Urban Studies

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Arts

The study of cities is a vital part of a liberal arts curriculum. During this moment of global change, such forms of knowledge are of critical importance. The world is more urban now than in any other era in human history, and with this rapid urbanization has come the crucial role of cities as sites of economic development, crucibles of civic citizenship, and spaces of cultural imagination.

The Urban Studies major is housed in the Department of City and Regional Planning (DCRP) of the College of Environmental Design. The major seeks to introduce students to the following bodies of knowledge:

  1. Historical and contemporary analysis of American and global urbanization, urbanism, urban societies, and urban political economies
  2. Conceptual tools, analytical methods, and theoretical frameworks to understand urban environments such as economic analysis, social science theory, and visualization technologies
  3. Forms, functions, and practices of urban planning and design, metropolitan governance, social movements, and social justice, including issues such as transportation planning, community development, and housing
  4. Ways of providing more humane, equitable, environmentally sensitive, and efficient settlements as well as ways to lead change for better urban futures

The major trains undergraduates for a variety of future careers and fields of graduate study that are related to urban studies and planning. These include practice-oriented fields such as urban planning, law, non-profit management, and public policy as well as research-oriented fields such as geography, sociology, and anthropology. Above all, the intent of the major is to produce urban citizens and global leaders.

Admission to the Major

Students must declare one of the CED majors at the time of application to the college; however, current UC Berkeley students may apply to change colleges into CED. Transfer applicants must complete two years worth of lower division coursework to be considered for admission to CED. For information regarding admission to the major for first-year, transfer students, and current students who wish to change majors or colleges, please see the College of Environmental Design (CED) page in this Guide or the CED website.

Minors offered by the Department of City and Regional Planning

City Planning
Geospatial Information Science and Technology (offered in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management in the College of Natural Resources)

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

The Urban Studies major requirements differ by students’ admit year to UC Berkeley. The major requirements listed below are the most recent. In the Berkeley Academic Guide Archive, refer to the year you were admitted to UC Berkeley for your major requirements.

General Guidelines

  1. All lower division courses taken in fulfillment of major requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
  2. Courses taken to fulfill lower division major requirements may also be used to fulfill seven-course breadth.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
  4. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 for all courses taken at UC Berkeley is required for graduation.
  5. Courses used to fulfill upper division requirements may not simultaneously fulfill the breadth requirements.
  6. Up to two upper division courses taken at another institution, including an approved study abroad program, may be applied to the major requirements below (if transferable and approved in advance).

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Summary of Major Requirements

Lower Division Requirements: 4 Courses
Upper Division Urban Studies Core: 1 Course
Upper Division Major Electives List One: 5 City Planning Courses
Upper Division Major Electives List Two: 2 Courses Outside CED, 1 with International Content
Upper Division Capstone Experience: 1 Course 1
1

 Students admitted to UCB prior to FL16 must complete two capstone courses

Lower Division Major Requirements

Introduction to Economics [4]
Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format [4]
Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy [4]
or AP Economics, Micro (3+ score); or AP ECON HL (5+ score)
Select one of the following:
Introduction to Statistics [4]
Foundations of Data Science [4]
Introduction to Probability and Statistics [4]
Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business [4]
Statistical Methods for Data Science [4]
or AP Statistics (passing score of 3 or above)
Select two courses from the four areas below:
Community Development
Fundamentals of Population Science [3]
From Macro to Micro: Experiencing Education (In)equality in and beyond Schools [4]
Indigenous Peoples in Global Inequality [4]
Introduction to Global Studies [4]
The Urban Experience: Race, Class, Gender & The American City [4]
The Bay Area [3]
Sexual Politics and Queer Organzing in the US [4]
Plagues and Pandemics [3]
Indigenous Peoples in Global Inequality [4]
PB HLTH 14
Course Not Available [4]
Principles of Business [3]
Design
Introduction to Visual Representation and Drawing [4] (Formerly ENV DES 11A)
Introduction to Design [5] (Formerly ENV DES 11B)
Drawing a Green Future: Fundamentals of Visual Representation and Creativity [4]
Society and Culture
Africa: History and Culture [4]
African American Life and Culture in the United States [4]
African American Life and Culture in the United States [4]
Introduction to American Studies [4]
Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology [4]
Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology (American Cultures) [4]
Introduction to the History of Asians in the United States [4]
Asian American Communities and Race Relations [4]
Introduction to Chicano History [4]
Latino Politics [4]
A Comparative Survey of Racial and Ethnic Groups in the U.S [4]
Literature of American Cultures [4]
California [4]
Introduction to Global Studies [4]
Gender, Sexuality, and Race in Global Political Issues [4]
Gender in American Culture [3]
Introduction to the History of the United States: The United States from Settlement to Civil War [4]
Introduction to the History of the United States: The United States from Civil War to Present [4]
Latin American History: Becoming Latin America, 1492 to 1824 [4]
Latin American History: Modern Latin America [4]
African History [4]
Native Americans in North America 1900-Present [4]
Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies [4]
Introduction to American Politics [4]
Introduction to Comparative Politics [4]
Introduction to Sociology [4]
Principles of Sociology: American Cultures [4]
Environmental Resources and Planning
Engineered Systems and Sustainability [3]
Environmental Issues [4]
Introduction to Culture and Natural Resource Management [4]
Global Ecology and Development [4]
Environmental Science for Sustainable Development [4]
Environmental Issues [4]

Upper Division Urban Studies Core: 1 Course

Select one of the following: 2
Introduction to City Planning [4]
The City: Theories and Methods in Urban Studies [4]

Upper Division Major Electives List One: 5 City Planning Courses

Select five courses from the following: 3
Introduction to Urban Data Analytics [4]
Economic Analysis for Planning [3]
Community and Economic Development [4] (now CY PLAN 160)
Introduction to Urban and Regional Transportation [3]
Urbanization in Developing Countries [4]
Urban Planning Process--The Undergraduate Planning Studio [4]
Urban & Community Health [3]
The Urban Community [4]
Planning for Sustainability [4]
Community Planning and Public Policy for Disability [3]
U.S. Housing, Planning, and Policy [3]
Urban and Sub-national Politics in Developing Countries [4]
Urban Design: City-Building and Place-Making [3]
The Origins and Practice of Community Development [4] (formerly CYPLAN 113B)
Restorative Justice in Urban Planning and Policy: Towards Racial Healing & Justice in Planning [3]
Research Seminar in Urban Studies [3]
Advanced Topics in Urban Studies [1-4]

Courses taken to fulfill the upper division capstone experience requirement may not also be used to fulfill this Urban Studies core requirement.

2

If both CY PLAN 110 and ENV DES 100 are completed, CY PLAN 110 will satisfy one of the five Major Electives from List One. Note: ENV DES 100 cannot be used to satisfy one Upper Division College of Environmental Design Courses Outside of City Planning

3

Graduate-level CY PLAN courses may be approved to satisfy the core requirement. Please see your major advisor for further information.

Upper Division Major Electives List Two: 2 Interdisciplinary Courses Outside of CED, at least 1 with International Content

One of the two courses must have international content, marked with an asterisk (*). Students can also petition to have other urban studies-related courses count for this requirement. Students admitted to UCB prior to FL16 must select three courses from this list; at least one of the three must have international content.  

AFRICAM 107Race and Public Policy3
AFRICAM C133AWhat is the Role of Race in Urban Schools?3
AFRICAM 136Criminal Justice and the Community3
AMERSTD 102Examining U.S. Cultures in Place4
AMERSTD 102ACExamining U.S. Cultures in Place4
ANTHRO 148Anthropology of the Environment4
ANTHRO 157Anthropology of Law4
ASAMST 150Gender and Generation in Asian American Families4
CHICANO 180Topics in Chicano Studies1-4
CIV ENG 167Engineering Project Management3
DEMOG/SOCIOL C126Sex, Death, and Data4
DEMOG 145AC/HISTORY C139BThe American Immigrant Experience4
ECON 115The World Economy in the Twentieth Century *4
or HISTORY 160 The International Economy of the 20th Century
ECON/ENVECON C102Natural Resource Economics4
ECON 121Industrial Organization and Public Policy4
ECON C125/ENVECON C101Environmental Economics4
ECON 131Public Economics4
ECON 133Global Inequality and Growth4
ECON 155Urban Economics3
ECON C171/ENVECON C151Development Economics4
ECON 174Global Poverty and Impact Evaluation4
EDUC C181What is the Role of Race in Urban Schools?3
EDUC 186AC/ETH STD 159AC/GEOG 159ACThe Southern Border *4
ENVECON C101Environmental Economics4
ENVECON C102Natural Resource Economics4
ENVECON C151Development Economics4
ESPM 102DClimate and Energy Policy4
ESPM 155ACSociology and Political Ecology of Agro-Food Systems4
ESPM 160AC/HISTORY 120ACAmerican Environmental and Cultural History4
ESPM 161Environmental Philosophy and Ethics4
ESPM 163AC/SOCIOL 137ACEnvironmental Justice: Race, Class, Equity, and the Environment4
ESPM 165International Rural Development Policy *4
ESPM C167/PB HLTH C160Environmental Health and Development4
ESPM 168Political Ecology4
ESPM 169International Environmental Politics *4
ETH STD 159ACThe Southern Border4
ETH STD 181AC/LEGALST 185AC/SOC WEL 185ACPrison4
GEOG 110Critical Economic Geographies4
GEOG C112Global Development: Theory, History, Geography *4
GEOG 123Postcolonial Geographies *4
GEOG 124Urban Sites and City Life3
GEOG 125The American City4
GEOG 130Food and the Environment *4
GEOG 159ACThe Southern Border4
GEOG 164Global China *3
GEOG 170Special Topics in Geography (only “Post-Socialist Spaces” topic has been approved)3
GEOG 181Urban Field Study4
GEOG 185Earth System Remote Sensing3
GLOBAL 121Globalization In India *4
GLOBAL 173International Human Rights4
HISTORY 120ACAmerican Environmental and Cultural History4
HISTORY 134AThe Age of the City: The Age of the City, 1825-1933 *4
HISTORY C139BThe American Immigrant Experience4
HISTORY 159BThe Power of Ideas: The History of Economic and Social Thought4
HISTORY 160The International Economy of the 20th Century *4
or ECON 115 The World Economy in the Twentieth Century
HISTORY 186International and Global History since 1945 *4
L & S C180U/PUB POL 103Wealth and Poverty4
LEGALST 138The Supreme Court and Public Policy4
LEGALST 158Law and Development4
LEGALST 182Law, Politics and Society4
LEGALST 185ACPrison4
NUSCTX 166Nutrition in the Community3
PACS 127Human Rights and Global Politics *4
PACS 148ACSocial Movements, Urban Histories, and the Politics of Memory4
PACS 149Global Change and World Order *3
POL SCI 114ATheories of Governance: Late 20th Century4
POL SCI 181Public Organization and Administration4
POLECON 100Classical Theories of Political Economy *4
POLECON 101Contemporary Theories of Political Economy *4
PB HLTH 150BHuman Health and the Environment in a Changing World3
PB HLTH C160Environmental Health and Development4
PUB POL 103Wealth and Poverty4
PUB POL 156Program and Policy Design4
PUB POL C184Energy and Society4
SOC WEL 185ACPrison4
SOCIOL 110Organizations and Social Institutions4
SOCIOL 124Sociology of Poverty4
SOCIOL C126Sex, Death, and Data4
SOCIOL 127Development and Globalization *4
SOCIOL 130Social Inequalities4
SOCIOL 130ACSocial Inequalities: American Cultures4
SOCIOL 136Urban Sociology4
SOCIOL 137ACEnvironmental Justice: Race, Class, Equity, and the Environment4
SOCIOL 139Selected Topics in Social Inequality (Society and the Climate Emergency)4
SOCIOL 145Social Change4
SOCIOL 180IComparative Perspectives on U.S. and European Societies: Inequality *4
SOCIOL 186American Society4
UGBA 105Leading People3
UGBA 180Introduction to Real Estate and Urban Land Economics3
UGBA 183Introduction to Real Estate Finance3
UGBA 184Urban and Real Estate Economics3
UGBA 192PSustainable Business Consulting Projects3
UGBA 195SEntrepreneurship To Address Global Poverty *3

Upper Division Capstone Experience 

Courses taken to fulfill the Capstone Experience requirement cannot overlap with another college or major requirement: 

  1. Thesis: This option requires ENV DES 195B (note: ENV DES 199 or 195A is a prerequisite).  Whether a thesis is written or a project is produced, this option should be pursued with a faculty advisor.  
  2. Planning Studio: CY PLAN 116
  3. Research Seminar: CY PLAN 180A or CY PLAN 180B
  4. Field experience/internship with a written planning report: CY PLAN 197. Each student must find their own urban studies-related internship and tenure-track faculty advisor, who will be the faculty of record for a CY PLAN 197 field studies course. CY PLAN 197 must be taken for 3 units and requires a final written report (analyzing the fieldwork and internship experience) submitted to the faculty advisor. To merit 3 units, the internship should require approximately 9 hours per week for 15 weeks. If you are thinking about doing an internship in the summer, see the Urban Studies advisor in 250 Bauer Wurster Hall for details.

College Requirements

For College Requirements, please refer to the College of Environmental Design.

Plan of Study

Each student’s plan will vary depending on interests. Students should see an advisor if they are interested in applying for graduate school, studying abroad, attending summer school, or pursuing a minor or second major.

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information or GPA requirements), please see the Major Requirements tab.

Freshman
FallUnitsSpringUnits
ENV DES 13ENV DES 53
Lower Division US Major Elective (1 of 2)3-4Reading & Composition A4-6
Breadth #13-4ECON 1 (Breadth #3: SOC-BHV SCI)4
Breadth #23-4University Elective, if needed (Math 16A recommended)1-3
 12-15 12-16
Sophomore
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Reading & Composition B4Lower Division US Major Elective 2 of 213-5
STAT 2, DATA C8, COMPSCI C8, INFO C8, STAT 20, or STAT 214Breadth #53-4
Breadth #43-4Breadth #63-4
University Elective, if needed1-4Breadth #73-4
 12-16 12-17
Junior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
CY PLAN 110 (Upper Division Urban Studies Core or elective)4List ONE: CYPLAN (2 of 5)3-4
List ONE: CYPLAN (1 of 5) 3-4List ONE: CYPLAN (3 of 5)3-4
CED Upper Div Non-Major (1 of 3)3-4List TWO: Outside CED (1 of 2)^3-4
University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units2-3Urban Studies Core (ENV DES 100), if needed4
 University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units 
 12-15 13-16
Senior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
List ONE: CYPLAN (4 of 5)3-4List ONE: CYPLAN (5 of 5)3-4
List TWO: Outside CED (2 of 2) ^4Capstone Experience3-4
CED Upper Div Non-Major (2 of 3)3-4CED Upper Div Non-Major (3 of 3)2-4
University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units2-4University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units4
 12-16 12-16
Total Units: 97-127

^One course from Elective List Two must have international content. See the major handbook for more information.

Students must complete 120 units to graduate.

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals of the Major

The Urban Studies major seeks to introduce students to the following bodies of knowledge:

  • Historical and contemporary analysis of American and global urbanization, urbanism, urban societies, and urban political economies. Conceptual tools, analytical methods, and theoretical frameworks to understand urban environments such as economic analysis, social science theory, and visualization technologies.
  • Forms, functions, and practices of urban planning and design, metropolitan governance, social movements, and social justice including issues such as transportation planning, community development, and housing.
  • Ways of providing more humane, equitable, environmentally sensitive, and efficient settlements as well as ways to lead change for better urban futures.

Major Map

Major Maps help undergraduate students discover academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities at UC Berkeley based on intended major or field of interest. Developed by the Division of Undergraduate Education in collaboration with academic departments, these experience maps will help you:

  • Explore your major and gain a better understanding of your field of study

  • Connect with people and programs that inspire and sustain your creativity, drive, curiosity and success

  • Discover opportunities for independent inquiry, enterprise, and creative expression

  • Engage locally and globally to broaden your perspectives and change the world

  • Reflect on your academic career and prepare for life after Berkeley

Use the major map below as a guide to planning your undergraduate journey and designing your own unique Berkeley experience.

View the Urban Studies Major Map PDF.

Advising

The CED Office of Undergraduate Advising provides a wide array of programmatic and individual advising services to prospective and current students as well as to students in other colleges who are pursuing CED minors or taking CED courses. The professional advising team assists students with a range of issues including course selection, academic decision-making, achieving personal and academic goals, and maximizing the Berkeley experience.

Advising Staff

Architecture Major Advisor: Mel Barbers
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
mbarbers@berkeley.edu

Landscape Architecture Major Advisor: Kristian Dawson
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
kristian.dawson@berkeley.edu

Sustainable Environmental Design Major Advisor: Heather Grothjan
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
heather.grothjan@berkeley.edu

Urban Studies Major Advisor: Kristian Dawson
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
kristian.dawson@berkeley.edu

College Evaluator: Heather Grothjan
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
heather.grothjan@berkeley.edu
 

Undergraduate Advising Director: Omar Ramirez
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
oramirez@berkeley.edu
 

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies: Kyle Steinfeld
345 Bauer Wurster Hall
ksteinfe@berkeley.edu

Advising Office

Fall/spring: Monday through Friday, 10 to noon (office opens at 9 a.m.) & 1 to 4 p.m.
Summer: Monday through Friday, 10 to noon  & 1 to 3 p.m.

Address

Office of Undergraduate Advising
College of Environmental Design
250 Bauer Wurster Hall #1800
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1800
cedadvising@berkeley.edu

CED Career Services

The CED Career Services Center (CSC) offers personalized career counseling, a yearly CED Career Fair, and a wide variety of professional development workshops on topics such as licensure, internships, and applying for graduate school. To schedule an appointment with the Career Counselor or for more information on CED CSC, please click here.

Office of Undergraduate Advising

Mission

The College of Environmental Design (CED) Office of Undergraduate Advising:

  • Supports students holistically as they earn their degree,
  • Advocates for just and equitable policies and practices,
  • Connects current and prospective students with resources and opportunities,
  • Fosters a sense of belonging and community.

Advising Values

The CED Office of Undergraduate Advising aspires to the following core values:

Student-Centered

We provide support services centered on student self-actualization. We aim to hold a welcoming space in which students are encouraged to explore their minds and their hearts, do their best work, realize their talents and passions, and achieve their goals. We put the student voice and experience first.

Justice & Equity

We actively seek to eradicate all forms of individual and institutionalized discrimination and oppression. We aim to provide students with an equitable experience in complete appreciation of their identities, economic status, and immigration status.

Health & Well-Being

We strive to build and sustain a culture in which our community can thrive in all aspects of life: intellectual, emotional, social, physical, occupational, spiritual and environmental.

Courage & Vulnerability

By learning from our own experiences, educating ourselves on developments in the field, collaborating with our communities, and taking strategic risks, we aim to improve our advising services and the student experience. We are committed to continuous self-reflection, growth, and development.

Academic Opportunities

Student Groups and Organizations

The college provides opportunities for students to be involved in student chapters of professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIAS) as well as other student groups like the Berkeley Urban Studies Student Association (BUSSA), the Chican@/Latin@ Architecture Student Association (CASA), Global Architecture Brigades, and more. For information regarding  student groups, please see the Student Organizations page of the CED website.

Study Abroad

The College of Environmental Design (CED) encourages all undergraduates in the college to study abroad. Whether students are interested in fulfilling general education requirements, taking courses related to their major/career, or simply living and studying in a country that is of interest to them, CED will work with students to make it happen. For information about study abroad programs, please see the Berkeley Study Abroad website.

CED Career Services

The CED Career Services Center (CSC) offers personalized career counseling, a yearly CED Career Fair, and a wide variety of professional-development workshops on topics such as licensure, internships, and applying for graduate school. For further information, please see the CED Career Services website.

Prizes and Awards

CED offers a number of annual prizes, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and grants to its currently enrolled students. Some of these prizes and awards are college-wide, and some are geared toward students in specific majors. For general information regarding CED prizes and awards, including application instructions and a deadline calendar, please click here.

CED Events and Exhibits Calendar

CED and Wurster Hall is home to a variety of events, lectures, and exhibitions that welcome professors, professionals, and friends to the college to discuss and celebrate the community and professions. Through events and media, CED is constantly creating ways to keep the college connected and up-to-date. To view this calendar, please click here.

CED on Facebook

CED Lecture Series

The Departments of Architecture, City and Regional Planning, and Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning each sponsor lecture series which offers students the opportunity to hear internationally-acclaimed speakers. These speakers often also participate in classes and seminars as part of their visit to campus. For a schedule of speakers and events in these lecture series, please see the CED website.

WursterLife

WursterLife is a closed-network platform that enables CED students and alumni from across the globe to connect with classmates, find alumni by practice area, geographic region, affinity group, or shared interest, share professional updates, news, photos, events, and jobs, enhance your career through your alumni connections, and find ways to stay engaged with the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design.

Research Opportunities, Internships, Public Service, and Volunteer Opportunities

Check out the CED Office of Undergraduate Advising website for additional opportunities.

Courses

Urban Studies

Contact Information

Department of City and Regional Planning

228 Wurster Hall

Phone: 510-642-3256

Visit Department Website

Department Co-Chairs

Daniel Chatman & Daniel Rodríguez

dcrpchair@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Major Head, Minor Program Faculty Advisor

Charisma Acey

charisma.acey@berkeley.edu

Urban Studies Major Advisor, City Planning Minor Advisor

Kristian Dawson

250 Bauer Wurster Hall

kristian.dawson@berkeley.edu

College Evaluator

Heather Grothjan (Peng)

250 Bauer Wurster Hall

Phone: 510-642-0928

heather.grothjan@berkeley.edu

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Kyle Steinfeld

345 Bauer Wurster Hall

ksteinfe@berkeley.edu

Director, Office of Undergraduate Advising

Omar Ramirez

250 Bauer Wurster Hall

oramirez@berkeley.edu

CED Career Services

Dinorah Meyer

http://ced.berkeley.edu/ced/students/career/

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