Urban and Regional Studies Minor

Overview

The scale, diversity, balkanized governance, and natural environment of Southern California all contribute to making it an extraordinary natural laboratory for learning about urban and regional issues, whether the focus is on immigration, employment, the built environment, transportation, poverty, natural resources, or a host of other challenges. The Urban and … For more content click the Read More button below.

The scale, diversity, balkanized governance, and natural environment of Southern California all contribute to making it an extraordinary natural laboratory for learning about urban and regional issues, whether the focus is on immigration, employment, the built environment, transportation, poverty, natural resources, or a host of other challenges. The Urban and Regional Studies minor offers undergraduate students a means to address some of these issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, giving a balanced mixture of theory, practice, and service learning courses.

Requirements

Admission

To enter the minor, students must be in good academic standing with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better, have completed 90 or more units, and complete either Urban Planning M120 (or Public Affairs M109) or 121 with a grade of C or better. An introductory course in geography, political science, or sociology is recommended. For more information, contact the undergraduate advising office.

The Minor

Required Courses (28 units): (1) Urban Planning M120 (or Public Affairs M109) or 121 with a grade of C or better; (2) five elective courses selected from Public Affairs 10, 110, 120, 140, M142, 148, M152, M153, M159, M160, M161, Urban Planning M120 (unless taken under item 1), M121 (unless taken under item 1), CM151, M161, M167, M168 (electives may be added as additional undergraduate courses are offered; any urban planning course from 100-199 is permitted); (3) capstone project that may be satisfied by one of the following: (a) Urban Planning 185SL—service learning project, (b) Urban Planning 195 or Public Affairs 195—internship in Urban Planning, or (c) Urban Planning 199 or Public Affairs 199 with a faculty mentor affiliated with this minor—individual research project.

Policies

By petition, courses outside the Luskin School of Public Affairs may be applied as an elective for the minor. No more than two courses from outside the Luskin School of Public Affairs may be applied toward the minor.

A minimum of 20 units applied toward the minor requirements must be in addition to units applied toward major requirements or another minor.

Each minor course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in the minor. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.