LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

2024-2025 CATALOG

The Academic Catalog is the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies and degree requirements for Loyola University Chicago. It is published every year in advance of the next academic year.

Urban Studies Minor

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).