Urban Studies

Administrative Committee: Professors Longan (Geography and Meteorology, coordinator), Buggeln (Christ College), Hora (Political Science), Yogan (Sociology and Criminology).

Objectives

The Urban Studies Minor provides students with an interdisciplinary consideration of the diverse social, cultural, economic, political, and spatial issues confronting contemporary American cities. The goal of the minor is to enhance students’ career opportunities in a variety of fields, including urban and regional planning, urban design, public administration, law, real estate, economic development, non-profit management, social work, social justice advocacy, and education. The minor also helps to equip students to contribute meaningfully to public life and discourse in cities. Courses that explore the societal context in which cities operate introduce students to urban studies and ensure that they have a grounding in social sciences. Courses focusing on urban places and processes help students understand how cities work, as well as their history and geography. Finally, students choose one or two elective courses to explore a specialized topic or to gain practical experience through an internship, research, or training in civic engagement. Several courses in the minor take advantage of Valparaiso’s location on the fringe of the Chicago Region to provide first-hand experiences of urban places and processes through field trips to Chicago.