CSSH Graduate General Regulations
With 75 percent of the world’s population projected to be living in cities by 2050, the need for professionals in urban planning and related careers will only increase. The Graduate Certificate in Urban Analytics has two purposes: to attract and serve master’s degree students who can augment their degrees with a certified specialty, and to reach additional prospective students who may consider a shorter course of study before possibly continuing into a graduate degree program. It also seeks to prepare students outside of the Master of Science in Urban Informatics program to manage the progressively complex issues involved with rapidly expanding data and technological resources in cities. As Claire Lane of the City of Boston recently noted, “The blueprints for great cities are increasingly anchored in big data, expressed in GIS [Geographic Information Systems] and codified in coherent policy.” Successful graduates with an urban analytics certificate have skills in each of these areas, which prepares them to be professionals ready to shape the future of cities across the globe.
Students are trained with the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to understand the intricacies of interconnected urban systems and to analyze how these systems work together to create sustainable, resilient, and just cities. The curriculum emphasizes the expertise needed to bridge emerging technological capacities and traditional policymaking processes. Students cultivate applied skills in visual presentation, analysis, and modeling of new data sets—all of which helps to inform investment and policymaking. Inspired by Northeastern’s leadership in experiential education, students use Boston and cities around the world as learning labs.
Academic Standing/Progress
Students in the program are monitored for academic progress. Those students whose grade-point average (GPA) falls below a 3.000 are notified by and meet with the director of academic programs. They are counseled that if their GPA does not rise to a 3.000 or higher, they run the risk of not graduating and are advised on strategies for improvement.
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
Core Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PPUA 5263 | Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Regional Policy | 4 |
| |
Elective
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 8 |
| Crime Mapping | |
| Geoprocessing and Data Integration in ArcGIS Pro | |
| Spatial Statistics and Automation in ArcGIS Pro | |
| Fundamentals of Crime Analysis and Mapping | |
| Marine Spatial Planning | |
| Agent-Based Modeling for Applied and Social Sciences | |
| Big Data for Cities | |
| Advanced Spatial Analysis of Urban Systems | |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
12 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required
