The New School Schools for Public Engagement- The Milano School

About this program

The New School is at the forefront of addressing global environmental issues thanks to Milano's Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management program. This program is designed to turn passion for environmental change and sustainability into careers with impact. Students benefit from small, customized classes, a rigorous program of theory and practice, and close attention from a faculty engaged in research, scholarship, and cutting-edge professions. Practice-based learning places students front and center at organizations working on the most urgent problems facing communities. Access to The New School’s Tishman Environment and Design Center, International Field Programs ,NSSR economic courses, Parsons design courses and other Milano programs prepare students to engage with a diverse scientific, social, and political world. The program culminates in a capstone project in which students bring their knowledge and critical perspectives to a real-world challenge.

Milano’s Master of Science in Public and Urban Policy challenges students to develop innovative solutions for the world’s thorniest challenges, which are increasingly urban and global. Milano’s community of scholars examine today’s urban policy issues in real time and design creative solutions, all while working closely with policymakers in government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The program gives students the opportunity to work on policy analysis in real-world settings, with a focus on social justice. Students put theory into practice and apply analytical and collaborative problem-solving skills as early as the second semester in the Urban Policy Lab. The program’s areas of specialization allow you to explore emerging fields of study, such as data visualization, global urban futures, food and environment, housing and community development, finance and capital markets, politics and advocacy, and many others. The result is a challenge to the status quo and an opportunity for you to translate your passion into real-world policy initiatives that change people’s lives.

Milano’s PhD in Public and Urban Policy is committed to The New School tradition of critical inquiry, creative scholarship, and social justice to confront 21st century global policy, design, and development challenges. The PhD in Public and Urban Policy is interdisciplinary, and students have considerable freedom to design a course of study that fits their research and professional interests. The PhD program encourages the exploration of alternative theoretical perspectives and the use of a wide range of research methodologies in the search for solutions to tough policy problems. Graduates are working as tenure-track faculty members, researchers in leading consulting firms and international organizations, and policy analysts in local and national government agencies. While current students have diverse backgrounds and research interests, they share a commitment to social change and to critical interdisciplinary approaches that enable the development and implementation of public policies.

Year partnership began: 1998
Fellowships awarded per year (average): 2

Application requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor degree (Or a US equivalent) from an accredited institution. Applicants to the PhD in Public and Urban Policy must also hold a Master’s degree.

Admissions process

Applications consist of transcripts from previous graduate and/or undergraduate study, 2 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and a description of service. Applications are evaluated based on stated career goals, moral commitment, community involvement, and academic achievement. A decision to admit is based on the committee's belief in your potential to successfully complete an advanced degree. As part of the admission process, your statement of purpose and letters of recommendation are carefully reviewed for evidence of interpersonal skills, maturity, and leadership potential, among other qualities.

Degrees awarded

Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management; Master of Science in Public and Urban Policy; and PhD in Public and Urban Policy

Benefits and opportunities

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition and fees	$79,988	$79,988
Value of fellowship	$19,997	$19,997
Net cost	$59,991	$59,991

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $30,588

Cost savings details

Minimum 25% tuition and mandatory fee waivers. The financial information above applies to all of the Milano School’s MS programs, and reflects 2023-24 tuition cost and mandatory fees for full time study and at the minimum scholarship offered (25%). For more information, including the cost for the PhD Program, please visit our website.

Internship

Internship opportunities for full time students are approximately 400 hours over the course of the degree. Our career services staff is on hand to assist students in finding an internship placement or students can select a site themselves. Examples of previous internship sites include the following: International Rescue Committee; Global Green USA; Amnesty International; Doctors without Borders; Global Poverty Project; Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism; Africa Volunteer Corps.

Other opportunities

Fellows can take classes across the university from programs outside their course of study, opening up opportunities in other disciplines, such as design. Fellows receive individualized career advising from staff familiar with the Peace Corps and its mission and values. Fellows from all programs can participate in our annual International Field Program or United Nations Summer Study.

Jobs for alumni

Head of Human Resources for Business Services, Hogan Lovells; Organizational Change Management Consultant; Strategy Consultant, Greener by Design; Project Manager, ARDD-Legal Aid Asylum Officer, US Dept. of Homeland Security Human Rights Advocates Program Coordinator, Institute for the Study of Human Rights Recruitment Specialist, Girl Scouts Campaign Consultant, Families for Freedom Grants Officer, International Rescue Committee Compliance Review Specialist, USDA Foreign Agriculture Service.