UofC " This Is Now

Urban Studies is a broad interdisciplinary program designed to provide an integrated understanding of the social, political, economic, cultural, and geographic processes that shape urban life. Cities are sites of great cultural and ethnic diversity, economic innovation, 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. Understanding the processes that shape cities, as well as the ways in which cities shape processes operating at other scales, lies at the heart of Urban Studies. The Urban Studies program provides a strong background for students interested in working in public and private sector fields including urban and regional planning, architecture, environmental design, economic development, city administration, social services and policy, cultural programming, urban politics, and education.

1. Integrative Courses

One full-course equivalent of Urban Studies integrative courses: Urban Studies 253 and 591.

2. Research Methods

Two full-course equivalents of Research Methods. One full-course equivalent must be taken from one of Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, or Geographic Information Systems/Remote Sensing. One more full-course equivalent must be taken from the remaining two methods areas, distributed in any manner.

Qualitative Methods:

Anthropology 411*

Communications Studies 371

English 302

History 377

Political Science 357

Sociology 413*, 613

*Credit permitted for only one of Anthropology 411 or Sociology 413

Quantitative Methods:

Geography 339*, 439

Political Science 399*

Sociology 311*, 313, 315

Courses labeled Statistics

*Credit permitted for only one of Anthropology 307, Geography 339, Political Science 399, Sociology 311

Geographic Information Systems/Remote Sensing:

Environmental Design 667*

Geography 333, 357, 433, 437, 557

*Credit permitted for only one of Environmental Design 667 or Geography 357

3. Fundamentals of Cities

Three full-course equivalents from the following:

Anthropology 379

Canadian Studies 355

Economics 365

Geography 341, 351, 451, 553, 565*

Political Science 425*

Sociology 353

*Students may take both Political Science 425 and Geography 565, but only one may be counted toward the Fundamentals of Cities requirement.

Note: Geography 451, 553, 565, and Political Science 425 may be counted toward either the Fundamentals of Cities requirement or the Specialized Urban Courses requirement.

4. Specialized Urban Courses

Two full-course equivalents from the following:

Archaeology 325

Civil Engineering 473

Geography 451*, 463, 551, 553, 555, 565*

Greek and Roman Studies 325, 327, 445, 447

Political Science 425*, 447, 451

Sociology 453, 467, 471

Transportation Studies 301, 303, 473, 499, 503, 513

Urban Studies 311, 313, 451, 501, 505

Courses with a strong urban component, as approved by the Urban Studies Director. Advanced students with strong academic records may consider a number of 600-level courses offered through the Faculty of Environmental Design.

*Geography 451, 551, 553, 565, and Political Science 425 may be counted toward either the area 3 or 4 requirements.

Note: Minors, double majors, and combined degree programs are also possible. An Urban Studies degree can be combined with a major or minor in fields such as African Studies, Architectural Studies, Canadian Studies, Communications Studies, Development Studies, East Asian Studies, Environmental Science, Film Studies, Latin American Studies, Management and Society, Transportation Studies, Women's Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, or Sociology. However, the same courses may not be used toward both a major and a minor, or toward two majors. A maximum of 10 full-course equivalents is allowed in any discipline within the major field of Urban Studies. Students should pay close attention to course prerequisites when making their course selections. Some courses may only be offered in alternate years so students should take care to plan their courses beyond the immediate year. Students should consult the Urban Studies Director when making their course selections.