The minor in urban studies is highly relevant to students interested in addressing emerging and persistent issues of the 21st century, including social justice, climate change, environmental conservation, sustainable development, mobility and access, public health, and economic prosperity—each of which has local, urban, and regional dimensions.
The undergraduate minor in urban studies requires 15 s.h. of coursework taken at the University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 in work for the minor. Coursework in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass.
Students earning the Certificate in Urban Studies may choose to complete that certificate or instead decide to earn the minor in urban studies.
The minor in urban studies requires the following coursework.
Core Course
The core course provides an introduction to urban studies, policies, and practices.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| URP:3001/GEOG:3920 | Planning Livable Cities | 3 |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least 12 s.h. from these: | ||
| PBAF:3560/POLI:3560/RHET:3560/SJUS:3560 | Public Policy and Persuasion | 3 |
| PBAF:3570/GHS:3570 | Poverty Policy | 3 |
| URP:2020/PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics | 3 |
| URP:4170 | Megacities Seminar (3 s.h. recommended) | 1-3 |
| URP:4225 | Applied GIS for Planning and Policy Making | 3 |
| URP:4245 | Growth Management | 3 |
| URP:4253 | Designing Sustainable and Healthy Cities (3 s.h. recommended) | 1-3 |
| URP:4256 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
| URP:4260 | Transportation Policy and Planning | 3 |
| URP:4266 | Transportation, Urban Form, and Sustainability | 3 |
| URP:4271 | Housing Policy | 3 |
| URP:4273 | Community Development Through Creative Placemaking | 3 |
| URP:4280 | Planning for Disaster Mitigation and Recovery (3 s.h. recommended) | 2-3 |
| URP:4295 | Economic Development Policy | 3 |
| URP:4297 | Financing Economic Development for Poverty Alleviation | 3 |
| URP:4752 | Eight Generation Planning: Envisioning Regenerative Cities | 3 |
| CRIM:4120 | Environmental Criminology | 3 |
Declaring the Minor
Students may declare the minor in MyUI as soon as they are enrolled in URP:3001 Planning Livable Cities.
Those interested in pursuing the minor must meet with the minor advisor, be briefed on the minor expectations for performance, and complete a plan of study that must be approved by the minor advisor.
For more information, contact the School of Planning and Public Affairs.