Welcome to the Department of Urban Planning & Community Development
The Department of Urban Planning and Community Development at UMass Boston prepares the next generation of urban planners and community development professionals to build healthy, vibrant, and just communities. The department conducts research to uncover the root causes of inequitable and unsustainable development shaping our region, advancing solutions for a more just and resilient future through inclusive and participatory planning.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
The BA in Community Development prepares undergrads for roles in community organizations focused on affordable housing, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, and environmental justice.
Graduate Programs
The newly accredited MS in Urban Planning and Community Development prepares students for impactful roles in nonprofits, government, and consulting. Explore policy areas like natural resources, coastal planning, housing, and climate resilience.
About Us
Discover what makes Urban Planning & Community Development at UMass Boston unique.
Located in one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing cities, we are at the heart of a region where urban planning and community development are priorities for public, private, and nonprofit leaders. As part of a regional network of scholars and practitioners, we collaborate to solve the city's most pressing environmental, economic, and social challenges.
With 100% of our graduates securing planning-related positions within 90 days of graduation, we prepare professionals ready to make an impact. Committed to addressing growing income, wealth, and power inequalities, our department embraces equity planning and expanding opportunities for those with the fewest resources and choices to help build what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned as “The Beloved Community”.
Sicily Program
Urban Planning & Community Development students are driving sustainability efforts in Sicily through a unique summer service-learning program. Led by Dr. Antonio Raciti, they helped implement Eastern Sicily’s first legally binding sustainability plan, balancing urban development with farmland preservation.
Summer High School Program
UMass Boston’s innovative summer program empowers Boston’s youth of color to explore careers in urban planning, design, and development. Participants can jump-start their education with two tuition-free courses, shaping a more diverse and inclusive future.
Resources
Real-World Connections: Building Lasting Careers
Our Alumni
Launched in 2015, the Masters Program in Urban Planning and Community Development has already graduated over 80 individuals. These graduates are making an impact at organizations such as the Boston Planning and Development Agency, MBTA Planning Department, MassDOT Rail Division, STANTEC, Greystone Management Solutions, Codman Square Development Corporation, and the City of Providence Real Estate Department.
Special Programs
Our department offers high school students the chance to explore public service careers in urban planning through its Summer Program in Urban Planning. Additionally, students can collaborate with environmental planners in the Simeto Valley of Sicily through our Community Planning for Ecological Design Summer Program. We are also home to The Davidoff Tapes Project, a growing website dedicated to celebrating the life and work of two of America's most significant progressive planners, Paul and Linda Davidoff.
Department of Urban Planning & Community Development
Elizabeth (Betsy) L. Sweet
Associate Dean
School for the Environment
email: Betsy.Sweet@umb.edu
Luis E. Santiago, Ph.D. (he/him)
Professor and Chair
Department of Urban Planning & Community Development
email: luis.santiago@umb.edu