This interdisciplinary minor in urban studies helps students develop a sophisticated grasp of the rapidly evolving reality of how dynamic urban centers and regions drive a global system and how cities are increasingly critical to the organization of economic, social, and cultural activities. Students are urged to take advantage of the College’s growing commitment to and diverse academic strength in the field. To complete the minor, students take a total of at least six courses in three different disciplines, earning a C- or better in each course. They must also complete an integrating exercise on a central topic or theme approved by the minor’s coordinator. By permission of the faculty coordinator, up to two courses from a student’s study-away experience may be counted toward the minor, but study away is not required.

Course Requirements:

Students must complete six courses with a clear and strong urban focus and content:

  • A foundational course, URST 101. Introduction to Urban Studies.
  • Students are required to take five other urban-related courses from three different disciplines. Several specific courses which qualify as urban courses for the minor are offered by fifteen different departments and interdisciplinary programs.
  • All courses need to be approved by the minor coordinator in order to be included in a student’s approved program of study for the minor.
  • Students must complete an integrating exercise that synthesizes earlier urban studies work in the minor. While this exercise must be approved by the minor coordinator, it may be supervised by another faculty member participating in the program. Options for this exercise include: taking an advanced, research-oriented, urban studies course that requires a seminar paper, or its equivalent, of at least 15 to 20 pages; or the completion of an independent study involving a paper or project of similar scope focusing on the student’s chosen theme or topic.
  • At least two of the courses for the minor must be at the 300 level. If an appropriate 300-level course is not available, students may substitute a research-based independent study with comparable rigor.
  • By permission of the faculty coordinator, up to three courses from the Cities Program, including CTYP 101, may be counted toward the minor.
  • Courses that count toward the minor cannot be taken pass/fail, except transfer credits from a non-Trinity study-away experience.