Urban studies is an interdisciplinary, career-focused major that focuses on the meaning of life in the city.
The major provides excellent preparation for careers in city administration, environmental management, housing, law, planning, social work or transportation coordination.
Major Requirements
An urban studies major consists of a minimum of nine courses. All majors will take at least three core courses as follows:
- URB 210 Cities
- URB 291 Suburbia
And as a capstone, one of the following:
- URB 401 Cities of the World
- URB 468 Field Work
- URB 421 Practical Politics
- URB 492 Independent Study
- URB 495 Honors Independent Research
- BID 308 The European Union and Cities: Regional Integration and Urbanization in the European Union
- A Chicago Semester
- A Washington, D.C., Semester
- A study-abroad term with an urban studies focus
Majors are encouraged to take two cognate courses:
- PSY 355 or MTH 345 Statistics
- SOC 423 or PSY 356 Research Methods
Focus Areas
In addition, students should choose one of three available focus areas.
Focus coursework consists of a minimum of six courses as indicated below (note: only four or five focus courses are needed depending on the inclusion of Statistics and/or Research Methods).
For work with public or nonprofit organizations, take:
- POL 360 Public Policy and Administration (required)
Human Needs
- CJ 100 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
- CJ/SOC 319 Juvenile Delinquency and the Justice System
- CJ 408 Criminology
- EDU 104 Cultural Foundations of Education in the United States
- EDU 331 Race and Equity in Education
- POL 300 Urban Politics
- SOC 301 Social Problems
- SOC 303 Introduction to Social Work
- SOC 304 Race and Ethnic Relations
- SOC 310 Class and Status
- SOC 316 Society, Health and Illness
Management
- BUS 354 Human Resource Management
- BUS 355 Negotiations: Theory and Practice
- BUS 453 Organizational Behavior
- BUS 454 Leadership
- GEO 207 Introduction to Spatial Thinking
- GEO 302 GIS in the Urban Environment
- URB 430 Seminar: Urban Management
Other
- GEO 411 Urban Geography
- GEO 412 Political Geography
- GEO 413 Economic Geography
- COM 315 Intercultural Communication
- COM 317 Persuasive Communication
- ICS 270 Introduction to Intercultural Studies (.50 credit)
- ICS 271 Intermediate Intercultural Studies (.50 credit)
For work with political parties, politicians, government agencies or law school, take:
- POL 202 American State and Local Government (required)
- POL 300 Urban Politics (required)
- SOC 301 Social Problems
Politics
- POL 150 Introduction to Politics
- POL 201 American Federal Government
- POL 240 Law and Politics
- POL 319 Foundations of American Political Thought
- POL 360 Public Policy and Administration
- POL 411 Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
- POL 412 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
Management
- BUS 354 Human Resource Management
- BUS 355 Negotiations: Theory and Practice
- BUS 454 Leadership
- GEO 207 Introduction to Spatial Thinking
- GEO 302 GIS in the Urban Environment
- URB 430 Seminar: Urban Management
Other
- CJ 210 Policing and Society
- EDU 331 Race and Equity in Education
- GEO 411 Urban Geography
- GEO 412 Political Geography
- COM 315 Intercultural Communication
- COM 317 Persuasive Communication
- ICS 270 Introduction to Intercultural Studies (.50 credit)
- ICS 271 Intermediate Intercultural Studies (.50 credit)
- SOC 301 Social Problems
For work in city or regional planning, take:
- URB 420 Principles and Practices of Urban Planning (required)
- BUS 301 Introduction to Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- GEO 207 Introduction to Spatial Thinking
- GEO 302 GIS in the Urban Environment
- GEO 309 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) II: Spatial Analysis
- GEO 411 Urban Geography
- GEO 413 Economic Geography
- ICS 270 Introduction to Intercultural Studies (.50 credit)
- ICS 271 Intermediate Intercultural Studies (.50 credit)
- POL 300 Urban Politics
- SOC 301 Social Problems
- SOC 304 Race and Ethnic Relations
- URB 430 Seminar: Art and Architecture
The Minor
A minor in urban studies is a valuable asset to almost any major.
Business students in particular can benefit from the political, economic, and historical lessons taught by studying cities. An urban studies minor consists of a minimum of four courses.
Core Courses Required
- URB 210 Cities
- URB 291 Suburbia
The remaining two courses should be selected from any other urban studies courses:
- One of POL 202, POL 300, or POL 360
- Chicago Semester
- Washington, D.C. Semester
- Study abroad term with an urban studies focus