Urban Studies

Urban Studies scholars ask questions such as: Why do people live in cities? Can homelessness be eliminated? Does public art reduce crime rates?

Urban Studies is a broad interdisciplinary program designed to provide an integrated understanding of the social, political, economic, environmental and cultural processes that shape urban life, with particular attention paid to how these processes operate in space and time. Cities are sites of great cultural and ethnic diversity, economic innovation and inequality, cultural expression, resource consumption, wealth generation, and political conflict and cooperation. Today most developed societies are predominantly urban, even as global processes increasingly shape them. The processes that shape urban life play a critical role in shaping the sustainability of societies. Indeed, it is impossible to understand sustainability issues without understanding the organization of cities. The Urban Studies program provides a strong background for students interested in working in both public and private sector fields including urban and regional planning, public policy, architecture, environmental design, economic development, city administration, social services, cultural programming, urban politics, law, and education.

Career opportunities

​As an Urban Studies graduate, you'll be prepared for career opportunities in areas such as the civil service, the non-profit sector, and the business world. A degree in Urban Studies can also be used as a stepping-stone to graduate studies or another professional degree such as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or education.Introduction to Geospatial Methods, Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology, The Gendered City, The Human Environment, ​Introduction to Cities

Program highlights

• Co-operative work placement - Gain valuable full-time paid work experience that alternates with your academic studies.
• Honours Degree - In-depth study of a specific topic completed under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Field school - Discipline-specific classes taken in real-world settings, and involving hands-on course work.

Courses in this program

Introduction to Cities, Planning in the Canadian City, Architecture and the Future of Cities, Geospatial Communication, Urban Social Geography, Social Research Methods

Detailed course information

• First year Degree Guide - Arts
• Program description and courses (Course Calendar)