Urban Studies (Minor)

The Urban Studies Minor provides students with an interdisciplinary consideration of the diverse social, cultural, economic, political, and spatial issues con-fronting 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 foundation in the social sciences. Courses focusing on urban places and processes help students understand how cites 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 Valpo’s location on the fringe of the Chicago Region to provide first-hand experiences of urban places and processes through field trips to Chicago.