Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies

Wayne State's Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary course of study that equips students with a firm grounding in knowledge about cities and metropolitan areas, their history and spatial patterns, social, economic and political life and their greatest challenges and opportunities.

We study cities around the world as well as in our own backyard to understand city life and find solutions to urban problems. Classes examine cities and their regions in historical context and in an international and comparative manner. Students will examine economic, political and cultural concerns and explore practical solutions to current urban problems. As a highly interdisciplinary program, students are required to take courses in at least five separate disciplines, but may, with elective requirements, take courses in many more disciplines.

The urban studies bachelor's degree prepares students for:

  • Advanced training in traditional academic disciplines, or professional activities with an urban orientation
  • Advanced training in specialized academic disciplines with urban foci, including law, public administration and urban planning
  • Wide variety of vocations present in an urban setting
  • Citizenship in an urban world

Sample syllabi

All links are in PDF format unless otherwise noted.

Course Title Instructor
US 2000/GPH 2000 Introduction to Urban Studies (HIS 2000, PS 2000) Patrick Cooper-McCann
US 2000/GPH 2000 Introduction to Urban Studies (HIS 2000, PS 2000) Jeff Horner
US 2000/GPH 2000 Introduction to Urban Studies (HIS 2000, PS 2000) Jeff Horner
US 2000/GPH 2000 Introduction to Urban Studies (HIS 2000, PS 2000) Kami Pothukuchi
US 4510 Cities and Regions Jeff Horner
GPH 3130 Introductory Urban Geography Carolyn Loh
GPH 3600/UP 6700 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Alex Bellak
GPH 3600/UP 6700 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Daryl LaFlamme
UP 5820 Urban and Regional Economics John Sase
Course Title Instructor
GPH 3900/US 3900 Urban Visualization Laura Foxman
GPH 3900/US 3999 Introduction to Architectural Studies Department
GPH 4600/UP 6830 Advanced Geographic Information Systems Department
UP 3530/US 3530 Urban and Regional Planning (meets with UP 5110) Patrick Cooper-McCann
UP 4460 Sustainable Cities Allison Laskey
UP 5010 Resources and Communication in Planning Carolyn Loh
UP 5110 Urban Planning Process (meets with UP 3530/US 3530) Patrick Cooper-McCann
US 3550/UP 5999 Public Health and the City Alex Hill

Career insights

This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.