The Urban Studies course offerings are enriched by their inclusion in the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, which houses, in addition to the undergraduate program, graduate curricula in urban planning and urban affairs and the Urban Research Center. The sharing of faculty and facilities, the interchange among advanced and beginning students, and the cooperation of other units in the Social Sciences Division create an environment for concentrating the urban-related concerns appropriate to a major city college.
Because it integrates several social science perspectives, the urban studies major is uniquely fitted to train students for careers in either the public or private sector, depending upon the student's selection of electives. Among the types of employment chosen by recent graduates are urban planning, social work, municipal budgeting, public administration, real estate, community organization, law, business, and journalism.
Program Director: Dr. Sigmund C. Shipp
General Education Requirement
Urban Studies Major
Preparation for Graduate Training
Special Programs
The Public Service Scholar Program
The City University Seminar / Internship Program
The Blanche Davis Blank Urban Research Scholar Program
Urban Studies Major
General Education Requirement (GER): All URBS courses fulfill GER, as follows:
URBS 101, 102 and 201 meet writing requirement and fulfill GER 2B
URBS 310, 401, 402, 403 and 498.03 fulfill GER 3B
Urban Studies Major: The Urban Studies Major (24 credits) provides a strong background in a selected social science or related discipline, a methods component and a fieldwork experience built around a systematic introduction to contemporary urban life and problems. A professional internship (usually during the student's last 2 terms) provides an understanding of the application of the various disciplines to policy development and program operations within a government agency or other professional urban context.
Preparation for Graduate Training: A substantial number of majors in urban studies pursue professional graduate study in urban planning, law, social work, public administration, architecture, and related fields. Students should discuss their plans with the undergraduate advisor in their junior year in order to plan their programs accordingly.
Special Programs: Urban studies students are eligible to participate in 2 internship programs sponsored by Hunter College: the Public Service Scholar Program and the Seminar/lnternship Program in New York City Government.
The Public Service Scholar Program is a competitive program open to 24 juniors/seniors each year. All Hunter students are eligible for this program which includes an internship in a public or non-profit agency and two weekly seminars. Participants receive credit and a stipend. For further information, contact the Department.
The City University Seminar / Internship Program in New York City government is a program in which Hunter College students may participate. For further information, contact the Department.
The Blanche Davis Blank Urban Research Scholar Program provides awards to outstanding undergraduate students to work with professors on research projects. For further information, contact the Department.
URBAN STUDIES MAJOR (24 credits)
The urban studies major consists of components A, B, C, and D as listed below. Courses not listed may be selected with special permission of the urban studies program advisor. The 12 credit minor may be taken in one or more departments with the approval of the advisor.
A. Urban Studies Core (12 credits)
URBS 101 Urban Life: Personal and Observational View (3 cr)
URBS 102 Structure of Urban Region (3 cr)
URBS 201 Plans and Policies for Contemporary Urban Community (3 cr)
URBS 310 Methods of Urban Research and Policy Analysis (3 cr)
B. Urban Studies Electives (3 credits) Select one from:
URBS 401 Managing Urban Physical Environment (3 cr)
URBS 402 Urban Social and Economic Development (3 cr)
URBS 404 Urban Budgeting and Fiscal Policy (3 cr)
C. Fieldwork Component (3 cr) Select one from:
URBS 410.01 Urban Fieldwork (3 cr)
URBS 420 Urban Studies Internship (3 cr)
URBS 498.03 Internship (3 cr)
POLSC 411 Seminar/Internship in NYC Government (4 cr)
D. Basic Social Science Component (6 cr) Select two from:
ECO 335 Urban Economics (3 cr)
GEOG 341 Urban Geography (3 cr)
HIST 250.45 History of New York City (3 cr)
HIST 317 History of the American City (3 cr)
POLSC 212 Urban Politics (3 cr)
POLSC 330 The Politics of Urban Planning (3 cr)
SOC 211 Urban Sociology (3 cr)
