Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning

Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Name	Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Established	1973
Parent	Tufts University
City	Medford, Massachusetts
Country	United States

Contents

History
Academic programs
Research and centers
Faculty and notable people
Campus and location
See also

Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. The Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEP) is a graduate department within the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. Founded with a strong commitment to social justice, the department integrates the study of urban planning, environmental policy, and community development to address complex societal challenges. Its programs are known for an applied, interdisciplinary approach that prepares graduates for leadership roles in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

History

The department was established in 1973, emerging from a period of significant social change and growing awareness of environmental degradation and urban renewal controversies. Its founding philosophy was heavily influenced by the work of early faculty and the ethos of The New School's progressive urban programs. A key figure in its development was Robert A. Woods, whose legacy in settlement house work informed the department's focus on community-based action. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the curriculum expanded to formally incorporate environmental justice, influenced by national movements and the seminal work of scholars like Robert D. Bullard. The department has consistently evolved, responding to global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development, while maintaining its core mission of linking analysis with practice for equitable outcomes.

Academic programs

UEP offers a Master of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, as well as several dual-degree programs with other schools at Tufts University, including the Fletcher School and the Tufts University School of Medicine. The core curriculum emphasizes skills in policy analysis, qualitative research, and participatory planning. Students can concentrate in areas such as Community Development and Housing, Environmental Policy and Planning, and Food Systems and Resilience. The department also offers a graduate certificate in Water: Systems, Science, and Society in collaboration with the Tufts University School of Engineering. A distinctive feature is the required practical application, fulfilled through a client-based project or thesis, often conducted with partners like the City of Boston or the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Research and centers

Faculty and student research is organized around thematic clusters and several affiliated centers. The Center for State Policy Analysis provides nonpartisan research for policymakers in the Massachusetts State Legislature. The Water Diplomacy Network, led by faculty such as Shafiqul Islam, applies science to transboundary water conflict resolution. Other key research initiatives focus on climate adaptation in coastal cities, transit-oriented development, and the economics of local food systems. The department frequently collaborates with institutions like the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Brookings Institution on national policy studies. This applied research directly informs both the curriculum and public policy debates at the local, state, and international levels.

Faculty and notable people

The faculty comprises scholars and practitioners with diverse expertise. Notable current and former faculty include Julian Agyeman, a co-founder of the concept of just sustainabilities; Rachel Bratt, a leading scholar on affordable housing; and Kent E. Portney, known for his work on sustainable cities. The department has also been led by influential chairs such as Sheldon Krimsky. Distinguished alumni hold significant positions worldwide, including Michele J. Gorman at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Toni Griffin leading urban design initiatives in Detroit, and Meejin Yoon as Dean of the Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Many graduates lead nonprofit organizations like the Trust for Public Land and public agencies such as the San Francisco Planning Department.

Campus and location

The department is housed in 97 Talbot Avenue on the university's Medford/Somerville campus, part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. This location provides students with direct access to a rich laboratory of urban and environmental policy issues, from the Charles River restoration to debates over the Big Dig and the Green Line Extension. The campus is situated near major hubs of policy innovation, including Kendall Square in Cambridge and the Boston City Hall, facilitating partnerships and internships. The building itself contains specialized spaces like the Environmental Reading Room and collaborative workspaces for student projects.