Urban Studies

Phone: 843.953.8134
Melinda Lucka Kelley, Director

About the Program

The Urban Studies Program is a multidisciplinary major designed to provide students with the academic foundation necessary to understand and be sensitive to the problems and potential of the city and its environment. Students become acquainted with approaches to the study of urbanization through courses offered by several departments including, but not limited to, accounting, architecture, economics, philosophy, political science, psychology, historic preservation and community planning, history, management, and sociology. A background in Urban Studies provides excellent preparation for a variety of careers as planners, program directors, administrators, and researchers in local, state and federal government and also in nonprofit and private organizations.

The Urban Studies minor provides an overview of how to study cities and regions-particularly in the Lowcountry-as well as the opportunity to study one or two urban themes or topical areas in depth. Students can study both the problems and prospects of cities, including topics such as crime and poverty, but they will also learn about city successes, such as what makes urban schools excel and what causes struggling districts to turn around. Urban Studies students also learn what it takes to envision, build, and maintain beautiful and functional neighborhoods, cities, and regions. Because the Urban Studies minor is multidisciplinary, meaning that it draws courses from many different disciplines, it is well-suited as a complement to almost any program of study. Students who minor or major in urban studies will be well-prepared to see the ‘big picture’ of real estate development, historic preservation efforts, economic processes including planning and development, as well as city administration and urban politics.

Majors

Minors

Urban Studies Minor