Major in Urban Studies
The Urban Studies major is offered by the College of Arts and Letters. This interdisciplinary major focuses on cities and urban communities, with particular emphasis on their environments, peoples and cultures, economies and politics, and urban spaces and places. The program draws upon courses offered by dynamic faculty members from Anthropology, Chicano and Chicana Studies, Economics, Geography, Latin American Studies, Political Science, Sociology and Public Administration. At graduation, students majoring in Urban Studies will obtain a B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences.
Drawing from an interdisciplinary perspective and embracing different theoretical frameworks, students in the urban studies program explore past and present conditions of urban life. The variety of courses in the major allow students to explore topics such as the origins and spread of cities, contemporary patterns of urbanization at local, regional, national and global scales, city forms and models, migration and ethnicity in urban contexts, different types of urban economies and forms of urban governance, power structures of cities, and urban social movements, to name a few.
In addition, specialized training is provided in methods of analytical research in urban studies, from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. In lectures, class discussions, computer lab exercises and practical field experiences connected with specific courses, students have the opportunity to gain knowledge regarding urban problems and analyze topics such as housing, land use, organization and management of urban governments, transportation, urban decline and gentrification, public space, border issues, and issues of social justice in contemporary cities. Many of these topics are examined in the context of metropolitan San Diego, the San Diego-Tijuana border region, and the state of California.
Preparation for the urban studies major includes coursework in anthropology, economics, geography, political science, public administration, sociology, and statistical methods. In addition, competency (equivalent to that which is normally attained through three consecutive courses of college study) is required in one foreign language as part of the preparation for the major.
A minimum of 36 upper-division units are required for the major. Besides a set of courses in urban theory and urban methods, students must also select a specialization in one of the following subject areas: Urban Cultures and Societies, Urban Planning, Design and Management, Urban Political Economy and Public Policy, and Urban Sustainability. Students will also complete a capstone (high-impact learning), such as internship, research or study abroad. Courses in each specialization are specifically tailored to urban studies topics, while required courses in urban theory and methods expose students to cross-disciplinary learning.
The urban studies major is a flexible degree; with prior approval from your undergraduate adviser, you may be able to substitute some courses and tailor your coursework to meet your needs and interests.
Important Links
A total of 15 Units are required chosen from:
- ANTH 102 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; or
PA 200 The Urban Scene; - ECON 101 Principles of Economics or
ECON 102 Principles of Economics or
POL S 101 Intro to American Politics or
POL S 102 Intro to American and Californian Government and Politics; - GEOG 102 People, Places, Environment;
- SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology;
- ECON 201 Statistical Methods or
POL S 201 Elementary Statistics for Political Science or
SOC 201 Elementary Social Statistics or
STAT 250 Statistical Principles.
Please note:
- Some major specializations have additional requirements for preparation for the major. See specialization descriptions below for details and refer to the General Catalog for more information.
- Students must also satisfy language and graduation writing assessment (WPA) requirements. Refer to the General Catalog for more information.
- Students must complete preparation for the major and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be admitted to the urban studies major.
A minimum of 36 upper division units is required for the Urban Studies Major (9 units of required urban theory courses, 9 units of required urban methods courses, 3 units of high impact learning, and 15 units in one of four specializations, see below for details).
Total of 9 units from the following Urban Theory courses:
- CCS/LAS 355 The United States-Mexico International Border
- GEOG 354 Geography of Cities
- POL S 422 Urban Politics
- PA 320 Introduction to Urban Planning
- SOC 448 Urban Sociology
Total of 9 units from the following Urban Methods courses:
- ECON 301 Collection and Use of Data
- GEOG 380 Map Investigation
- GEOG 381 Computerized Map Design
- GEOG 385 Spatial Data Analysis
- GEOG 484 Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG 584 Geographic Information Systems Applications
- GEOG 585 (Quantitative Methods in geographic research)
- GEOG 586 Qualitative Methods in Geographic Research
- GEOG 589 GIS-Based Decision Support Methods
- GEOG 590 Community-based Geographic Research
- PA 420 Methods of Analysis in City Planning
- SOC 301 Social Research Methods
- SOC 406 Intermediate Social Statistics
- SOC 407 Survey and Experimental Research Methods
- SOC 408 Qualitative Research Methods
Total of 3 units of High Impact Learning and submission of a Capstone Portfolio. Please contact your urban studies undergraduate adviser (Pascale Joassart-Marcelli) for details on how to fulfill this requirement. It may be met with Geography 590 or 595. Other high impact courses, including undergraduate research or study abroad, may qualify if appropriate and preapproved.
Students are required to complete 15 units in ONE of the following specializations:
Urban Cultures and Societies
- ANTH 533 Race, Ethnicity and Identity
- CCS 303 Chicana and Chicano Community Studies
- CCS 375 U.S.-Mexico Border History
- GEOG 312 Culture Worlds
- GEOG 354 Geography of Cities (if not taken as a theory course)
- GEOG 554 World Cities
- LAS 320 Culture and Society of Tijuana
- LAS 550 Mexican-US Border from a Latin American Perspective
- SOC 355 Minority Group Relations
- SOC 443 Crime and Society
- SOC 457 Protests, Reforms, and Revolutions
Urban Planning, Design and Management
- GEOG 354 Geography of Cities (if not taken as a theory course)
- GEOG 575 Geography of Recreational Land Use
- PA 310 Management of Urban Governments
- PA 320 Introduction to Urban Planning (if not taken as a theory course)
- PA 350 Contemporary Urban Issues
- PA 460 Administration and Public Policy Development
- PA 485 Planning and Public Policy in US-Mexico Border Region
- PA 520 Decision Making in the Urban Community
- PA 525 The U.S. City Planning Process
Urban Political Economy and Public Policy
- CCS 301 Political Economy of the Chicano People
- CCS 306 Mexican Immigration
- CCS 355 The United States-Mexico International Border (if not taken as a theory course)
- ECON 401 Public Finance
- ECON 489 Economics and Population
- GEOG 353 Economic Geography
- GEOG 354 Geography of Cities (if not taken as a theory course)
- LAS 430 (or POL S 430) Immigration and Border Politics
- POL S 335 Public Policy
- POL S 422 Urban Politics
Urban Sustainability
- ANTH/SUST 353 Sustainability and Culture
- ANTH 532 Anthropology of Development and Conservation
- ECON 455 Environmental Economics
- GEOG 340 Geography of Food
- GEOG 354 Geography of Cities (if not taken as a theory course)
- GEOG 370 Environmental and Natural Resource Conservation
- GEOG 375 Environmental Hydrology
- GEOG 440 Food Justice
- GEOG 454 Sustainable Cities
- GEOG 572 Land Use Analysis
- GEOG 591 and 591L Remote Sensing of Environment
- GEOG 592 and 592L Intermediate Remote Sensing of Environment
- POL S/SUST 334 Politics of the Environment