Seeking Solutions to Pressing Urban Issues in Partnership with Chicago Communities.
The Urban Studies minor provides students with a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of how a city works. An interdisciplinary program of the College of Arts and Sciences, Urban Studies combines coursework in fields like sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, criminal justice, economy, environmental studies, and political science. Not only do students study social, political, economic, and cultural institutions in Chicago (and beyond), but they also get involved in research projects with community organizations seeking solutions to pressing urban issues.
The distinctive capstone of the minor consists of two courses: Urban Studies Seminar and Urban Studies Research. In the seminar, students learn about contemporary urban policy from readings, discussions, guest speakers, and neighborhood tours. In the research course, students contribute to a community-based, collaborative research project (housed at the Center for Urban Research and Learning – CURL www.luc.edu/curl) where they work with graduate students, faculty, community organizations, and government agencies.
The minor consists of two tracks:
- General Track: Receive a broad introduction to themes and issues such as urban politics and community life, as well as racial, ethnic, and economic inequality.
- Environmental Sustainability Track: Focus on both sustainability in the social world (e.g. health, housing, education, jobs, and community) and in the physical environment (e.g. water, air, and soil).
Curriculum
The General track gives students a broad introduction into themes and issues within the broader field of Urban Studies. As an interdisciplinary minor, students in the General track are able to select from several disciplinary lenses to better understand urban areas and the issues they face. In addition, students will – in the capstone research course – contribute to active solutions to many of the issues facing local communities.
Course Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 3 |
| Urban Economics | |
| Creation the American Metropolis | |
| Urban Policies and Problems | |
| Urban Politics | |
| City, Suburbs & Beyond | |
| 3 |
| Ethnographic Methods | |
| Research Methods | |
| Naturalistic Methods Communication Research | |
| Observing/Measuring Cmun Behavior | |
| Rhetorical Criticism | |
| Research Methods in Psychology | |
| Principles of Social Research | |
| Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | |
| 6 |
| Urban Anthropology | |
| Victimology | |
| Gangs | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice | |
| Themes in Advertising/Public Relations | |
| Special Topics Communication Studies (Interviewing for Broadcast) | |
| Special Topics Communication Studies (Politics and the Press) | |
| Special Topics Communication Studies (Photojournalism) | |
| Urban Economics | |
| Urban Education: Policy and Practice | |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| Chicago: Face of a City | |
| Topics in History | |
| London 1550 - 1715 | |
| Chicago in America | |
| Creation the American Metropolis | |
| Contemporary Political Issues | |
| Crime, Race & Violence | |
| Urban Politics | |
| Community Psychology | |
| Chicago: Urban Metropolis | |
| City, Suburbs & Beyond | |
| Communities in a Global Age | |
| Special Topics (Black Men in America) | |
| Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice | |
| Topics in Moral Problems (Urban Issues) | |
| |
SOCL 335 / PLSC 335 | Urban Semester Seminar | 3 |
URB 397 / PLSC 397 | Urban Studies Research | 3 |
Total Hours | 18 |
Double Dipping Policy
Urban Studies follows the College policy for Double Dipping: Not less than 8 credit hours in the individual student’s transcript must be unique to each minor; that is, the courses in question are considered as actually fulfilling requirements of one minor, not of more than one minor or major.
Learning Outcomes
Students in the Urban Studies minor will:
- Understand the major developments, conflicts, and events that have shaped urban life
- Contribute to active solutions to many of the issues facing local communities
- Recognize the roots of urban social problems
- Develop a deeper understanding of the methods researchers use to study urban life