San José State University Launches New School of Planning, Policy and Environmental Studies

The College of Social Sciences’ new Schoo lof Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies brings together complementary fields of study. Photo: Robert C. Bain.

Media Contact: Sean Woodland
sean.woodland@sjsu.edu
(408) 924-1498

San José State University (SJSU) today announced the launch of the new School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies. This interdisciplinary school, a first of its kind in the California State University (CSU) system, brings together programs in environmental studies, geography and GIS, public administration and urban planning under one umbrella to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

The school’s mission is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to create sustainable, resilient and just communities that concurrently support people and the planet. By combining these related disciplines into one school, SJSU provides a holistic approach to complex issues such as climate change and environmental justice, affordable housing and transportation, and governance and social conflict.

Anne Marie Todd, dean of the College of Social Sciences, notes that “by working together, the environmental studies, planning, policy and geographic programs can impact public policy and community development with cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary capacity-building.”

A unified approach to global and local challenges

The new school will serve as a hub for innovative research, collaborative learning, and community engagement. The school’s curriculum features hands-on practical training and innovative research opportunities, often co-designed with San Francisco Bay Area  government, nonprofit and industry partners. Three specialized research centers — the Institute for Metropolitan Studies, the Environmental Resource Center, and the Spatial Analytics and Visualization Institute — provide partnership opportunities with local community organizations and governments.

Preparing a new generation of leaders

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies prepares students for a wide array of careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors through a comprehensive range of graduate and undergraduate degrees, including: 

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, ranked 7th in the nation  
• Silicon Valley’s only accredited Master’s of Urban Planning program, ranked #6 nationally
• One of the nation’s top graduate programs in public affairs, recognized by U.S. News & World Report 
• One of the oldest geography degree programs in the West
• New one-year Master’s of Science in Geographic Information Science (GIS)

Katherine Cushing, the school’s inaugural director, notes that the school represents how the “power of knowledge, local and regional collaboration, and human creativity [combine] to meet our challenges head-on. Our faculty, students and partners are the engine that will get this work done and our track record of award-winning collaborations spanning over 50 years demonstrates that we are already on a path to success.”

 The school’s location in the heart of Silicon Valley means that students will benefit from close proximity to leading technology companies, environmental nonprofits and government agencies, offering unparalleled internship, networking and professional development opportunities.

Cushing notes the new school is “a place where students, scholars, practitioners and community members come together to solve real problems, rooted in making a practical, positive impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. It’s where world-class faculty and students help the public and private sectors plan for the next big drought, enhance development of next gen transportation policy, and determine how to best balance the needs of wildlife and people.”

About San José State University

The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, San José State University provides a comprehensive university education, a nationally recognized curriculum in its master’s and bachelor’s programs, and a tradition of civic engagement that makes it a key contributor to the quality of life in Silicon Valley and beyond.