Major
The Urban Studies major requires students to complete five types of courses totaling at least 70 units:
Majors must complete one prerequisite: ECON 1 Principles of Economics (ECON 1V Principles of Economics is also an acceptable course); this prerequisite course may be taken S/NC, as the units for this course do not count toward the 70 units required for the major
- 18 units in the core (23 for those who declared before September 1, 2019)
- 9 units (minimum) of skills courses in at least 3 courses of 3 units each
- 20 units (minimum) in an area of concentration
- 3 units (minimum) of community-engaged learning
- 10 units in the capstone sequence
Urban Studies Core
Core courses provide academic grounding in central Urban Studies topics. Urban Studies majors should complete URBANST 110, Introduction to Urban Studies, before Spring Quarter of the junior year.
The following courses, totaling 18 units, are required:
- URBANST 110 Introduction to Urban Studies
- URBANST 112 The Urban Underclass (CSRE 149A, SOC 149, SOC 249)
- URBANST 113 Introduction to Urban Design: Contemporary Urban Design in Theory and Practice
- URBANST 114 Urban Culture in Global Perspective (ANTHRO 126)
or URBANST 142 Megacities (ANTHRO 4, ARTHIST 242B, LIFE 142)
Skills
Skills courses provide research skills to apply to the capstone project, as well as marketable skills valued by many employers and graduate schools. A minimum of 9 units in 3 courses of at least 3 units each are required, and should preferably be taken before the end of the junior year so that the research skills can be applied to the capstone project.
The following courses are recommended for most Urban Studies majors:
- SOC 180A Foundations of Social Research (4 units)
- EARTHSYS 144 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (3-4 units)
The additional skills courses vary depending on a student's needs and interests. Students consult with an adviser to determine the best choice.
Courses that fulfill the skills requirement are:
Barton, J. (PI)
White, E. (PI)
Friedman, K. (TA)
Moanga, D. (PI)
Bruce, J. (PI)
Rhee, K. (TA)
Jiang, N. (TA)
Studen, N. (TA)
Liu, V. (TA)
Concentrations
Concentrations allow in-depth understanding of a particular field in Urban Studies. Students must complete 20 units (minimum) in an area of concentration. There are 6 concentration options:
Community-Engaged Learning
Community-engaged learning connects theory and practice, providing valuable service to a community organization as well as learning that goes beyond what can be taught in a classroom. All majors are required to complete an approved community-engaged learning course or internship, via one of the following four pathways:
- A community-engaged learning class approved by Urban Studies, such as URBANST 141, URBANST 164; OR
- URBANST 201A, Capstone Internship in Urban Studies. Students choosing URBANST 201A should aim to complete this by the spring quarter of their junior year; OR
- Conduct research with the guidance of a faculty mentor. See Urban Studies Summer Research Program for latest opportunities; OR
- Complete Haas Center for Public Service requirements for the Cardinal Service notation.
Please note that NOT all Haas Center fellowships or Cardinal Courses automatically fulfill the Urban Studies major community-engaged learning requirement. For more information, please consult the Urban Studies Community Engaged Learning and Internship Guide and consult the Student Services Specialist.
Other classes with a significant community-engaged learning component may count towards the requirement. Requests should be submitted through the Course Substitution Petition and approved by the Program's Co-Director. We recommend that you confirm before enrolling in the course as to whether it can meet the community engaged-learning component.
Capstone
The capstone project is the culmination of a student's work in Urban Studies. Through a sequence of two seminars, the first in winter of junior year and the second in fall of senior year, students design a senior project, and write the results of their project.
The capstone seminars can be used to satisfy the Writing in the Major requirement and to complete some work on an honors thesis.
- URBANST 202A, Junior Seminar: Preparation for Research, should be taken in the junior year, and
- URBANST 203, Senior Seminar, in the senior year.
- Students who plan to be away during Winter Quarter of their junior year are advised to take URBANST 202A, in the Winter Quarter of their sophomore year.
Capstone Courses
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