Bachelor in Urban Studies
Urban studies explores the social, economic, political, and spatial structures of cities through multiple disciplinary lenses, focusing on issues, problems, and solutions for urban areas through planning, policy, and administration. The Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies is housed within the Department of Urban and Public Affairs in partnership with the Department of Geography and Geosciences and the Department of Sociology.
The undergraduate degree program in Urban Studies is designed to educate, train, and prepare students for future careers in municipal and metropolitan‐related occupations, such as public administrators, policy analysts, community development specialists, or planning technicians. The program will also give students a strong foundation for future graduate training in affiliated disciplines, including urban planning, public administration, geography, or sociology.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies requires completion of a minimum of 121 credit hours to graduate. This includes the Cardinal Core requirements, College of Arts and Sciences requirements, major requirements, and free electives.
For more information on the community engagement internship requirement (URBS 404), please see the community engagement handbook.
Degree requirements can be found in the UofL Undergraduate Catalog. An example four-year program of study can be found here.
Concentration Tracks
Students will concentrate in one of four tracks -- Urban Administration, Urban Geography, Urban Planning, and Urban Sociology -- and must complete 15 credit hours (5 classes) of coursework in that subfield. For information on the courses available within each track, consult the UofL Undergraduate Catalog. Additional courses may be substituted for those shown with the approval of the program director.
Social Science Electives
In addition to their concentration, students must complete 21 credit hours in related social science fields. These courses may be in any of the social science disciplines within the College of Arts and Sciences. These disciplines are: Anthropology, Communication, Criminal Justice, Geography and Geosciences, History, Pan-African Studies, Political Science, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Sociology, Urban and Public Affairs, and Women's and Gender Studies.
For additional information on the degree requirements for the program, please see the UofL Undergraduate Catalog.
Admissions
Admission to the Bachelor in Urban Studies major is open to all undergraduates at the University of Louisville. Interested students are encouraged to contact the program director to discuss their particular interests and fit within the program. To apply for the major, visit the the Arts and Sciences Advising Center. If you are a new student wishing to apply to the University of Louisville, please click the link below:
Tuition/Financial Aid
Full tuition information for University of Louisville students is
here. The University offers a variety of financial supports for eligible undergraduate students. Interested students should visit the
Student Financial Aid Office for more information.
Contact
Matt Ruther, Ph.D., Program Director
Phone: (502) 852-8151
Email: matthew.ruther@louisville.edu