Objectives:

This one-year English language MA degree program offers graduate students a unique combination of theoretical and applied skills in an exciting new area of understanding and managing the growth of Smart Cities. The program  equips students with the requisite skills to cope with the emergence of Smart Cities. These skills call on foundations from Urban Planning and Management, Organizational Theory, Spatial Data Processing, Urban Analytics and Urban Design. The Geography Department and Urban Planning program at Hebrew University are well positioned to offer these proficiencies to international students keen to acquire generic knowledge in these areas and to apply professional competences acquired in the program in their own national contexts. The program is also unique in that it offers much more than proficiency in a suite of analytic tools. It offers a broad generic approach to understanding the dynamics of urban development engaging planning theory and practice, urban policy and principles of urban design. The program also  exploits the fact that Jerusalem is one of the most unique, challenging and intractable urban environments globally. This makes for a natural urban laboratory within easy reach and a fascinating context within which to illustrate and test new ideas.

 

Target Audience:

This graduate program targets social science students who want to acquire a broad based understanding of contemporary urban development utilizing state of the art techniques in spatial analysis. No prior knowledge of GIS, remote sensing or spatial information systems is assumed. The program is structured such that students will acquire the key analytic competences in a relatively short term frame.

 

The Program of Study

This is a one year (two semester) taught MA program conducted in English. There is no requirement for writing a research thesis. Student who wish to pursue this option will need to extend their stay beyond one year. Field work is a natural component of the teaching curriculum. We offer field trips that are both generic, introducing students to the Israeli urban structure and particular, focusing on the unique urban developments of Jerusalem. No pre-semester courses are necessary. Nor is any  proficiency in Hebrew is required.

 

Admissions:

Eligibility is contingent on a good quality bachelor's degree (82 or equivalent grade average) and a high level of English proficiency. Students are generally expected to come from a relevant disciplinary background such as, but not limited to, social or environmental sciences including Geography, Urban Studies, Sociology, Statistics, Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Environmental Studies etc.  Admission is  partially based on a personal interview (via skype).

 

Teaching Faculty

The teaching staff on this program are in the main,  tenured faculty from Hebrew University who offer courses in regular Urban Planning, Geography and Geoinformatics programs offered by the university.

 

Tuition

 

Dates and Deadlines