Joint UNU-CCNY MA Program in the Study of the Americas

With a focus on Urban Sustainability Studies Across the Americas

Offered at The City College of New York (CCNY) in collaboration with the United Nations University- Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)


About the Program

The Joint UNU-CCNY Master of Arts (MA) Program in the Study of the Americas is an interdisciplinary graduate program offered by CCNY in collaboration with UNU–INWEH. The program adopts an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens to examine sustainability and urban resilience across the Americas, with an emphasis on policy-relevant and regionally grounded research.

Students pursue an MA in the Study of the Americas from CCNY while simultaneously earning graduate credentials from UNU in Urban Sustainability Studies Across the Americas, integrating humanities, social sciences, policy, and geospatial methods to address sustainability challenges across the region.

Program Focus & Approach

The joint MA program emphasizes interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches to sustainability, urban resilience, and policy-relevant research across the Americas. Faculty expertise spans areas including:
  • Human rights and migration
  • Gender and race
  • Urban studies and planning
  • Economic inequality and education
  • Climate adaptation and sustainable development
The program engages the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through multiple disciplinary perspectives and real-world applications.

 
Program Structure & Curriculum
The joint MA program retains the core structure of the existing MA in the Study of the Americas, with targeted additions aligned with UNU priorities.

Core Requirements:
       Students complete the following required courses:
  • IAS A5000-Inventing the Americas
  • IAS A5010-Graduate Research Methodology
  • International Institutions 
STEM & Geospatial Coursework (6 credits)
       To ensure interdisciplinary breadth, students complete two courses from the School of Engineering:
  • ENGR G7000-Remote Sensing for Sustainable Development Goals
  • ENGR G6700-GIS / Data Science for Sustainable Development
UNU Seminar Series (3 credits)
Students participate in a semester-long professional seminar series featuring UN and UNU scientists and specialists. The seminar provides exposure to international research and access to UNU’s global network.

Electives (12 credits)
Students select four elective courses from the MA curriculum, drawing from offerings in areas such as inequality, migration, race, gender, urban life, climate change, and human rights.

Capstone Project/Thesis
Students complete a capstone project or thesis (3 credits) that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The project will be co-supervised by a UN- or UNU-affiliated expert

Degree & Credentials Awarded
  • A Master of Arts in the Study of the Americas from the CCNY 
  • A fellowship diploma in Urban Sustainability Studies Across the Americas from UNU-INWEH

Program Timeline
Fall 2026: Launch of the joint program with the inaugural cohort

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