The departments of Geology and Education at Brooklyn College collaborated with five informal educational institutions in the development of a place-based graduate program for Earth science teachers. The team used “backward design” to develop a program of courses that are thematically structured and use a city-as-lab approach that places community resources at the core of instruction. The program design team was composed of higher education faculty in geology and education, high school science teachers, public school administrators, and informal science educators. The program aims to produce graduates who are prepared to integrate the resources of the city into their teaching.