CHICAGO — DePaul University this fall will launch a master’s program in sustainable urban development, believed to be the first program of its kind in the nation.

The program is designed for students seeking skills needed to help urban areas adapt the economic, environmental and societal policies that contribute to sustainable urban development.

“Governments and the companies and organizations that support them are rapidly implementing programs and policies that will promote growth while addressing critical ecological and social problems,” said program co-director Joe Schwieterman, professor of public service and director of DePaul’s Chaddick Institute for Urban Development. “This program is designed to address those specific needs.”

The multi-disciplinary content of the program will be drawn from a wide array of areas, including urban planning, public policy, sociology, geography, public service management, environmental studies and real estate. Students also will receive training in geographic information systems digital mapping and spatial analysis, brownfield remediation and development, community analysis, environmental policy and urban design.

Course materials are primarily focused on Chicago and other urban centers in the United States. The program will also offer students the opportunity to study in Curitiba, Brazil, often cited as the world’s premiere sustainable urban community.

Professor Euan Hague, chair of DePaul’s geography department and co-director of the program, said, “Sustainable development is often seen as simply about being ‘green,’ but the concept goes beyond the environmental and addresses how to make communities more sustainable on economic and social levels.”  

The program is accepting student applications until Aug. 25, and more information can be found at las.depaul.edu/sud.

About DePaul University

With approximately 25,000 students, DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, nonprofit university in the Midwest. The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on three Chicago and two suburban campuses. Founded in 1898, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.

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SOURCES:

Professor Euan Hague

ehague@depaul.edu

773-325-7669

Professor Joe Schwieterman

jschwiet@depaul.edu

312-362-5732

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Holden

Jholden2@depaul.edu

312-362-7165