graduate program in urban studies
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program requirements - 36 credits
Students may choose from the following courses with the approval of the program director:
URB 550 - Ethnicity and the American Society
URB 551 - Urbanization and the American Society
URB 552 - Public Policy Analysis
URB 553 - City Planning and the Urban Process
URB 554 - Urban Design and Land Development
URB 555 - Land Use Planning: Problems and Prospects
URB 556 - Education in the Urban Community
URB 559 - Application of Public Policy Research in Urban Affairs
URB 560 - Ethnic Realities in the American Community
URB 597 - Housing in an Urban Society
URB 598 - Seminar in Urban Affairs
URB 600 - Directed Independent Study
Master's Thesis:
Thesis Seminar (URB 590) and Thesis - 6 credits
Special Project
In lieu of the thesis, the student enrolls in URB 600 - Independent Study and completes a research project as part of the independent study.
URBAN STUDIES COURSES
URB 552 - Public Policy Analysis
An examination of the basic governmental, political, financial, and structural issues in developing and deciding policy in the public arena. State statutes, organizational frameworks, and the overt and covert forces in policy analysis will be presented. Scheduled fall semesters. 3 credits.
URB 553 - City Planning and the Urban Process
Analysis of basic city planning principles and their relationship to urban development and sprawl. Environmental, physical, legal, statutory, and economic issues in city planning and their impact on urban problems and solutions will be covered. Presentation of actual planning tools and techniques, including planning and zoning procedures. Scheduled fall semesters. 3 credits.
URB 554 - Urban Design and Land Development
The social purposes, economic processes, and cultural imperatives that shape the design renewal of American cities. Scheduled spring semesters of even years. 3 credits.
URB 555 - Land Use Planning: Problems and Prospects
Examination of basic land use issues and the conflicting forces involved in use and reuse of land development. Actual land use problems will be examined within the context of statutory authority, environmental restraints, and political realities. Scheduled spring semesters of odd years. 3 credits.
URB 556 - Education in the Urban Community
Analysis of the manner in which education is organized and functions with regard to issues of social, economic, and cultural stratification. Assessment of the way education has portrayed urbanization and notions of urban communities. The challenge for educators and planners is to make education a space of opportunity despite the barriers explored in this course. 3 credits.
URB 559 - Application of Public Policy Research in Urban Affairs
Evaluation research studies as applied to programs in urban affairs. Scheduled spring semesters. 3 credits.
URB 560 - Ethnic Realities in the American Community
Application of social theory and practice affecting institutional and individual response to ethnicity, cultural heritage, and inter-group relations in a pluralistic society. Scheduled spring semesters. 3 credits.
URB 590 - Thesis in Urban Studies
For thesis students only. Prerequisite: department permission. Scheduled fall and spring semesters. 6 credits.
URB 597 - Housing in An Urban Society
Social, political, and economic elements affecting the urban-suburban housing market. National local needs, policy formulation, federal programs, private planning, costs, and finances. Scheduled fall semesters. 3 credits.
URB 598 - Seminar in Urban Affairs
Analysis of urban and regional issues and the implications to today's society. The relationship of the central city to the suburbs and the region, growth issues, and the conflicting forces will be examined. Involvement in current urban affairs. Scheduled spring semesters. 3 credits.
URB 600 - Directed Independent Study
For special projects, not to be taken in conjunction with thesis. Prerequisite: department permission. Scheduled fall and spring semesters. 3 credits.
