Urban and Community Studies

Course descriptions

The undergraduate major in Urban and Community Studies is an interdisciplinary program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a focus on educating citizens on the multiple dimensions of urban and community life and preparing students for careers in public and community service as well as graduate study in social work, public administration, law, planning, public health, or other related areas.

The major has three parts. First, students receive a broad education in the study of cities, suburbs, neighborhoods and communities through core courses in three fields drawn from Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, and Urban and Community Studies. Second, students acquire a solid foundation in analytical techniques such as statistical analysis, survey research, geographic information systems, qualitative methods, or archival research. Finally, students take additional electives in order to broaden their academic training or to develop a deeper specialization in selected areas.

Requirements of the major

  1. URBN 2000/W and either URBN 4000 or URBN 4497W or  INTD 3594.
  2. Three of the following with no more than one per department (cross-listed courses count towards the non-URBN department): ECON 2439, 2456; GEOG/URBN 3200/W; GEOG 2000, 2400E, 4210; HIST/URBN 2541/W; HIST 3554; HIST/AFRA 3564; HIST 3674/LLAS 3220; POLS 3842 or PP 3031; POLS/URBN 3632/W; PP 4034; SOCI/URBN 2901/W; SOCI 2820/W, 3425.
  3. One of the following: CE/GEOG 2500; ECON 2327; GEOG 2510, 3500Q; POLS 2072Q; PP/URBN 2100; SOCI 3201; STAT 2215Q; URBN 2301Q, 2302.
  4. Two additional courses selected from Group 2, Group 3, or the following list: AFRA/SOCI 2510ANTH 3150/W; ECON 2328/W, 2431, 3431/W; ECON 3439/W/URBN 3439; EDLR 3547/W; ENGL 3235W; GEOG 3000, 4200W; HIST/URBN 2650; HIST 2810, 3102, 3520; HIST/AAAS 2530; HIST/AFRA/HRTS 3563; HIST/AFRA 3568; HDFS 2001, 3110, 3510, 3530, 3540/W; INTD 3584; NRE 3265; POLS 3240E; POLS 3662/LLAS 3270; POLS/AFRA 3642; POLS/HRTS 3212; POLS 2622, 3406/W, 3617, 3847; PP 3020/W; PP/AFRA 3033/POLS 3633; SOCI 3459/W/HDFS 3240/W; SOCI 2301/W, 2651/W, 2655, 2670/W, 2705, 2709WE, 2907/W, 3601/W; SOCI/AFRA/HRTS 2530; SOCI 3903/W/URBN 3276/W; SOCI/WGSS 2680/W; URBN 3981/3991 (three credits combined) or INTD 3594; AMST/URBN 2400; URBN 3400E, 3993, 3995, 3998, 4497W, 4999. INTD 3594 and URBN 4497W can be counted if not used to fulfill requirement number one above.

In order to assure a breadth of experience, students are encouraged to take courses that include content in each of the following areas: change over time, structural and spatial dimensions, diversity, power and decision-making, and political and social processes. One unique option for students is to enroll in the 15 credit Urban Semester Program, which provides major credit for two courses: INTD 3584 and 3594.

Students interested in pursuing a program in Urban and Community Studies are advised to complete 1000-level courses in the social sciences, which may be prerequisites for courses in Urban and Community Studies. These include, but are not limited to: GEOG/URBN 1200; ECON 1201; POLS 1602; PP 1001; SOCI 1001, 1251; STAT 1000Q/1100Q; and URBN 1300W. They should also plan on enrolling in URBN 2000 as soon as possible.

The writing in the major requirement can be met by taking any 2000-level or above W course approved for this major. Students should be aware, however, that availability of specific W courses varies by campus. The information literacy requirements are met by successfully completing URBN 2000.

A minor in Urban and Community Studies is described in the Minors section.

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