Seeking Solutions to Pressing Urban Issues in Partnership with Chicago Communities.

The Urban Studies minor provides students with a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of how a city works. An interdisciplinary program of the College of Arts and Sciences, Urban Studies combines coursework in fields like sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, criminal justice, economy, environmental studies, and political science. Not only do students study social, political, economic, and cultural institutions in Chicago (and beyond), but they also get involved in research projects with community organizations seeking solutions to pressing urban issues.

The distinctive capstone of the minor consists of two courses: Urban Studies Seminar and Urban Studies Research. In the seminar, students learn about contemporary urban policy from readings, discussions, guest speakers, and neighborhood tours. In the research course, students contribute to a community-based, collaborative research project (housed at the Center for Urban Research and Learning – CURL) where they work with graduate students, faculty, community organizations, and government agencies.

Related Programs

Curriculum

A minor in the urban studies sustainability track requires 18 credits after prerequisites are met. 

Prerequisites: Students should have completed their two Core Scientific Literacy courses, including the Foundational Core Scientific Literacy course, which is environmentally based. Information about the CAS core science requirements can be found here.

Course Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Urban Theory
Select one of the following:		3
ECON 320	Urban Economics
HIST 386	Creation the American Metropolis
PLSC 334	Urban Policies and Problems
PLSC 390	Urban Politics
SOCL 234	City, Suburbs & Beyond
Research Methods
Select one of the following:		3
ANTH 317	Ethnographic Methods
CJC 205	Research Methods
COMM 365	Naturalistic Methods Communication Research
COMM 366	Observing/Measuring Cmun Behavior
COMM 367	Rhetorical Criticism
PSYC 306	Research Methods in Psychology
SOCL 206	Principles of Social Research
SOWK 390	Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
Group A: Sustainability and the Social World 1
Select one of the following:		3
ANTH 104	The Human Ecological Footprint
COMM 306	Environmental Advocacy
COMM 371	Special Topics Communication Studies 2
PLSC 392	Environmental Politics
SOCL 265	Globalization & Society
SOCL 272	Environmental Sociology
SOCL 275	The Sociology of Consumption
SOCL 276	The Sociology and Politics of Food
SOCL 280	Topics in Contemporary Sociology 2
SOWK 361	Special Topics 2
Group B: Sustainability and the Physical World 1
Select one of the following:		3
ENVS 207	Plants and Civilization
ENVS 218	Biodiversity & Biogeography
ENVS 223	Soil Ecology
ENVS 224	Climate & Climate Change
ENVS 283	Environmental Sustainability
ENVS 380	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Capstone Courses
Courses taken concurrently.
SOCL 335 / PLSC 335	Urban Semester Seminar	3
URB 397 / PLSC 397	Urban Studies Research	3
Total Hours		18

¹

Other elective courses may be added on a semester by semester basis.  Please confer with department if questions.

²

Variable topics course that may be approved by the Program Director of the Urban Studies Interdisciplinary Program.

³

Open to seniors (subject to approval by instructor)

Double Dipping Policy

Urban Studies follows the College policy for Double Dipping: Not less than 8 credit hours in the individual student’s transcript must be unique to each minor; that is, the courses in question are considered as actually fulfilling requirements of one minor, not of more than one minor or major. 

Learning Outcomes

With more than 8 million people, the Chicago Metropolitan area reflects the many complexities of urban life. Problems and solutions in the realm of politics, social life, education, and economics present themselves in a variety of subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Students in the Urban Studies minor will:

• Understand the major developments, conflicts, and events that have shaped urban life
• Contribute to active solutions to many of the issues facing local communities
• Recognize the roots of urban social problems
• Develop a deeper understanding of the methods researchers use to study urban life
• Appreciate the links among social and physical dimensions of the urban environment (Environmental Sustainability Track)
• Gain an understanding of sustainable policy solutions that bridge social science and natural science approaches (Environmental Sustainability Track)