Concentration

Overview

The Urban Studies concentration is designed to encourage the student to think in an interdisciplinary (or multidisciplinary) manner. All students are required to take one Introduction course, one Research Skills course, six Basic Curriculum courses (3 core courses and 3 seminars), and two Complementary Curriculum courses.

Core courses must cover 3 of the 7 core areas: American Civilization, Economics, History, History of Art and Architecture, Literature, Political Science, and Sociology. Thus, even though there is a reasonable range of courses identified in the Basic Curriculum, this section of the concentration program is strongly structured.

The Complementary Curriculum is more flexible. The student, in consultation with the concentration advisor, is required to select two urban studies related courses. Here, students are not only permitted, but are encouraged to consider additional course offerings including, but not limited to, those in the traditional disciplines.

Possible Focus Areas

To help guide students in the basic curriculum, we list courses that belong to three broad focus areas. Students need not follow these areas and are encouraged to "mix and match" or develop their own focus. The basic curriculum is divided between core and seminar courses. The latter all provide students with opportunities to carry out research and fieldwork projects and all qualify as "capstone" experiences. The focus areas are:

Literature and Arts: AMCV 1611A; COLT 2820N; ENGL 0080A, 1760F; HIAA 0700, 0840, 0850, 0860, 1850; HISP 1500C; URBN 1870A.

Social Sciences: AMCV 1520, 1530, 1903E; HIST 1820, 1830; ECON 1410; HIST 1974T; POLS 0220, 1320; SOC 1640; URBN 1000, 1170, 1200, 1420, 1870A, 1870B, 1870D, 1870F, 1870I.

Urban Built Environment: AMCV 1520, 1530; ECON 1410, HIAA 0700, 0840, 0850, 0860, 1850, 1910; HIST 1820, 1830; URBN 1000, 1010, 1870D, 1870E, 1870F, 1870H, 1870N.

Students interested in pursuing graduate work in a traditional discipline are encouraged to consider the following two approaches (either approach will satisfy standard graduate school):

• take several courses in the traditional discipline as part of their study of Urban Studies
• undertake a double concentration (one in Urban Studies and one in the selected traditional discipline)

Note that in satisfying the requirements of the Complementary Curriculum, students may draw upon courses listed in the Core Curriculum but not used to fulfill Core Curriculum requirements.