to school after many years, and still others want to embark on a new career path. But they all recognize the importance of earning a master’s degree.
- VICTOR CALISE
- MARY RAY
VICTOR CALISE earned his M.A. in Urban Affairs from Queens College. On May 29, 2012 he was appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities by Mayor Bloomberg. Prior to joining the Parks Department, Commissioner Calise held several positions at the United Spinal Association, a non-profit organization focused on disability rights that aims to improve the quality of life for Americans living with spinal cord injuries. As the Director of Sports Marketing, Commissioner Calise coordinated nationwide adaptive sports programs for United Spinal members and organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society. An avid athlete, Commissioner Calise was a member of the USA Paralympic Sled Hockey team and represented the USA in the 1998 Winter Paralympic Games in Nagano, Japan. He volunteers for the Wheelchair Sports Federation and is frequently a guest speaker on the topics of spinal cord injuries, physical therapy and adaptive sports. Photo Credit: Spencer T. Tucker
MALIK CALLENDER, is expected to earn his MA in Urban Affairs in December of 2012. He is a Systems Engineer for a major telecommunications company, but expects to enter law school in the fall of 2013. He says that “the program’s curriculum offerings have been a very challenging and nurturing experience for me. It has contributed tremendously to my passion for writing and research.” He notes that the MA program provides students with a combination of skills and general knowledge that are relevant to a variety of public sector/public administration professions is effective.
MARY RAY is a recent graduate of the MA in Urban Affairs. She is currently looking to work in the public sector. She says “My goal is to be a city planner; I would love to be able to assist communities without creating the displacement.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This 30-credit Master’s Degree includes a 12-credit core sequence:
- URBST 620. Urban Research Writing
- URBST 724. Introduction to Public Policy
- URBST 725. Urban Research Methods
and either
- URBST 727. Public Management or
- URBST 745. Community Organization
Plus 18 credits in other Urban Studies or related courses to round out the degree. Students not employed in an urban-related field are encouraged to take 3-6 credits of fieldwork. Where appropriate and with the approval of the graduate advisor, up to 12 credits may be taken in other departments.
Electives: For your electives, you are free to choose from among any of the department’s courses. See our MA courses page for a full listing.
SUBMITTING RESEARCH PAPERS FOR COURSES
Many courses in the Urban Affairs program will require you to write research papers. No matter what the length of the paper, it should be documented with full and proper citation for all sources that you use, including scholarly articles, web sources, interviews, and newspaper articles. See the QC Library website which provides guidance to manuals on citation styles.
Contact the Writing Center if you need help in writing proper research papers. The Writing Center is located in Kiely 229 and can be reached at 718-997-5676.
CONTACT
Prof. Dana-Ain Davis
Associate Chair for Graduate Studies
Urban Studies Department
Powdermaker Hall, Room 250
Telephone: 718-997-5136
Email: dana.davis@qc.cuny.edu
Prof. William Muraskin
Graduate Advisor
Urban Studies Department
Powdermaker Hall, Room 250
Telephone: 718-997-5149
Email: muraskin@yahoo.com
