The Master of Urban Design at University of North Carolina Charlotte prompts students to consider urbanisation, climate change and social dynamics in their urban design practice.

Engaging Urban Futures investigates how emerging technologies can help planners, architects and urban designers envision and prepare for uncertain urban futures.

As cities evolve under the pressures of rapid urbanisation, climate change and shifting social dynamics, traditional planning methods often fall short in addressing complexity and uncertainty.

This research explores innovative, technology-driven approaches to anticipate change, visualise alternative futures and engage communities in the design and decision-making process.

At the core of this research are key technological focuses that together expand our capacity to see, simulate and shape urban transformation, This includes scenario planning, which examines participatory methods for co-creating alternative urban futures.

By integrating data-driven mapping with collaborative design tools, scenario planning allows citizens, policymakers and designers to visualise multiple trajectories for development and evaluate their social and environmental implications.

School: David R. Ravin School of Architecture, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Course: Master of Urban Design
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Course dates: September 2026 to May 2027

This course is no longer accepting applications.

What will I learn during this course?

– Anticipate and visualise urban futures: understand how to use scenario planning methods to imagine multiple possible futures for cities and evaluate their implications on urban form, policy and community life
– Apply spatial thinking and data analysis: gain hands-on experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect, analyse and visualise spatial data that inform urban design and planning decisions
– Leverage immersive technologies for design communication: learn to use virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tools to create interactive and experiential representations of urban spaces, enhancing public engagement and design storytelling
– Integrate technology with participatory design: develop strategies to combine digital tools with community engagement processes, empowering citizens to co-create and critically evaluate future design scenarios

What are the requirements?

– Have a Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Science or Master of Architecture

What facilities and resources are available?

– Dubois Centre, Uptown Charlotte

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

By engaging in the Engaging Urban Futures research, students gain interdisciplinary skills in spatial analysis, digital visualisation and participatory design.

These skillsets prepare them for careers as urban designers, planners, GIS analysts, visualisation specialists, or smart city consultants.

They learn to use technologies like GIS, VR and AR to shape data-driven, community-centred urban futures and effectively communicate design ideas that connect technology, place and people.

Who teaches this course?

– Ming-Chun Lee, associate professor of architecture and urban design

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