2023-24 Edition

Urban Studies, B.A.

Undergraduate students who major in Urban Studies will become acquainted with the global challenges of urbanization and the analytical skills needed for addressing them. Students will acquire the background for entering graduate study in related fields, including urban planning, community and economic development, and transportation, to name only a few, or for seeking entry-level positions in fields that address urban problems, including urban planning, community development, transportation, and housing. Additionally, Urban Studies majors can augment their training with a degree specialization in Geographic Information Systems.

All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Departmental Requirements

Twelve courses (48 units) as specified below:

A. Three lower-division courses:
UPPP 4 Introduction to Urban Studies
UPPP 5 Introduction to Urban Planning and Policy
UPPP 40 Urban Sociology
B. Three of the following core upper-division courses:
History of Cities
Urban and Regional Planning
Poverty and Change in Developing Countries
Environmental Sustainability I
Principles of Economics for Planning and Policy
Urban Design Principles
Urban Politics and Policy
C. Six additional upper-division electives from UPPP 100-189 or ECON 144A-ECON 144B.
Optional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialization
A. Complete: 1
UPPP 120 Introduction to GIS for Planning and Policy
UPPP 125 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
UPPP 127 Spatial Analysis Project
1

Courses taken for the GIS Specialization can be used towards the Urban Studies major. Courses must be taken for a letter grade in order to count for the GIS Specialization.

NOTE: For students double majoring in Urban Studies and Environmental Science and Policy, the optional Geographic Information Systems Specialization can only be applied to one major.