Loyola University Chicago

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• Who Should Consider the Program in Urban Studies?

Chicago: Our Complex Urban World

The greater Chicago area has approximately 6,000,000 people living, working, and playing together in relatively close quarters. Residents and workers of various racial, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds strive simultaneously to enjoy a high quality of life. Yet, the complexity of urban life—politically, socially, educationally and economically—has tremendous bearing on these efforts. Problems and solutions emerge in a variety of subtle and not-so-subtle ways. The program in Urban Studies provides you with an unusual opportunity to gain an understanding of how a city works and how people negotiate life in an urban environment not only by studying social, political, economic, and cultural institutions in Chicago, but also by getting involved in research projects with community organizations seeking solutions to pressing urban issues. Through discussion, readings, guest presentations, community tours and especially, your work on team research projects, you will contribute to developing sound, new social policy alternatives with an eye towards an improved quality of life for Chicago area residents and workers.

Who should consider the program in Urban Studies?

Urban Studies is open to undergraduate students at Loyola University Chicago who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Science or any of the schools of the university. Students from a wide range of majors and minors will find Urban Studies directly relevant to their career paths. Imagine the importance to the biologist, chemist or environmental scientist of knowing the politics of selecting metropolitan waste disposal sites and the effect of such selection on community residents. Imagine the value to those in the social sciences of understanding how culture, economics and politics combine to affect the development of certain areas and/or the decline or neglect of others. Imagine the value to those in the humanities of seeing first hand the effects of policy decisions on our educational and social services systems.

The interdisciplinary nature of the program is a ready complement to students pursuing careers in government, non-profit or community-based organizations, education, law, business, counseling, social work, economics and politics, among others. Urban Studies provides an opportunity to better understand the complexity of urban life and, moreover, to participate in improving the quality of life for urban residents and workers. Those with eye towards service, research, and action will find this experience invaluable.

Program Requirements

Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students may complete 18 hours of credit to earn an interdisciplinary minor in Urban Studies. Read the requirements outlined here and contact Dr. Marilyn Krogh, Director of Urban Studies, for further questions.