Master of Science in Architecture, Urban Design

The Master of Science in Architecture, Urban Design (MS.AUD) at New York Institute of Technology is at the forefront of urban design research focused on issues of urbanization through the exploration of social, environmental and technological domains. Through a rigorous curriculum and collaborative outreach initiatives, students engage deeply in design-research and applied knowledge, which serve as dual pathways of inquiry. These parallel approaches empower students to explore theoretical frameworks while developing responses to real-world urban challenges. With its emphasis on urban innovation and interdisciplinary integration, the MS.AUD program equips students to become thought leaders and change-makers in shaping urban futures.

Located in the heart of New York City, the program draws from world-class faculty and active professionals, offering unparalleled access to public and private organizations. Students blend theory with practical experience through field studies around New York City and globally through the study abroad program integrated into the design studio sequence.

The MS.AUD program focuses on key areas:

• URBAN TECHNOLOGY + DIGITAL PRACTICES: Geospatial data science, parametric and generative design, ai/ml for urbanism, urban informatics, data analytics, iot for responsive urban spaces.
• SUSTAINABILITY + CLIMATE RESILIENCY + LANDSCAPE/ECOLOGY: Landscape urbanism, climate-responsive design, infrastructures, ecology, environmental modeling and analysis.
• HUMAN-CENTERED URBANISM + SOCIO-CULTURAL DYNAMICS + COMMUNITIES: Social justice, equity, inclusion, public space, participatory urbanism, public health and well-being in urban environments, urban prototyping, urban public interest design and placemaking.

The MS.AUD program offers a set of horizontally integrated courses with a focus on advanced design studios that are at the core of urban design research and applied knowledge. Three types of seminars support and expand the critical work developed through the curriculum: applied methods, history/theory courses, and elective seminars.

The innovative and critical perspective is offered through design opportunities where students are asked to respond to critical urban issues through the integration of interstellar forms of urbanization: urban, metropolitan, regional, and global. A key aim of the program is to engage students with a diverse range of communities, organizations, institutions, and stakeholders at both local and global scale.

This engagement equips students with the tools and insights to address complex urban challenges within diverse settings. The program also emphasizes the importance of developing a global perspective on urbanism, achieved through international travel and collaborative project work. These experiences immerse students in diverse cultural and professional settings, preparing them to contribute to transformative urban design solutions on a worldwide scale.

Students in the program will learn:

1. Advanced Urban Design Competencies: Students develop a deep understanding of urban systems, urban/spatial intelligence(s), critical thinking, and emergent technologies, enabling them to conceptualize and implement design strategies that shape contemporary cities both at the local and global scale.
2. Impact-Driven Design Solutions: Through research and applied knowledge, graduates learn to synthesize social, environmental, and technological insights into innovative urban interventions that enhance livability, sustainability, and resilience.
3. Global and Local Leadership in Urbanism: Graduates gain a global perspective on urbanization, enriched by international collaborations and real-world engagements with diverse communities, institutions, and stakeholders. This positions them as leaders in global urban discourse while also equipping them to drive change in local and regional contexts.
4. Interdisciplinary and Technological Integration: With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, students engage with architects, urbanists, planners, technologists, and policymakers, and other professionals, fostered by experts' engagement through lectures and workshops. Their exposure to cutting-edge digital tools ensures they remain at the forefront of technological advancements in urban design.
5. Pathways to Professional and Academic Excellence: Alumni pursue careers in urban design firms, governmental agencies, research institutions, non-profit organizations, often leading transformative urban projects. Many also continue into doctoral research or teaching positions, shaping the next generation of urban design thought leaders.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

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The master's in Urban Design is one year, full-time program offered at the New York City campus. It begins in fall or spring, for a total of two consecutive semesters (30 credits).

Applicants should submit all materials as early as possible in order to ensure enough time for review and to obtain an I-20 (international students). Ideally, applicants (particularly international applicants) should submit all materials including portfolio and references by the deadlines below.

• January 15 (priority admission deadline for fall intake)
• November 15 (priority admission deadline for spring intake)

Applications will continue to be accepted after the deadline as long as there is space available.

The application to the graduate program in urban design is primarily an online process. While completing the application form, students will be asked to supply information regarding themselves, their education, and their references. They will need to upload their transcripts, portfolio, personal essay, curriculum vitae (résumé), and pay an application fee.

Admission Requirements

• Professional architecture, landscape architecture, or planning degree from an accredited college or university approved by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB), or the equivalent if applying with a foreign degree from another country.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• No standardized tests (including GRE) are required, except TOEFL/IELTS/PTE for international students

If you do not meet the above criteria, you may, at the discretion of the director, be admitted under a probationary period with an opportunity to demonstrate qualifications by achieving a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in your first three graduate degree courses. If your graduate academic record includes any failures in coursework, you may be dismissed from the program following a review by a faculty committee, including the director and two faculty members of the School of Architecture and Design appointed by the dean.

If you have any questions about admissions or eligibility, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at nyitgrad@nyit.edu or 516.686.7520. If you have questions about the program that will help you in your decision to attend, please email the graduate program director, Marcella Del Signore, associate professor in the School of Architecture and Design, at mdelsign@nyit.edu or 212.261.1547.

Application Materials

All applicants must provide the following information prior to submitting the required supplemental materials (curriculum vitae, personal essay, and digital portfolio).

• Completed online application
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Two letters of recommendation from references who have direct knowledge of your professional potential and academic ability. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at nyitgrad@nyit.edu.
• Optional Interview: Applicants are encouraged to meet with the director of the M.S. Architecture, Urban Design program, Associate Professor Marcella Del Signore. Contact the director at mdelsign@nyit.edu to schedule an appointment.
• Copies of undergraduate transcripts for all schools attended. All final, official transcripts must be received prior to the start of your first semester.
• Copy of college diploma or proof of degree
• International student requirements: English proficiency, I-20, and transcript evaluation

Document Submission Form

Supplemental Application Materials

1. Curriculum Vitae: a minimum one-page resume with your portrait photo, name and last name, contact information, degrees, accomplishments, and depending on background also professional work, research, projects, publications, exhibitions, associations, skills, etc.
2. Personal Essay/Statement of Interest (500–1000 words): A written narrative providing evidence of personal interests in research, projects, or activities for social purpose, community engagement, and creating resiliency, individual health, aspects of healthcare, wellness and healthy lifestyle, medtech, biotech, behavioral data or biomaterials is considered a plus.
3. Digital Portfolio of Creative Work:
   • The portfolio should consist of your own work (format PDF/MP4; size limit 35 MB).
   • The creative portfolio may include selected studio work, examples of creative coursework, assignment-based projects, self-directed work or pieces of a collaborative nature, publications, and could contain multimedia work, drawings, models, video, animation, etc.
   • Areas of interest may include design but not limited to: architectural design, urban design, environmental design, design technologies, architectural engineering, architectural interior, industrial design, computational design, product or furniture design, material design, etc.
   • Please identify each piece of work with a date, title, medium, or methodology and a brief explanation of the work and its context, and organize these into a single, multipage PDF. For any team or collaborative projects, please identify all participants and highlight your own contributions.
   • Name your PDF files in the following format:
     APPLY_MSHD_Portfolio_LastName_FirstName.pdf
   • Maximum file size is 35 MB. Please be aware of this limitation when formatting files and resolution for your work. Files larger than 35 megabytes may be rejected by the New York Tech server. Links to applicant's materials available through the web, YouTube, Dropbox, or other sites can serve as support to the application.

Submit Supplemental Materials