Link to WesMaps Courses

What is Urban Studies? We define Urban Studies broadly as the study of causes of urbanization and its effects on people and both the natural and built environments. Urban Studies is by nature interdisciplinary and, therefore, encourages study of urban issues and problems from a variety of angles and methodological perspectives to focus on the social, cultural, economic, environmental, political, policy & planning, and/or design dimensions of urban life.

Urban Studies is an area in which Wesleyan students can have both curricular and professional interests. Several University Major proposals in the last few years have been in the area of Urban Studies, and a number of Wesleyan students go on to graduate school and/or careers in areas such as Architecture, Geography, Public Policy, Urban Policy, and Urban Planning.

The courses listed in the urban studies course cluster include courses in which urban issues are a main focus as well as courses in which, often by virtue of their topic coverage, issues related to urbanization trends cannot be overlooked but may not be the central focus of the course. In those cases, however, the instructors have indicated that term papers on urban studies-related topics (in the particular context of the course) would be suitable. Students interested in Urban Studies who enroll in such courses are encouraged to discuss their interests and goals for the course with the instructor early in the semester.

If you have questions regarding this course cluster, please contact one of the cluster’s administrators, Professor Joe Siry (jsiry@wesleyan.edu) or Professor Daniella Gandolfo (dgandolfo@wesleyan.edu).

Online Protals

• The Urban Portal (The University of Chicago Urban Network)

Urban Research and Advocacy Organizations

• Center for an Urban Future
• Chicago Architecture Foundation
• The Ed Bacon Foundation
• Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Urban Affairs Association
• The Urban Institute
• Urban Justice Center
• Urban Land Institute
• Research Institute for Housing America
• Woodrow Wilson Comparative Urban Studies Project
• World Bank Urban Development

Internships

• Urban Education Semester
• Urban Justice Center
• The New York City Urban Fellows Program
• The Bard Urban Studies in New Orleans Program
• International Downtown Association
• National Trust for Historic Preservation (National Main Street Center)
• Neighborhood Works – Housing and Community Development
• Urban Land Institute
• Department of Housing & Development

Study Abroad Programs

• SIT Study Abroad Cities in the 21^st Century Program
• Columbia University New York-Paris Program
• Danish Institute for Study Abroad Copenhagen Urban Design Studio
• Temple University Rome Program

Programs of Study

Graduate Programs in Urban Planning, Design, Policy, and Management

• Arizona State University Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
• City College of New York Urban Design Program
• City College of New York Urban Sustainability Program
• Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
• Fordham University Urban Studies Program
• Harvard University Graduate School of Design
• New School University Parsons School of Design Urban Ecology Program
• New School University Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Planning
• New York University Wagner School Urban Planning Program
• Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
• Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies
• University of California at Berkeley College of Environmental Design
• University of California at Los Angeles Luskin School of Public Affairs Urban Planning Program
• University College of London Cities and Urbanization Program
• University of Michigan Taubman College
• University of Texas at Austin Urban Design Program
• University of Washington Urban Design and Planning

Undergraduate Programs in Urban Studies

• Brown University
• Barnard College
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• New York University
• Northwestern University
• Princeton University
• Temple University
• Tufts University
• University of California at Berkeley
• University of California at San Diego
• University of California – Los Angeles
• University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University