Undergraduate Urban Studies Courses
UR 101 Introduction to Urban Studies
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; United States and Its Role in the
World
A broad contextual overview of urban life that examines the relationship of
people to their environment from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 103 Introduction to Women's Studies
This course uses a variety of academic disciplines to study the situation of
women around the world.
Offered every
2 years. 3 credits.
UR 191 Special Topics in Urban Studies
This introductory level course will cover topics in Urban Studies which are of
special interest to first-year students.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 193 Special Topics in Urban Studies for First-year Students
All "193" classes are approved for LASC but may vary by section. See current
course listing for specific
LASC area approval.
Introductory level course covering topics of special
interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-year Seminar.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 201 Analysis of Urban Systems
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Analysis of activities, programs, and policies designed to sustain and enhance
the livability of individuals in an urban environment.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 202 Aging in Metropolitan Society
An introduction to gerontology stressing the social, economic and political
aspects of aging in the urban environment.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 212 American Metropolitan Evolution
LASC—United States and Its Role in the World; Writing Across the Curriculum
Prerequisite: UR 101
Development of metropolitan America from a multi-disciplinary approach with
emphasis upon dynamics of urban growth, internal development of cities,
immigrations, socioeconomic stratification, metropolitanization and problems
deriving from growth.
Offered every
year. 3 credits.
UR 213 Human Identity and the Urban Environment
Prerequisite: UR 101
Study of factors affecting identity in contemporary urban settings including
race, ethnicity, class, age, and sex categories and roles.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 215 Information Management in Urban Studies
Prerequisite: UR 101
Designed to familiarize students with various methods of managing, creating and
reporting information.
Offered every 3
years. 3 credits.
UR 216 Women and Aging in the Urban Environment
Investigation of the Aging process for women in urban society, focusing on their
great longevity, lower income status, and major caregiving role.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 230 Technology, Public Policy, and Urban Society
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Examination of high-technology and its impact on urban society; privacy, ethics,
intellectual, property rights, sense of community, and access to information and
services.
Offered every year. 3
credits.
UR 240 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Writing Across the Curriculum
This introductory course provides and overview of the research process, and
introduces students to commonly used qualitative methods in the social sciences.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 245 Introduction to Survey Research Method for Social Science
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
This introductory course provides an overview of the research process and
introduces students to survey research methodology.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 290 Gender and the City
LASC—Global Perspectives; Human Behavior and Social Processes; Writing Across
the Curriculum
Exploration of ways in which gender, both male and female, structures responses
of individuals to urban life and spaces.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 301 Cities and Suburbs
Prerequisite: UR 101
Multidisciplinary study of city-suburban growth patterns and problems both of
the past, and those that hamper metropolitan cooperation and affect the quality
of life of both city and suburban residents and businesses.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 305 Group Conflict in the Urban Community
Prerequisite: UR 101
Study of conflict and its resolution in contemporary urban settings. Personal,
small group, and societal strategies for conflict resolution will be explored.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 306 Interviewing and Counseling Techniques
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
Investigation of skills and process of interviewing and counseling with emphasis
upon theory and practice, participant exercises, and development of helping
skills and effective counseling relationships.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 310 Power, Politics, and Decision-Making in Urban Communities
Prerequisite: UR 101 or permission of instructor
Exploration from multi-disciplinary approach of social power and its relation to
decision-making in urban communities. Emphasis on theories of power,
understanding research methodologies, and policy implications.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 311 Community Politics and Policies
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Prerequisite: UR 101 or permission
of instructor
Political behavior and perceptions in cities and towns from a multidisciplinary
perspective with emphasis on how policy is initiated, developed and implemented
in various governmental forms.
Offered
every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 320 Human Needs and Social Policy
Analysis of human needs as they change over a life span; why needs go unmet, and
the role of social policy in meeting needs.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 321 Social Work in the Urban Society
Prerequisite: UR 101
Overview of approaches used by social work professionals in assessing and
meeting needs, including casework, community organization and planning.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 325 Social Casework in the Urban Setting
Prerequisite: UR 101
Introduction to various social work approaches—client-centered, task-centered,
Gestalt, Carhuff and reality therapy; role playing and counseling simulations
utilized.
Offered every 2 years. 3
credits.
UR 330 Justice in the Urban Society
Prerequisite: UR 101
Theoretical perspectives on the mission of the criminal justice system and the
daily operation of its sub- components.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 331 Crime and the City
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Prerequisite: UR 101
Investigation of crime in contemporary urban society and the social, legal,
economic, and cultural strategies for dealing with crime and deviance.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 340 Urban Housing Dilemma
Prerequisite: UR 101
Analysis of the factors that shape the nature, location, and supply of urban
housing with special focus on federal, state and local policies.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 341 Urban Health and Social Policy
Prerequisite: UR 101
Analysis of urban health care, with special emphasis on the role of social
policy in ensuring health care for all, particularly children and elders.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 344 A Society for All Ages: Intergenerational Community Service
Exploration of the necessary role of community service in civic life with
emphasis on harnessing the power of intergenerational programs to address social
concerns.
Offered every year. 3
credits.
UR 350 Urban Youth in American Society
Prerequisite: UR 101
Role and problems of youth in urban societies viewed from a variety of social
science perspectives with utilization of contemporary music and literature.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 351 Public Policy and Youth Services
Prerequisite: UR 101
Role of theory, attitudes, and public opinion in the formation of policies
concerning delinquency with exploration of current practices and innovative
strategies.
Offered every 2 years. 3
credits.
UR 352 Policy Planning for an Aging Society
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
Analysis of current social policies in regard to elders and exploration of ways
in which policies need to be altered to meet growing elder needs.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 360 Environmental Systems and Public Policy
Prerequisite: UR 101 or permission of instructor
Examination of urban ecosystems, focusing on land uses designed to effectively
utilize water, open space and other natural resources.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 361 Public Policy and Environmental Issues
Prerequisite: UR 101 or permission of instructor
Investigation of the factors that determine the formation of public policy on
the environment with consideration of the roles played by state and federal
regulatory agencies.
Offered every 2
years. 3 credits.
UR 370 Leadership in Nonprofit and Public Organizations
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Prerequisite UR 101
Advanced leadership seminar for students interested in pursuing management
careers in public and nonprofit organizations.
Offered every 3 years
UR 380 Public Policy and Cultural Diversity
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; United States and Its Role in the
World
Prerequisite: UR 101
This course will examine contemporary policy issues and problems deriving from
cultural diversity. These will include areas such as immigration, population,
demographics, affirmative action, public assistance, integration, separatism,
political correctness, gender equity, and the role of organized religion in
contemporary politics.
Offered every 2
years. 3 credits.
UR 401 Research Seminar in Urban Studies
Prerequisite: UR 101
Research skills for urban-based projects including techniques in gathering,
analyzing, and reporting data and various forms of field research.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
UR 410 Assigned Research in Urban Affairs
Prerequisite: UR 101
Individual or small group directed research into selected problems and issues in
urban affairs.
Offered every 3 years.
3 credits.
UR 411 Assigned Readings in Urban Affairs
Prerequisite: UR 101
Directed readings for students interested in special topics related to their
academic program of study.
Offered
every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 421 Selected Topics in Urban Studies
Prerequisite: UR 101
In-depth examination of topical issues challenging the intellectual and creative
interests of advanced students in urban studies.
Offered every year. 3
credits.
UR 422 Selected Topics in Gerontology
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
In-depth examination of topical issues in
gerontology which afford the advanced student the opportunity to pursue
gerontological research.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 430 Seminar in Current Urban Problems
Prerequisite: UR 101
Individual and group investigation and research of
selected and current urban problems.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
UR 432 Demographic Research Seminar
Prerequisite: UR 101
Small group or individual research using various sources
in gathering, interpreting, reporting and projecting policy implications of
demographic data.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
UR 440 Practicum in Urban Studies
Prerequisite: UR 101
Directed experiential study for advanced students.
Offered every year. Variable credit.
UR 450 Internship in Urban Studies
Prerequisites: Completion of 21 credits in Urban Studies
Supervised and
intensive semester-long experience in community agencies.
Offered every year.
3-12 credits.
UR 451 Internship Seminar
Prerequisites: Completion of 21 Urban Studies credits or permission of
instructor
Exploration of the challenges that emerge as 25 students engage in
the professional world (recommended to be taken in conjunction with UR 450
Internship in Urban Studies).
Offered every year. 1 credit.