UPCD High School Program

Preparing the next generation of urban planners.

The UPCD High School Program introduces Boston-area high school students to urban planning, community development, transportation, sustainability, housing, and environmental justice through immersive classroom learning, field experiences, and professional internships.

High school students participating in the UPCD High School Program
Program Director

Dr. Sowmya Balachandran

Dr. Sowmya Balachandran directs the UPCD High School Program in the Department of Urban Planning and Community Development at UMass Boston. The program connects high school students with planning concepts, professional networks, field-based learning, and applied projects that show how planning shapes daily life.

Program Instructor

Elinor Hanjian

Elinor Hanjian is the 2026 program instructor and an incoming PhD student in Environmental Science at UMass Boston. Her background includes environmental education, youth development, community-based research, focus groups, interviews, teaching assistance, outdoor education, and alumni engagement.

Download Elinor Hanjian's resume (PDF)

How the program works

The program combines classroom learning, field observation, professional exposure, internships, portfolio-building, and public presentation.

Explore
Observe
Map
Intern
Present
Affordable housing classroom slide

Classroom foundation

Seeing communities through a planner's eyes.

Students learn how planning influences transportation, housing, climate resilience, public health, equity, parks, schools, public space, and neighborhood change. The classroom phase emphasizes observation, evidence, community voice, and practical recommendations.

View the 2026 program details
High school intern conducting Bluebikes fieldwork

Professional internships

Students contribute to real planning work.

In the internship phase, students work with the City of Boston Streets Cabinet and community partners on real-world projects, including Bike Town pop-up events, Bluebikes customer intercept surveys, bike rack inventory work, street safety activities, and teen-focused public engagement.

View the Bike Towns and Streets Cabinet internship page

Program gallery

Classroom learning, field experiences, internships, student presentations, and public-facing student work.

Dr. Sowmya Balachandran leading a high school classroom session
Classroom instruction and interactive activities.
Students examining a city model
Students connect planning concepts to Boston's built environment.
Students on a downtown Boston field tour
Field-based learning in downtown Boston.
Students presenting community outreach work
Students present planning ideas and recommendations.
Student posters about Bluebikes and Bike Towns
Student research posters and internship outputs.
Student sketches from a planning activity
Students use drawings, maps, and observations to propose improvements.

Partners and pathways

The program connects high school students with UMass Boston, the Department of Urban Planning and Community Development, Boston Public Schools partners, Urban Scholars, the City of Boston Streets Cabinet, Boston Bikes, and planning professionals working across government and community organizations.