Welcome from the Department Chair

Welcome to the Urban Policy and Planning website.

Our department was founded by the urban planner and activist Paul Davidoff in 1965, the same year that President Lyndon Johnson declared cities a national priority and created the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Johnson chose Dr. Robert Weaver as HUD’s first secretary, making Weaver the first African American to ever serve in a federal cabinet position. After leaving his post in Washington, Weaver, an economist by training, joined our department as a Distinguished Professor, where he taught for eight years. Proud of its distinct heritage, our department remains committed to the ideal of social justice that was so clearly enunciated by these two historical figures.

Whether they take courses in our interdisciplinary undergraduate urban studies program or pursue degrees in one of our two graduate programs, our students are committed to making cities better places to live for all people, especially those marginalized by poverty or discrimination. Our graduate program in urban planning remains one of the best in the nation, and our recently revamped graduate program in urban policy and leadership is well-designed to equip professionals from a variety of disciplines to act as agents of change in cities here and abroad.

Take some time to get better acquainted with our faculty, programs, and activities. Our fourteen full-time faculty are actively engaged in teaching and cutting-edge research; our highly-qualified part-time practitioner-instructors are drawn from government and industry. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you want to learn more.

Professor John Chin
Department Chair

Recent News & Activity

11.10.2023: New York, by Jill S. Gross and H. V. Savitch Book Review [more]
09.02.2023: Professor Mehdi Heris talks Urban Green Infrastructure on Utah Public Radio: [more]
07.07.2023: The Urban Review is thrilled to announce the release of its latest issue, Spring 2023: City Hopeful [more]
06.29.2023: Prof. Gutfreund is quoted in City and State Article [more]
06.22.2023: Prof. Jill Gross and Hank Savitch’s new book, “New York (Megacities)”, is published. [more]
05.09.2023: Message from the Chair [more]
05.03.2023: Op-Ed written by MUP Student Brianna Soleyn is Published in City Limits [more]
04.25.2023: Associate Professor Owen Gutfreund was quoted in a City and State article about creating more pedestrian-only streets in NYC, April 10, 2023 [more]
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Upcoming Events

December 11, 2023 UPP Holiday Party and Student Honors Ceremony
Hunter College (Faculty Dining Room) 8th floor Hunter West

Learn More

Hunter College Urban Policy and Planning is an internationally recognized community of faculty and scholars. >>Learn more

Prospective Students

Interested in applying to one of our degree programs? Learn why Hunter should factor into your decision and what’s required when submitting your application.