Urban Studies and Planning is an interdisciplinary program providing an undergraduate course of study that focuses on solutions to the major problems stemming from the complexities of contemporary urban life. The Urban Studies and Planning curriculum is designed for students who:

• Want to enter professional graduate schools in such fields as urban planning, urban design, environmental planning, social welfare, law and public administration, and international development;
• Intend to begin their professional careers at the end of their baccalaureate education through employment in various governmental agencies, private firms or nonprofit organizations concerned with urban issues, regional planning, real estate development and community development; or
• Desire a social science degree that emphasizes the study of the historical and modern city.

The major in Urban Studies and Planning requires all students to complete a set of lower division introductory courses and upper division core courses. This part of the curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the urban environment and training in the appropriate principles and methods of planning and urban analysis. In addition to the lower division and core course requirements, students must complete a set of elective courses within one of four designated specializations.

As a complement to the coursework, students are required to complete supervised field research and an internship with a public agency, a nonprofit organization or a private-sector organization conducting planning-related work. These experiences help to provide students with professional experience to begin careers in planning and with the skills to find solutions to urban problems and situations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Know the key forces responsible for urban development in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current principles and practices of urban planning relevant at multiple levels of government from local to global.
• Demonstrate the ability to work with diverse communities to advance social justice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate methods and techniques to accomplish urban-related research.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply principles of sustainable development using a participatory approach to decision making.
• Participate in various forms of civic engagement.