University of San Francisco - College of Arts & Sciences
MA in Urban and Public Affairs
San Francisco, USA
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 26,560 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for living on campus and living in off-campus housing
Key Summary
The 33-unit program includes community-based research, policy design, policy analysis, advocacy, and implementation in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Course offerings include Urban Racial Politics; Community-Engaged Research; Economics of Social Justice; Housing, Community and Policy; and Resource Equity, among other classes.
Our two-year, 33-unit Master’s in Urban and Public Affairs offers a range of graduate seminars on urban studies, politics, and public policy.
A 200-hour internship is required, as well as a Capstone Project that synthesizes your research and internship experience on a policy area of your choice.
Join the Bay Area's dynamic culture of grassroots organizing and advocacy. Develop community-driven public policy for more equitable cities and regions. In rigorous seminars and hands-on experiences, prepare for leadership roles in community organizing, public service, and political advocacy.
Required Courses (17 units)
- UPA 630 - Urban Power Seminar
- UPA 633 - UPA Colloquium I
- UPA 634 - UPA Colloquium II (Note: Must be taken 3 times)
- UPA 650 - Community-Engaged Research Methods
- UPA 651 - Rhetoric for the Common Good
- UPA 652 - Masters Capstone Project
Elective Courses (16 units)
Choose from the following:
- UPA 660 - The Politics of Public Policy
- UPA 661 - Urban & Regional Planning
- UPA 663 - Globalization, Justice & The City
- UPA 664 - Cities, Law, Inequality
- UPA 665 - Urban Racial Politics
- UPA 666 - Applied Democratic Theory
- UPA 667 - Housing, Community and Policy
- UPA 668 - Economics of Social Justice
- UPA 669 - Urban Field Class
- UPA 671 - Education Reform
- UPA 672 - The Immigrant City
- UPA 673 - Urban Food Policy
- UPA 674 - Non-Profits and Public Policy
- UPA 681 - Labor and Community Organizing
- UPA 682 - Campaigns & Political Mobilization
- UPA 683 - Grassroots Movement-Building
- UPA 690 - Special Topics
- UPA 698 - Directed Reading
Additional Requirements
Internship (200 hrs)
This intensive internship is required for completion of the degree. Students are expected to complete 200 hours working with an urban or public affairs organization, including political campaigns, advocacy organizations, governmental agencies, community or neighborhood associations, or other similar entities. Internship placement is facilitated by faculty and staff, and directed by an on-site supervisor. Internships can begin early in the first year of the program, but many internships take place in the summer after the first year of coursework. The internship hours must be completed before beginning the capstone project, typically at the beginning of the second year of coursework.
Colloquium
Our weekly colloquium series includes visiting lecturers and presentations by faculty, along with career-development training and support. Students register for the colloquium every semester.
Students will:
- Demonstrate a theoretical, practical, and ethical understanding of community change, through practices including public policy advocacy, campaigns, and/or political/community organizing
- Critically analyze problems in urban and regional policy and politics using a variety of research methods
- Demonstrate the capacity for effective oral and written communication
- Evaluate and develop urban and regional policy, while learning to situate models of social change within historical and regional contexts.
- Contribute to informed public discourse around contemporary political and urban policy issues through addressing issues in public policy, advocacy, community organizing, politics, and public service.
The MSCS program offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to incoming and current graduate students, both domestic and international, on a competitive basis.
MSCS Admission Scholarship
Awarded to incoming MSCS applicants with outstanding applications from all backgrounds. Approximate awards range up to $5k over the first year of study.
MSCS Merit Scholarship
Awarded to incoming MSCS applicants with outstanding applications from all backgrounds, or current MSCS graduate students who demonstrate outstanding skills and leadership. Approximate awards range from $5–10k over one to two semesters.
The Dean's Scholarship
An award of up to $15,000 to use toward tuition, research, and conference travel. Connect with other Dean's Scholarship recipients and leaders across the College of Arts & Sciences. Serve as a program representative to USF donor initiatives to help transform the lives of other USF students. For more information please see the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Scholarships website.
Double Dons Scholarship
USF Alumni and current students can be awarded the USF Double Dons Scholarship upon admission. The scholarship covers 20% of the program tuition, and may not be stacked with other USF scholarship awards. Exceptions may apply.
Graduates pursue careers that make a difference in nonprofits, government offices, political entities, and the private sector. Career paths include governmental relations and advocacy; nonprofit advocacy and administration; grassroots and community organizing; campaign strategy and management; lobbying; and policy writing.
Employers
A select list:
- California Association of Nonprofits
- California State Assembly Member Marc Levine
- CalTrans
- Department of Public Health
- Latino Community Foundation
- Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
- Ohio Democratic Party
- San Francisco District 7 Supervisor Campaign
- San Jose Mayor’s Office
- United Healthcare Workers West
- Urban Strategies Council
- World Wildlife Fund