MIT Media Lab
Beyond Smart Cities: Emerging Design and Technology
Leverage disruptive technology to design smart, sustainable urban solutions.
Start date
05 March 2025
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–9 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The proportion of the Northern American population living in cities in 2020.
World Economic Forum (Nov, 2020).
The estimated global smart cities market value by 2027.
Grand View Research (Feb, 2020).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
As more than half of the world's population now lives in urban areas, there's growing interest in developing smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities that are responsive to the needs of their citizens. While smart city solutions often focus on digital enhancements to existing urban infrastructure, the MIT Media Lab Beyond Smart Cities: Emerging Design and Technology online short course takes things further. Over the course of six weeks, this program explores how disruptive technology can dramatically improve the planning, design, and management of modern cities for a more resilient future.
Guided by MIT faculty, you'll explore ways in which data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), new urban systems, real-time simulations, and predictive urban design can be leveraged to create more entrepreneurial, high-performance, and livable urban communities.
Is this course for you?
This online course caters to professionals interested in urban planning and design who want to transform cities for a more sustainable and vibrant future. The course is especially relevant to those who focus on designing, investing in, and delivering smart city solutions, as it emphasizes technology and data.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
As more than half of the world's population now lives in urban areas, there's growing interest in developing smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities that are responsive to the needs of their citizens. While smart city solutions often focus on digital enhancements to existing urban infrastructure, the MIT Media Lab Beyond Smart Cities: Emerging Design and Technology online short course takes things further. Over the course of six weeks, this program explores how disruptive technology can dramatically improve the planning, design, and management of modern cities for a more resilient future.
Guided by MIT faculty, you'll explore ways in which data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), new urban systems, real-time simulations, and predictive urban design can be leveraged to create more entrepreneurial, high-performance, and livable urban communities.
Is this course for you?
This online course caters to professionals interested in urban planning and design who want to transform cities for a more sustainable and vibrant future. The course is especially relevant to those who focus on designing, investing in, and delivering smart city solutions, as it emphasizes technology and data.
What will set you apart
The ability to leverage technological innovation to improve design, planning, and policy of urban living.
Strategies for more effective land use, distributed energy systems, and alternative mobility.
The skills to recognize and identify the challenges in contemporary city design, with solutions for healthier and more sustainable city systems.
Unlimited access to 2U’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Design and technology for people-centric cities
Module 2
The mobility revolution and urban robotics
Module 3
The live-work transformation: Robotics, prefabrication, and IoT technology
Module 4
A network of neighborhoods: AI, real-time simulation, and emerging systems
Module 5
Sustainable communities: Local production and lower consumption
Module 6
Governance: Token economies and algorithmic zoning for prosocial behaviors
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Faculty Director
Kent Larson
Director, City Science Group, MIT Media Lab
About the certificate
Acquire the skills to utilize disruptive technology in creating smart and sustainable urban solutions, and earn an official digital certificate from the MIT Media Lab.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
