The Master of Arts (MA) 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 professional degree focused on training students to assume technical or leadership roles in government, nonprofit organizations, or business. Students develop skills in coursework and gain work-related experience through internships or capstone policy clinics.

Curriculum

The MA in Urban Affairs requires 31 hours of coursework—10 three-credit courses, plus a one-credit Professional Development course where students attend a series of meetings covering critical professional skills such as resume and cover letter writing, informational interviews, self-assessments, and networking. Students also complete a required 3 credit hour internship or capstone policy clinic.  Students can complete the program in 18-24 months.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses: Disciplinary Perspectives on Urban Areas
Political Environment
MPP 412	Urban Politics and Policy	3
or MPP 413	Intergovernmental Relations
Sociology of Cities
Select one of the following:		3
SOCL 461	Race & Ethnicity
SOCL 462	The Urban Metropolis
SOWK 502	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice
Analytical Tools
MPP 403	Public Budget and Finance	3
MPP 405	Statistical Methods & Analysis for Public Policy I	3
Select one of the following: 1		3
MPP 400	Policy Design and Analysis
MPP 401	Analytical Tools in Public Policy
MPP 406	Statistical Methods & Analysis Public Policy II
MPP 500	Public Policy Evaluation
ENVS 480	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Professional Development and Internship
MPP 501	Public Policy Internship	3
or MPP 503	Public Policy Practicum
MPP 502	Professional Development Skills	1
Electives
Complete 12		12
Total Hours		31

¹

In consultation with their advisor, students select at least one additional course that provides a foundation for their specific career goals.

Electives

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). Below is a list of common Elective courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Criminal Justice
CJC 401	Politics and Policies in the Criminal Justice System	3
CJC 402	Theories of Criminal Behavior	3
Economic and Community Development
MPP 407	Local Economic Development	3
MPP 414	Affordable Housing Finance and Policy	3
Education
ELPS 410	Sociology of Education	3
ELPS 412	Urban Education Policy	3
Environment
ENVS 410	Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy	3
ENVS 411	Natural Resources and Land Use Law & Policy	3
Immigration
SOWK 730	Immigration Dynamics and U.S. Social Policy	3
SOWK 732	Migration, Social Justice, and Human Rights	3
Public Health
MPBH 400	Determinants of Population Health	3
MPBH 407	Public Health Policy: Concepts and Practice	3

Suggested Sequence of Courses 

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
MPP 405	Statistical Methods & Analysis for Public Policy I	3
MPP 412	Urban Politics and Policy	3
MPP 502	Professional Development Skills	1
Select one from list of Electives		3
	Hours	10
Spring
MPP 403	Public Budget and Finance	3
MPP 413	Intergovernmental Relations	3
Select one from the list of Electives		3
	Hours	9
Year 2
Fall
MPP 501	Public Policy Internship	3
SOWK 502	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice	3
Select two from list of Electives		6
	Hours	12
	Total Hours	31

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, graduates will be able to: 

• Draw on a variety of disciplinary perspectives, such as politics, economics, sociology, and history, to understand the complexity of urban issues.
• Identify sources of urban power and their impact on city conditions, on potential systematic biases, and how likely these biases could be overcome.
• Analyze a city budget and evaluate it from different stakeholder positions.
• Analyze urban issues using multiple technical approaches:  statistical techniques; fiscal analysis; needs assessments, community impact studies, and program evaluations.
• Experience working in the public policy arena in a government agency, non-profit, research, or private sector organization.