Program Description

In this interdisciplinary M.Sc. in Urban Strategies (MUS) program, students will acquire fundamental knowledge about contemporary urban transformation and the necessary skills and tools for developing and implementing urban projects of various scales, scopes, and specificities. The program is open to students from any academic discipline and professional background who are interested in urban issues and potential solutions.

Throughout the one-year program, students will learn urban development theories and methods through case studies from Southeast Asia and beyond. In addition to required classes that focus on basic knowledge and skills, students will select their concentrations from four topics: Urban Development and Mobility, Urban Living and Livelihoods, Urban Regeneration, and Urban Security and Resilience. Students will also write their theses based on the selected concentration.

Our basic pedagogical philosophy is student-centric and interactive. Our program combines interactive lectures and studio-based classrooms where students are encouraged to share and demonstrate concepts and ideas. The learning processes are facilitated by our faculty members who have extensive experience in teaching, research, consultancy, and advocacy in Thailand and overseas. The studios use real cases in Bangkok and other cities in Thailand, so as to promote in-depth exploration of urban issues and solutions. Specific skills indispensable for developing urban projects are also emphasized, including data analytics, institutional analysis, strategic foresight, city branding and marketing, finance, and project management. For their theses, students are encouraged to work collaboratively in actual projects with partner organizations in Thailand or other countries of interest. Through such collaboration, students gain first-hand experience of applying the knowledge and skills learned in class to real-world cases.

Studying urban issues and strategies in Bangkok offers a unique learning and living experience. Bangkok, or for that matter other cities in Thailand, is a living laboratory for exploring contemporary urban issues and solutions. From transit-oriented development projects and flood management efforts to community-based housing development and formalization of informal activities, students will live and learn in a real and dynamic platform where they gain insights into how social, economic, and political institutions actually shape urban transformation. As a regional hub for international development agencies, the city also offers uniquely international exposure while learning local specificities that could provide global lessons.

More information at: http://www.cuurp.org/courses-apply/msc-urban-strategies/