master of science in urban studies (MSUS)

Since 1971, the Master of Science in Urban Studies (MSUS) program has enabled students to engage in the interdisciplinary study of cities and the urbanization process in general. The MSUS program is not intended to be an applied professional degree such as the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program, but it is one that allows students to pursue a wide variety of research and professional interests.  While some MSUS graduates may find themselves entering applied fields in urban planning or public and urban administration, the majority of students pursue research interests that lead to more specialized and sophisticated research, and may also lead to doctoral study.

Another focus of this program has been to offer urban coursework to students pursuing or already possessing professional applied degrees in other fields such as law, education, business, or public health. Consequently, the MSUS program also emphasizes an interdisciplinary course of study built around a core knowledge of urban literature and research methods.  Following successful completion of the core courses, students develop their own curricula centering on a particular area or research interest that they will fully expand upon in their theses.

The flexibility of the MSUS program has allowed students to pursue career fields that are emerging and may not be covered in more structured and traditional masters programs. For example, there is a strong subfield of study in anthropology offered in conjunction with the UNO Department of Anthropology.  Working with anthropologists enables students to bring qualitative research methods and the insights of cultural theory to the study of the central questions in contemporary urban life. Students who choose to pursue the applied urban anthropology track will work directly with faculty whose on-going research projects are at the leading edge of urban research methodology.  Students in the applied urban anthropology track will receive training in qualitative research methodologies and will gain valuable fieldwork experiences. These may include cultural preservation management projects, historic archaeology, policy evaluation, folklore research projects and internships in local government and non-profit organizations. Students will draw on the university’s technological resources (including film, museums and, of course, computers) to present their own research. Urban anthropology track students are encouraged to attend and participate in professional conferences where they can learn directly about how to communicate their results as well as network with their future colleagues. 

For more information about the MSUS program, please contact Dr. Michelle Thompson (mmthomp1@uno.edu), the MSUS Program Coordinator.

MSUS CURRICULUM OUTLINE AND STUDENT ADVISING GUIDELINES

MSUS CHECKLIST (FORM-FILLABLE) WORD FILE

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