Concentration in City & Society (CS)

The Concentration in City and Society (CS), formerly called Urban Studies, is concerned with the quality of life in neighborhoods, towns, cities, and metropolitan areas. Closely aligned with urban planning, the CS concentration allows students to explore creative and systematic approaches to environmental, economic, and social issues affecting communities and larger regions. Sustainable communities may be created through careful economic development, control of sprawl, heritage conservation, expanded recreational and cultural opportunities, green infrastructure, improved housing, preserved open space, political reform, and environmental justice. CS concentration courses focus on social equity, human ecology, cultural vitality, economics, politics, policy, land use, and other issues related to city planning. You will build a broad social science understanding of how cities work and how they can be influenced to better serve a broad range of social and environmental goals. Studies in the CS concentration are concerned with:

• Human Settlement Dynamics: The forces that go into developing human agglomerations, how these environments change, how different groups experience these environments, and how designers and planners work within the context within which communities develop physically, but also socially, politically, and economically.
• Regulatory Processes: The legal and technical dimensions related to city planning and strategies, the implications of urban policies and practices, and how living conditions and livability can be improved through land-use and policy decisions.
• Global Issues: The challenges and opportunities found in villages, towns, cities, and mega-cities in the global context, including inequalities in the distribution of goods and services that are required for a quality life food, such as water, shelter, safety, commerce, the question of leadership and what it means to be an active and engaged citizen.
• Planning Tools and Techniques: Theories and analytic methods useful in the practice of public sector planning at the local level, including from fostering economic development and creating local employment to managing improvements efficiently.

Career Paths

Students with this concentration are prepared to work in government agencies, consulting firms, or non-profit organizations working in any of the many domains related planning better communities. They also go on for a master’s degree in planning or other related fields, such as public policy and transportation planning.

This concentration is well suited for students pursing the accelerated Master’s in Regional Planning (the 4+1 MRP program).

CS Concentration Requirements

Take four concentration required courses and two electives from the approved courses list. No more than two 100-level courses can count toward concentration requirements.

Required Courses

Take four of the following courses.

Typical terms and times are listed. Please check the current departmental course offerings for up-to-date information.

Classes in the MRP core curriculum count as a concentration required course with the approval of the Program Director. SustComm 125 is recommended for freshmen and sophomores.

Electives

Take two concentration electives. The following classes are approved electives; students interested in counting a relevant course (3 or 4 credits) not listed may request a substitution from the Program Director.

Availability of the following classes varies. In addition, some classes may have prerequisites or be limited to certain majors. Check Spire for current offerings and restrictions.