Cities, Spatial Dynamics, and Management

Core Courses

Program Objectives

This Master's program aims to train a new generation of practitioners and theorists with a high scientific level in the field of urban management. Graduates will be equipped to work as study managers in the private or public sectors or as service managers, capable of understanding and mastering local dynamics of urban planning. The program also addresses the growing demands of local authorities, which need true decision-makers and thinkers who can provide a comprehensive vision—both theoretical and practical—on urban issues.

✅ Semester 1

1. Subject: Urbanization and Spatial Organization

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Understand urbanization processes, urban forms, spatial organization, and urban hierarchy at various scales.

1. Subject: Spatial Dynamics and Urban Transformations

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Analyze the spatial transformations of cities: demographic and spatial growth, urban sprawl, and peri-urbanization.

1. Subject: Environmental Protection

• Unit: UEF2
• Objective: Study urban environmental vulnerabilities and sustainable urban development approaches.

1. Subject: Urban Waste Management

• Unit: UEF2
• Objective: Analyze characterization, collection, treatment, and recovery of urban waste.

1. Subject: GIS – Functions and Applications

• Unit: UEM1
• Objective: Master GIS tools for spatial data management and mapping applications.

1. Subject: Applied Statistics

• Unit: UEM1
• Objective: Acquire the basics of descriptive and multivariate statistics for spatial analysis.

1. Subject: Urban Ecosystems and Climate Change

• Unit: UED1
• Objective: Understand the interactions between urban dynamics and climate change.

1. Subject: English

• Unit: UET1
• Objective: Understand and present professional work on sustainable urban development in English.

✅ Semester 2

1. Subject: Urban Utility Networks

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Study the functioning and planning of urban networks (water, electricity, sanitation…).

1. Subject: Transport Infrastructure and Urban Mobility

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Analyze transport systems and strategies for sustainable mobility.

1. Subject: Urban Planning and Management

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Study the tools, approaches, and stakeholders of urban planning.

1. Subject: Urban Heritage

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Integrate the enhancement of built heritage into urban management.

1. Subject: GIS Applications in Urban Context

• Unit: UEM1
• Objective: Apply GIS to real-world urban case studies.

1. Subject: Applied Remote Sensing

• Unit: UEM1
• Objective: Use satellite imagery for planning and territorial management.

1. Subject: Urban Economics

• Unit: UED1
• Objective: Understand the economic mechanisms operating within urban spaces.

1. Subject: English

• Unit: UET1
• Objective: Strengthen technical and communication skills in professional English.

✅ Semester 3

1. Subject: Governance and Land Management

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Study legal and institutional frameworks for urban land management.

1. Subject: Major Risk Management

• Unit: UEF1
• Objective: Identify, map, and plan responses to urban risks.

1. Subject: Public Spaces and Quality of Life

• Unit: UEF2
• Objective: Analyze urban quality of life through public space planning.

1. Subject: Housing Policies

• Unit: UEF2
• Objective: Study public housing policies and access to land.

1. Subject: Urban Project

• Unit: UEM1
• Objective: Develop a structured urban project integrating technical and social considerations.

1. Subject: Research Methodology

• Unit: UEM1
• Objective: Define a research problem and apply a suitable scientific methodology.

1. Subject: Field Internship

• Unit: UEM2
• Objective: Apply acquired knowledge in the field (diagnosis, surveys, interviews).

1. Subject: Urban Sociology

• Unit: UED1
• Objective: Understand social dynamics in the urban environment.

1. Subject: Entrepreneurship

• Unit: UET1
• Objective: Introduce students to project creation and feasibility analysis.

✅ Semester 4

1.      Subject: Final Year Project (PFE)

• Unit: UEF
• Objective: Conduct research or applied expertise on a real urban planning or management issue, leading to a thesis and oral defense.

Advanced Topics

Profiles and Career Skills Targeted

The Master's program "Cities, Spatial Dynamics, and Management" aims to:

• Develop the foundations for reflecting on issues related to the evolution of societies and urban spaces.
• Understand the stakes of urban planning and territorial development, identify key stakeholders (both public and private), and analyze the strategies they develop.
• Acquire knowledge about the various professions related to city management by engaging in professional projects and confronting them with real-world challenges.
• Develop expertise that helps decision-makers and other economic actors involved in urban management in their decision-making processes.
• Equip students with analytical tools that allow them to approach urban problems in a comprehensive way and understand the complexity of interactions involved.
• Train young researchers in urban management, with expertise in handling and processing digitally geolocated information.
• Manage the entire process of a Geographic Information System (GIS) related to urban issues, from structuring and managing spatially referenced databases to displaying cartographic results.

Potential Regional and National Employment Opportunities for Graduates

Upon completing the Master's program, students specializing in urban management will have two potential pathways:

1. Students may continue their studies with a doctoral program and join the "Geographical Space and Territorial Planning" (EGEAT) research laboratory.
2. Students wishing to enter the workforce will be able to apply their skills in various public and private sectors, including positions in public institutions (e.g., local government departments, state services, consultancy firms, government ministries). Potential job roles include study manager, project manager, future entrepreneur, mission officer, or research assistant in areas such as territorial management, urban planning, transportation, cartography, geomatics, environment, local development, risk management, housing, geomarketing, tourism, and heritage.

The program benefits from a strong network of socio-economic actors and public institutions.

Opportunities for Transition to Other Specialties

The Master's program provides opportunities for transitions to other related Master's programs offered by institutions nationwide, such as:

• City Management
• Urban Projects and Planning
• Urban and Spatial Dynamics
• Urban Planning and Management