United Nations University – City College of New York HUB
UNU-CCNY M.A. Program in The Study of the Americas
Focus: Urban Sustainability Across the Americas
Students earn an M.A. in The Study of the Americas from the City College of New York (CCNY) and a United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) fellowship Diploma in Urban Sustainability Studies Across the Americas. Interested students should apply to the MA in the Study of the Americas core track, and once accepted to the program, fill in the UNU-CCNY HUB form:
About the UNU CCNY Program
The joint UNU-CCNY M.A. 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 M.A. in The Study of the Americas from the City College of New York (CCNY) while simultaneously earning a United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) fellowship Diploma 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 UNU–CCNY M.A. 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.
Watch: UNU-INWEH at CCNY
Structure & Curriculum
The joint M.A. program retains the core structure of CCNY's existing M.A. in The Study of The Americas, with targeted additions aligned with UNU's priorities.
Core Requirements:
Core Coursework (9 credits)
Students complete the following required courses:
- IAS A5000 Inventing the Americas
- IAS A5010 Graduate Research Methodology
- IAS A6123 International Institutions
STEM & Geospatial Training (6 credits)
To ensure interdisciplinary breadth, students complete two courses in 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.
Last Updated: 05/03/2026 19:29