Graduate Certificate in Affordable Housing
The Graduate Affordable Housing Advanced Certificate is designed for individuals who are aspiring or advancing professionals with an earned bachelor's degree and an interest in gaining further knowledge about the design, policy-making, and development of affordable housing in the United States.
In the U.S., the pervasiveness of affordability problems among low-income renters is primarily due to the shortage of appropriately priced housing and the low and decreasing incomes of renters. While renters are becoming poorer, the supply of housing that is affordable and available is shrinking. Access to adequate, affordable housing is fundamental to thriving urban areas, with far-reaching consequences for people’s health, quality of life, and access to opportunities. Individuals may complete the Affordable Housing Advanced Certificate as a “standalone” academic credential, or in conjunction with an existing University at Buffalo graduate-level degree program, including an MArch, MSRED, or MUP.
For over 50 years, the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning has made practical work in, with, and for communities in the Buffalo-Niagara Metropolitan (as well as and the larger Upstate New York region) a central experience in the education of student architects, environmental designers/preservations, urban planners, and real estate developers. Situated within the resurging City of Buffalo and its surrounding binational region, the School of Architecture and Planning engage in constant creative dialogue with local industries, firms, designers, planners, developers, governments, and an active grassroots movement. Race, gender, and social equity in housing remain a major concern in architecture, environmental design/preservation, urban planning, and real estate development, and among the organizations that oversee professional education and practice. By addressing new ways to lower the cost of housing planning, design, and development, the graduate Affordable Housing Advanced Certificate (AdvCrt) aims to test innovative solutions to existing challenges, and educate students who ensure future housing is made affordable and inclusive for all.
Affordable Housing Director
Matt Roland
msroland@buffalo.edu
Fall 2025: For preferred scholarship consideratoin, please submit your complete application by January 15, 2025.
Please note, this certificate is not currently offered online, ONLY in person.
The Graduate Affordable Housing Advanced Certificate is designed for individuals who are aspiring or advancing professionals with an earned bachelor's degree and an interest in gaining further knowledge about the design, policy-making, and development of affordable housing in the United States.
- URP 606, Housing and Community Development, 3 credits
- URP 520, Affordable Housing in Practice, 3 credits
- Elective course, 3 credits
Specific Affordable Housing Electives are listed below. MUP students will complete URP 573 as a core MUP course. Other elective options for Affordable Housing are:
- URP 573, Land Use and Physical Planning, 3 credits (this will be completed as core MUP)
- URP 558, Design for Inclusive Environments, 3 credits
- URP 599, Independent study, 3 credits
- URP 605, Built Environment and Health, 3 credits
- END 525, Financing Development Projects, 3 credits plus 1 credit optional lab component
- URP 503, Strategies of Property Management, 3 credits
- URP 522, Economic Development Planning, 3 credits
- URP 567, Planning and Department Law, 3 credits
- URP 636, Citizens Planning School, 3 credits
Culminating Experience:
For Advanced Certificate and MSRED students enrolled in the Advanced Certificate:
END 593: Capstone Project for Affordable Housing (7 credits) OR END 599 Independent Study (4 credits) and Elective (3 credits).
For MUP students enrolled in the Advanced Certificate:
URP 581/582, Studio (6 credits).
Tuition and fees: $10,497
Books and supplies: $1,438
On-campus room & board: $11,144
* The amounts shown above include costs for the entire program, assuming normal time to completion. Note that this information is subject to change.
Financing for this program may be available through grants, scholarships, loans (federal and private) and institutional financing plans. The median amount of debt for program graduates is shown below:
- Federal loans: *
- Private education loans: *
- Institutional financing plan: *
*There were fewer than 10 graduates in this program. Median amounts are withheld to preserve the confidentiality of graduates.
The program is designed to take 2-3 semesters to complete.
Interested in an advanced graduate certificate in affordable housing?
Would you like to learn more?
Contact:
Kevin P. Donovan
Director of Graduate Recruitment
129 Hayes Hall
716-829-5224
kpd2@buffalo.edu
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