Concentrations

Urban issues cannot be understood in the context of a single nation or a single moment in time.  Students in this concentration learn how cities have developed and how they relate to each other today.

Race and ethnicity are central organizing categories shaping virtually every aspect of city life. This concentration focuses on the role that race and ethnicity play in the formation, development, and change of cities.

Providing education that is both high in quality and fair to all is one of the greatest challenges facing cities today. Students in this concentration prepare for careers in educational policy and practice.

Cities today confront a diverse range of challenges, from public health crises to racial and class inequality. Students in this concentration learn about the problems facing cities, and about the tools and concepts that can change urban life for the better. 

Cities must meet the needs of their present populations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Students in this concentration gain a holistic understanding of cities through the lenses of environmental and social sustainability.

Some students find that their interests do not easily fit within one of our existing concentrations. Urban Studies provides the option to design your own concentration, in consultation with a faculty adviser.