This May marks a special milestone—the first graduates of the Urban Technology major at Taubman College will officially receive their degrees. Launched in Winter 2022, the Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology was first introduced in 2020, making it a pioneer in blending urban planning and technology.
The program offers a “future-focused” curriculum that mixes city design with coding. According to Bryan Boyer, the program’s director, it’s perfect for those who love city planning but also want to dive into technology.
“Urban Tech is for those who thought about urban planning but also want to study computer science,” Boyer explains. “Our classes cover cities, technology, and design while examining urban challenges and opportunities.”
Students in Urban Technology benefit from workshops, career fairs, and hands-on field trips. Emma Vitet, a junior and president of the Urban Technology Student Organization, shared her experience. She noted that exploring Midwest Rust Belt cities made her studies come alive.
“We traveled to cities like Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit during a spring semester,” Vitet recalled. “There, we met professionals, discussed their work, and participated in workshops.”
Another student, Enzo Mignano, found the Cities Intensive program incredibly valuable. He felt it connected his classroom learning to real-world urban issues.
“The experience provided a new perspective,” Mignano said. “It highlighted how urban technology impacts communities. Everything we design affects someone.”
As a newly established major, Urban Technology has evolved based on student feedback. Notable changes include dropping the minor requirement and allowing upcoming cohorts to begin in the fall instead of winter. Robert Goodspeed, the chair of urban planning, commented on these adjustments, which came as the program experienced significant growth.
“We welcomed a new cohort this month and will also launch a fall cohort,” Goodspeed said. “We’re expanding courses and faculty, and we’ve adopted a revised curriculum.”
Vitet appreciated the faculty’s openness to student suggestions. She observed that her input helped shape the program over the past three years.
“We communicate regularly with our faculty,” Vitet noted. “And I’ve seen many of our suggestions implemented, which is really encouraging.”
Daily Staff Reporter Chiara Dettin can be reached at chiarald@umich.edu.
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