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Urban designers focus on the visual and sensory qualities of spaces, their interaction with natural systems, and their functionality for inhabitants. The Urban Design specialization equips M.C.P. students with the skills to craft urban structures while considering social, ecological, and economic factors. Design serves as the driving force: professionals mold both constructed and natural settings through direct project proposals and indirect influence on policies guiding urban development. Their work spans various scales, from intimate public areas and streets to broader neighborhood plans, citywide systems, and regional approaches. A primary focus lies on urban public spaces, prioritizing aspects like vibrancy, character, community-building, fairness, sustainability, the interplay between public and private domains, and enhancing daily experiences. The program also examines urban theories, integrating perspectives from city planning, architecture, landscape design, and social sciences to both study and shape metropolitan environments. Studio work forms the core of this concentration, where students—collaboratively and independently—investigate urban planning concepts and refine their ability to convey ideas visually and verbally. By studying historical and contemporary examples from diverse locations, they imagine future urban possibilities. Alumni pursue careers in government agencies at all levels, advocacy groups, and private-sector firms specializing in architecture, landscape design, urban planning, and community development, serving both public and private clients.