Urban and Community Studies (URBN)

Director, Urban and Community Studies Program (for the TriCampus): Robert Fisher
Office: Room 220, Undergraduate Building, West Hartford

Coordinator, Urban and Community Studies Program (for Storrs): Thomas J. Cooke
Office: Room 437, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Building

For major requirements, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this Catalog.

130. The City in the Western Tradition

(Also offered as GEOG 130.) Either semester. Three credits. 

A broad discussion of the role and structure of the city in the western tradition from the classical period to contemporary America. Special emphasis will be placed on the mechanisms by which cities and ideas about them have been diffused from one place to another and on the changing forces that have shaped the western city. CA 1.

140W. Exploring Your Community

Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250.

Various aspects of urban and community life emphasizing the interplay of social justice, diversity, individual and social well being. Explores theories, concepts, and methods in community studies. Includes a service learning component. CA 2. CA 4.

220. Survey Research Methods

Either semester. Three credits. Open to sophomores or higher.

Theory and practice of surveys, including overall project design, questionnaire development, sampling, methods of data collection and data analysis. 

230. Introduction to Urban Studies

Second semester. Three credits. Open to sophomores or higher. 

Introduction to the analysis of urban development with particular stress on those problems pertinent to the American central city. 

230W. Introduction to Urban Studies

Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Open to sophomores or higher.

231. Internship in Urban Studies: Field Study

Either semester. Credits, not to exceed three, by arrangement. Hours by arrangement with hosting agency. To be elected concurrently with URBN 232. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Students taking this course will be assigned a grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).

A fieldwork internship program under the direction and supervision of a member of the Urban Studies faculty. Students will be placed in agencies or industries where their academic training will be applied. One 8-hour work day per week (or its equivalent) for the host agency during the course of the semester will be necessary for three academic credits.

232. Internship in Urban Studies: Seminar

Either semester. Credits, not to exceed three, by arrangement. To be elected concurrently with URBN 231. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 

Description, analysis, and evaluation of the fieldwork portion (URBN 231) of the internship. Written reports are required.

233. Urban Geography

(Formerly offered as URBN 212.) (Also offered as GEOG 233.) Either semester. Three credits. 

Analysis of the growth, distribution, and functional patterns within and among Western cities. Application of urban geographical concepts to city planning problems.

241. The History of Urban America

(Also offered as HIST 241.) Second semester. Three credits. 

The development of urban America with emphasis on social, political, physical, and environmental change in the industrial city.

241W. The History of Urban America

(Also offered as HIST 241W.) Prerequisite: Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. 

248. Urban Anthropology

First semester. Three credits. 

A general course on urbanization, emphasizing contrasts between "developed" and "developing" countries.

259. Urban and Regional Economics

(Also offered as ECON 259.) Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ECON 218.  Recommended preparation: ECON 111, 102, or 113 and One of: MATH 106Q, 113Q, 115Q, 118Q, or 135Q. 

Economic problems of cities and regions: urban markets for land, labor, and housing; location decisions of businesses and households; metropolitan transportation problems; urban/suburban fiscal relations; urban and regional environmental quality; and the economics of crime.

263W. Urban Politics

(Also offered as POLS 263W.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250.

Political systems and problems confronting urban governments. 

280. Urban Sociology

(Also offered as SOCI 280.) Either semester. Three credits. Open to sophomores or higher. 

Social and physical organization of cities and suburbs.

280W. Urban Sociology

(Also offered as SOCI 280W.) Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Open to sophomores or higher. 

281. Urban Problems

(Also offered as SOCI 281.) Either semester. Three credits. 

Social problems of American cities and suburbs with emphasis on policy issues.

281W. Urban Problems

(Also offered as SOCI 281W.) Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. 

290. Understanding Your Community

Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: Three courses within the Urban and Community Studies major. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

 Examination of an urban area or local community. Production of a detailed case study including historical perspective, analysis of issues and stakeholders, evaluation of internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external threats and opportunities. Proposal of strategies for addressing problems and advancing equity, growth, and development. 

290W. Understanding Your Community

Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250.

295. Variable Topics

Either semester. Three credits. With a change in topic, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

298. Special Topics

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

299. Independent Study

Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit