Urban Sustainability, with Integrated GIS Certificate, MA

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MA in Urban Sustainability; Applied Spatial Analysis GIS Certificate
Location: AU Los Angeles
Credits for Degree: 54 quarter credits
Standard Mode of Instruction: Low-residency
Standard time to completion: 25 months

Program Overview

The 36 unit USMA degree with an integrated Certificate in Applied Spatial Analysis for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) affords students the opportunity to earn both the MA degree and GIS certificate within 4 semesters. The GIS certificate is earned while satisfying several of the USMA program requirements.

Students completing both the MA degree and GIS certificate participate in the same program activities, with slightly different course sequencing.

Admission Requirements

The admissions requirements for the USMA/GIS Certificate program are the same as those for the stand-alone USMA program. An applicant may indicate on the application an intention to complete the integrated programs. Students who apply only to the USMA program may, with the advice of their USMA Mentor, elect to add the GIS option in Semester 2.

Students who need additional time to complete their capstone projects beyond their fourth semester have the option to enroll in Thesis Completion Status during a fifth semester for a nominal fee.

Current Tuition and Fees

University Tuition and Fees

Program Description

The Urban Sustainability Master of Arts (USMA) degree with an integrated certificate in Applied Spatial Analysis for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) affords students the opportunity to earn both the MA degree and GIS certificate within 4 semesters. The Integrated USMA + Certificate requirements are as follows:

Science for Urban Sustainability
Eco Systems Thinking
Urban Infrastructure
Research & Writing for Practitioners
Research/Capstone Proposal
Sustainable Urban Economies
Participatory Planning
Fieldwork Planning
Fieldwork
ES-5100: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ES-6100: Geographic Info Systems (GIS) Advanced
Applied GIS Capstone

Total: 36 Units

USMA + GIS Certificate Requirements by Semester

Semester 1 (8 units)

URS-5100: Fieldwork Planning

Semester 2 (10 units)

Semester 3 (12 units)

Semester 4 (6 units)

URS-6000: Capstone

Note:

(Note: GIS applications course is satisfied through Capstone)

USMA/GIS Certificate students attend a total of 7 residencies, as follows: each of the six-day residencies, at the beginning of their first and second semesters and each of the four-day residencies during week 14 of their first and second semesters; the six day residencies at the beginning of both their third and fourth semesters; and then presenting their capstone projects in a public forum at the first residency following their final semester of enrollment in the USMA/GIS Certificate program.