Urban Studies

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 overall GPA of 2.0 for all courses taken at UC Berkeley is required for graduation.
4. Upper division major courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be completed with a letter grade.
5. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in upper division major courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
6. Courses used to fulfill an upper division major requirement may not simultaneously fulfill a breadth requirement.
7. 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

Course List

Code	Title	Units
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

Lower Division Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Economics
Select one economics course
ECON 1	Introduction to Economics [4]
ECON 2	Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format [4]
ECON C3/ENVECON C1	Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy [4]
or AP Economics, Micro (3+ score); or AP ECON HL (5+ score)
Statistics
Select one statistics course:
STAT 2	Introduction to Statistics [4]
STAT C8	Foundations of Data Science [4]
STAT 20	Introduction to Probability and Statistics [4]
STAT 21	Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business [4]
STAT C131A	Statistical Methods for Data Science [4]
or AP Statistics (passing score of 3 or above)
Lower Division Major Electives
Select two courses from any of the four areas below:
Community Development
DEMOG 5	Fundamentals of Population Science [3]
EDUC 40AC	From Macro to Micro: Experiencing Education (In)equality in and beyond Schools [4]
ETH STD C73AC	Indigenous Peoples in Global Inequality [4]
GEOG 70AC	The Urban Experience: Race, Class, Gender & The American City [4]
GEOG C32	Introduction to Global Studies [4]
GEOG 72AC	The Bay Area [3]
LGBT 20AC	Sexual Politics and Queer Organzing in the US [4]
MCELLBI 55	Plagues and Pandemics [3]
NATAMST/ETH STD C73AC	Indigenous Peoples in Global Inequality [4]
PB HLTH 14	Course Not Available [4]
UGBA 10	Course Not Available [3]
Design
ARCH 11A	Introduction to Visual Representation and Drawing [4] (Formerly ENV DES 11A)
ARCH 11B	Introduction to Design [5] (Formerly ENV DES 11B)
LD ARCH 1	Drawing a Green Future: Fundamentals of Visual Representation and Creativity [4]
Society and Culture
AFRICAM 4A	Africa: History and Culture [4]
AFRICAM 5A	African American Life and Culture in the United States [4]
AFRICAM 5B	African American Life and Culture in the United States [4]
AMERSTD 10	Introduction to American Studies [4]
ANTHRO 3	Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology [4]
ANTHRO 3AC	Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology (American Cultures) [4]
ASAMST 20A	Introduction to the History of Asians in the United States [4]
ASAMST 20AC	Asian American Communities and Race Relations [4]
CHICANO 50	Introduction to Chicano History [4]
CHICANO 70	Latino Politics [4]
ETH STD 21AC	A Comparative Survey of Racial and Ethnic Groups in the U.S [4]
ENGLISH 31AC	Literature of American Cultures [4]
GEOG 50AC	California [4]
GLOBAL 10A	Introduction to Global Studies [4]
GLOBAL C10A/GEOG C32	Introduction to Global Studies [4]
GWS 14	Gender, Sexuality, and Race in Global Political Issues [4]
GWS 50AC	Gender in American Culture [3]
HISTORY 7A	Introduction to the History of the United States: The United States from Settlement to Civil War [4]
HISTORY 7B	Introduction to the History of the United States: The United States from Civil War to Present [4]
HISTORY 8A	Latin American History: Becoming Latin America, 1492 to 1824 [4]
HISTORY 8B	Latin American History: Modern Latin America [4]
HISTORY 10	African History [4]
NATAMST 72	Native Americans in North America 1900-Present [4]
PACS 10	Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies [4]
POL SCI 1	Introduction to American Politics [4]
POL SCI 2	Introduction to Comparative Politics [4]
SOCIOL 1	Introduction to Sociology [4]
SOCIOL 3AC	Principles of Sociology: American Cultures [4]
Environmental Resources and Planning
CIV ENG 11	Engineered Systems and Sustainability [3]
ESPM C10	Environmental Issues [4]
ESPM 50AC	Introduction to Culture and Natural Resource Management [4]
GEOG 35	Global Ecology and Development [4]
LD ARCH 12	Environmental Science for Sustainable Development [4]
L & S C30V	Environmental Issues [4]

Upper Division Urban Studies Core: 1 Course

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Select one of the following: 2
CY PLAN 110	Introduction to City Planning [4]
ENV DES 100	The City: Theories and Methods in Urban Studies [4]

Upper Division Major Electives List One: 5 City Planning Courses^†

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Select five courses from the following: 3
CY PLAN 101	Introduction to Urban Data Analytics [4]
CY PLAN 113A	Economic Analysis for Planning [3]
CY PLAN 113B	Community and Economic Development [4] (now CY PLAN 160)
CY PLAN 114	Introduction to Urban and Regional Transportation [3]
CY PLAN 115/N115	Urbanization in Developing Countries [4]
CY PLAN 116	Urban Planning Process--The Undergraduate Planning Studio [4]
CY PLAN 117AC	Urban & Community Health [3]
CY PLAN 118AC	The Urban Community [4]
CY PLAN 119	Planning for Sustainability [4]
CY PLAN 120	Community Planning and Public Policy for Disability [3]
CY PLAN 130	U.S. Housing, Planning, and Policy [3]
CY PLAN C139	Urban and Sub-national Politics in Developing Countries [4]
CY PLAN 140	Urban Design: City-Building and Place-Making [3]
CY PLAN 160	The Origins and Practice of Community Development [4] (formerly CYPLAN 113B)
CY PLAN 180A	Restorative Justice in Urban Planning and Policy: Towards Racial Healing & Justice in Planning [3]
CY PLAN 180B	Research Seminar in Urban Studies [3]
CY PLAN 190	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.  

Course List

Code	Title	Units
AFRICAM 107	Race and Public Policy	3
AFRICAM C133A	What is the Role of Race in Urban Schools?	3
AFRICAM 136	Criminal Justice and the Community	3
AMERSTD 102	Examining U.S. Cultures in Place	4
AMERSTD 102AC	Examining U.S. Cultures in Place	4
ANTHRO 148	Anthropology of the Environment	4
ANTHRO 157	Anthropology of Law	4
ASAMST 150	Gender and Generation in Asian American Families	4
CIV ENG 155	Transportation Systems Engineering	3
CIV ENG 167	Engineering Project Management	3
DEMOG/SOCIOL C126	Sex, Death, and Data	4
DEMOG 145AC/HISTORY C139B	The American Immigrant Experience	4
ECON 115	The World Economy in the Twentieth Century *	4
or HISTORY 160	The International Economy of the 20th Century
ECON/ENVECON C102	Natural Resource Economics	4
ECON 121	Industrial Organization and Public Policy	4
ECON C125/ENVECON C101	Environmental Economics	4
ECON 131	Public Economics	4
ECON 133	Global Inequality and Growth	4
ECON 155	Urban Economics	3
ECON C171/ENVECON C151	Development Economics	4
ECON 174	Global Poverty and Impact Evaluation	4
EDUC C181	What is the Role of Race in Urban Schools?	3
EDUC 186AC/ETH STD 159AC/GEOG 159AC	The Southern Border *	4
ENVECON C101	Environmental Economics	4
ENVECON C102	Natural Resource Economics	4
ENVECON C151	Development Economics	4
ESPM 102D	Climate and Energy Policy	4
ESPM 155AC	Sociology and Political Ecology of Agro-Food Systems	4
ESPM 160AC/HISTORY 120AC	American Environmental and Cultural History	4
ESPM 161	Environmental Philosophy and Ethics	4
ESPM 163AC/SOCIOL 137AC	Environmental Justice: Race, Class, Equity, and the Environment	4
ESPM 165	International Rural Development Policy *	4
ESPM C167/PB HLTH C160	Environmental Health and Development	4
ESPM 168	Political Ecology	4
ESPM 169	International Environmental Politics *	4
ETH STD 159AC	The Southern Border	4
ETH STD 181AC/LEGALST 185AC/SOC WEL 185AC	Prison	4
GEOG 110	Critical Economic Geographies	4
GEOG C112	Global Development: Theory, History, Geography *	4
GEOG 123	Postcolonial Geographies *	4
GEOG 124	Urban Sites and City Life	3
GEOG 125	The American City	4
GEOG 130	Food and the Environment *	4
GEOG 159AC	The Southern Border	4
GEOG 164	Global China *	3
GEOG 170	Special Topics in Geography (only “Post-Socialist Spaces” topic has been approved)	3
GEOG 181	Urban Field Study	4
GEOG 185	Earth System Remote Sensing	3
GLOBAL 121	Globalization In India *	4
GLOBAL 173	International Human Rights	4
HISTART 105	Eco Art: Art, Architecture, and the Natural Environment	4
HISTORY 120AC	American Environmental and Cultural History	4
HISTORY 134A	The Age of the City: The Age of the City, 1825-1933 *	4
HISTORY C139B	The American Immigrant Experience	4
HISTORY 159B	The Power of Ideas: The History of Economic and Social Thought	4
HISTORY 160	The International Economy of the 20th Century *	4
or ECON 115	The World Economy in the Twentieth Century
HISTORY 186	International and Global History since 1945 *	4
L & S C180U/PUB POL 103	Wealth and Poverty	4
LEGALST 138	The Supreme Court and Public Policy	4
LEGALST 158	Law and Development	4
LEGALST 182	Law, Politics and Society	4
LEGALST 185AC	Prison	4
NUSCTX 166	Nutrition in the Community	3
PACS 127	Human Rights and Global Politics *	4
PACS 148AC	Social Movements, Urban Histories, and the Politics of Memory	4
PACS 149	Global Change and World Order *	3
POL SCI 114A	Theories of Governance: Late 20th Century	4
POL SCI 181	Public Organization and Administration	4
POLECON 100	Classical Theories of Political Economy *	4
POLECON 101	Contemporary Theories of Political Economy *	4
PB HLTH 150B	Human Health and the Environment in a Changing World	3
PB HLTH C160/ESPM C167	Environmental Health and Development	4
PB HLTH 177A	GIS and Spatial Analysis for Health Equity *	3
PUB POL 103	Wealth and Poverty	4
PUB POL 156	Program and Policy Design	4
PUB POL C184	Energy and Society	4
SOC WEL 185AC	Prison	4
SOCIOL 110	Organizations and Social Institutions	4
SOCIOL 124	Sociology of Poverty	4
SOCIOL C126	Sex, Death, and Data	4
SOCIOL 127	Development and Globalization *	4
SOCIOL 130	Social Inequalities	4
SOCIOL 130AC	Social Inequalities: American Cultures	4
SOCIOL 136	Urban Sociology	4
SOCIOL 137AC	Environmental Justice: Race, Class, Equity, and the Environment	4
SOCIOL 139	Selected Topics in Social Inequality (Society and the Climate Emergency)	4
SOCIOL 145	Social Change	4
SOCIOL 180I	Comparative Perspectives on U.S. and European Societies: Inequality *	4
SOCIOL 186	American Society	4
UGBA 105	Leading People	3
UGBA 180	Introduction to Real Estate and Urban Land Economics	3
UGBA 183	Introduction to Real Estate Finance	3
UGBA 184	Urban and Real Estate Economics	3
UGBA 195S	Entrepreneurship 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

Summary of College and University Requirements

• Entry Level Writing
• American History and Institutions
• American Cultures
• Reading and Composition
• Seven Course Breadth
• Lower Division Environmental Design (2 courses)
• Upper Division Environmental Design (3 courses)

University of California Requirements
 

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as first-year (non-transfer) students must demonstrate their command of the English language by satisfying the Entry Level Writing Requirement. satisfaction of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a U.S. resident graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Campus Requirement

American Cultures

American Cultures (AC) is the one requirement that all undergraduate students at UC Berkeley need to take and pass in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College Requirements

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking, the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition. Students must complete a first-level reading and composition course by the end of their second semester and a second-level course by the end of their fourth semester. 

Seven Course Breadth

Please see College of Letters & Science Seven-Course Breadth Requirement for detailed instructions on satisfying these requirements. Guidelines include the following:

1. Up to two CED courses or courses cross-listed with CED may be used to complete Seven-Course Breadth (students admitted to UCB Fall 2013 and later only).
2. Only lower division ENV DES courses (ENV DES 1, ENV DES 5) and lower division major requirements may simultaneously satisfy Seven-Course Breadth. A course used to satisfy either an upper division major requirement or the upper division CED outside of major department requirement may not also satisfy Seven Course Breadth. Upper division CED courses that are not satisfying another upper division requirement may satisfy Seven-Course Breadth.
3. No more than two courses from any one academic department may be used to satisfy breadth requirements.
4. A Seven-Course Breadth class that is also being used to complete another CED requirement must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better.
5. Only one of the remaining Seven-Course Breadth may be taken on a Passed/Not Passed basis.
6. The International Studies breadth requirement may be satisfied by participation in the UC Education Abroad Program or a recognized equivalent program.
7. CED students may apply high school exam credit (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A-Level Exam) towards many of the above requirements. See the CED website section on High School Exam Credit for more information: ced.berkeley.edu/advising/forms-documents 

Lower Division Major Requirements that May be Used to Simultaneously satisfy Seven Course Breadth Requirement

ARCHITECTURE MAJORS

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Physical Sciences
PHYSICS 7A	Physics for Scientists and Engineers [4]
PHYSICS 8A	Introductory Physics [4]

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MAJORS

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Biological Sciences
Approved biological science courses (see major handbook) can also be used to satisfy biological science breadth requirements. Consult a CED advisor for more information.
Physical Sciences
Approved physical science courses (see major handbook) can also be used to satisfy physical science breadth requirements. Consult a CED advisor for more information.

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN MAJORS

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Biological Sciences
LD ARCH 12	Environmental Science for Sustainable Development [4]
Physical Sciences
PHYSICS 7A	Physics for Scientists and Engineers [4]
PHYSICS 8A	Introductory Physics [4]
Social & Behavioral Sciences
ECON C3	Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy [4]
ENVECON C1	Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy [4]
(ECON 1 or 2: permission needed from SED Advisor)

URBAN STUDIES MAJORS

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Social & Behavioral Sciences
ECON 1	Introduction to Economics [4]
ECON 2	Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format [4]
ECON C3	Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy [4]
ENVECON C1	Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy [4]
Urban Studies Lower Division Major Electives
Lower Divison Major Electives (see major handbook) can also be used to satisfy breadth requirements. Consult a CED advisor for more information.

LOWER DIVISION ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (TWO COURSES REQUIRED) 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ENV DES 1	Introduction to Environmental Design	3
ENV DES 5	Cities and Sites *	4

*

ENV DES 5 is a requirement for all students admitted to UC Berkeley as first-year (non-transfer), including students admitted to other colleges at UC Berkeley then entered CED through the Change of College process. Transfer students are exempt from this requirement.

Guidelines for lower division Environmental Design courses:

• Must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better.
• Any of the courses used to satisfy this requirement may simultaneously satisfy the Seven Course Breadth Requirement. However, no more than two CED courses (or courses cross-listed with CED courses) may be used to complete Seven Course Breadth.

Upper Division Environmental Design (Three Courses Required)

1. Three upper division CED courses from departments outside the major (minimum of 9 units).
2. Must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better.
3. Each of the three courses must be at least 2 units and must be within the 100-299 course range (excluding 197, 198, and 199).
4. Depending on the major, this requirement may be satisfied with courses in Architecture, Environmental Design, Visual Studies, Landscape Architecture, and City and Regional Planning.
5. A course used to satisfy this requirement may not also be used to satisfy Seven Course Breadth or major requirements.

High School Exam Credit

CED students may apply high school exam credit (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A-Level Exam) towards many College and Major Requirements. Please see the High School Exam Credit section on the CED website for more information.

Semester Limit

Students admitted as first-year (non-transfer) students must graduate within eight fall/spring semesters at UC Berkeley. Students admitted as transfer students must graduate within four fall/spring semesters at UC Berkeley. EAP and UCDC count towards this semester limit; summer session, UC Extension, and study abroad through non-UC programs do not. Students approved for simultaneous degrees in two colleges may be granted an additional semester. CED does not limit the number of total units a student can accrue.

Grade Requirements

• A 2.0 UC GPA is required for graduation.
• A 2.0 GPA within the major is required at time of graduation.

Graduating With Honors

To graduate with distinction, students must meet the grade point average (GPA) requirement and complete at least 50 units in residence at Berkeley (this may include UCB Extension XB units and up to 20 units from UCDC or EAP), of which 43 units must be letter-graded (not including physical education activities courses). Transfer students must make sure they complete 50 units at Berkeley to qualify for honors.

Students' GPA in all letter-graded courses taken at Berkeley must be equal to or higher than the GPA established for honors in the year in which they graduate. These GPA cut-offs change slightly each year and are posted on the CED website.

Unit Requirements

Students must complete at least 120 semester units of courses subject to certain guidelines:

• A maximum of 16 units of Special Studies coursework (courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, or 199) is allowed towards the 120 units; a maximum of four is allowed in a given semester; only upper division students (60 or more units completed) may enroll in 197, 198, or 199 coursework.
• A maximum of 4 units of Physical Education from any school attended will count towards the 120 units.
• Students may receive unit credit for courses graded P (including P/NP units taken through EAP) up to a limit of one-third of the total units taken and passed on the Berkeley campus at the time of graduation.
• No more than 60 units from a single department can be used towards the 120 minimum.

Semester Unit Minimum

All CED students must enroll in at least 12 units each fall and spring semester. Students entering UC Berkeley as first-year (non-transfer) students with no prior units need to complete 15 units per semester to graduate in four years.

Semester Unit Maximum

To request permission to take more than 20.5 units in a semester, please see the major advisor.

Senior Residence Requirement

After reaching senior status (90 semester units earned), students must be registered in the College of Environmental Design and must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in at least two semesters in residence at UC Berkeley as CED students. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least six passed units.

Students may use Berkeley Summer Sessions to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence Requirement, provided that six units of coursework are completed. Units completed through UC Berkeley “W” web-based courses do apply towards Senior Residence.

Excluded from Senior Residence: Inter-campus Visitor Program, Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC), Berkeley Summer Sessions completed abroad, UC Berkeley Extension units (X and XB), and non-UC Berkeley online classes.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC); a fall, spring or summer UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP); Berkeley Summer Abroad; or the Berkeley Global Internship program may meet the Modified Senior Residence Requirement by completing 24 of their final 60 semester units(excluding EAP or UC Extension) in residence. Note that these programs must consist of at least six passed units to meet the requirement. At least 12 of the 24 units must be completed after senior status (90 units) is reached.

Most students automatically satisfy the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years (two years for transfer students). In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless students go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through University Extension during their senior year. In these cases, students should make an appointment to see an advisor to determine how they can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Fulfilling Requirements with Transfer Coursework 

Students may use transfer work, including courses taken via Study Abroad, to fulfill CED requirements, within the following limits (please consult your major advisor for more information):

• Upper Division Major Requirements: Up to two courses taken elsewhere may be applied, if deemed transferable by the UC Berkeley Central Evaluation Unit and approved by the faculty advisor for your major.
• Upper Division CED Outside the Major: Up to two courses taken elsewhere may be applied, if deemed transferable by the UC Berkeley Central Evaluation Unit  and approved by the college.
• Upper Division CED Minor Requirements: Up to two courses taken elsewhere may be applied, if deemed transferable by the UC Berkeley Central Evaluation Unit  and approved by the faculty advisor for your minor.
• CED Breadth Requirements: All requirements can be potentially fulfilled by courses taken elsewhere, if deemed transferable by the UC Berkeley Central Evaluation Unit  and approved for breadth by the college (courses must be at least three units each).

To submit a request, please refer to the CED Forms & Documents page and complete the form located under Transfer Credit Evaluation: "CED Course Substitution Process-Current Students (Including Study Abroad)."

Concurrent Enrollment 

Concurrent enrollment for enrolled Berkeley students is defined as a student being enrolled in courses at UC Berkeley during a Fall or Spring semester, while also being enrolled in courses at another school such as a California community college. Students who wish to take courses concurrently must seek approval from CED Advising four weeks prior to the first day of instruction. Students who do not have approval from CED Advising will not be approved to post transferable units to their UC Berkeley academic transcript. Only summer session enrollment does not require approval from CED Advising.

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
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
ENV DES 1	3	ENV DES 5	3
Lower Division US Major Elective (1 of 2)	3-4	Reading & Composition A	4-6
Breadth #1	3-4	ECON 1 (Breadth #3: SOC-BHV SCI)	4
Breadth #2	3-4	University Elective, if needed (Math 16A recommended)	1-3
	12-15		12-16
Sophomore
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
Reading & Composition B	4	Lower Division US Major Elective 2 of 21	3-5
STAT 2, DATA C8, COMPSCI C8, INFO C8, STAT 20, or STAT 21	4	Breadth #5	3-4
Breadth #4	3-4	Breadth #6	3-4
University Elective, if needed	1-4	Breadth #7	3-4
	12-16		12-17
Junior
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
CY PLAN 110 (Upper Division Urban Studies Core or elective)	4	List ONE: CYPLAN (2 of 5)	3-4
List ONE: CYPLAN (1 of 5)	3-4	List ONE: CYPLAN (3 of 5)	3-4
CED Upper Div Non-Major (1 of 3)	3-4	List TWO: Outside CED (1 of 2)^	3-4
University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units	2-3	Urban Studies Core (ENV DES 100), if needed	4
		University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units
	12-15		13-16
Senior
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
List ONE: CYPLAN (4 of 5)	3-4	List ONE: CYPLAN (5 of 5)	3-4
List TWO: Outside CED (2 of 2) ^	4	Capstone Experience	3-4
CED Upper Div Non-Major (2 of 3)	3-4	CED Upper Div Non-Major (3 of 3)	2-4
University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units	2-4	University Elective, if needed to reach 12 units	4
	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 are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

View the Urban Studies Major Map.

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

Heather Grothjan, Undergraduate Academic Advisor
250 Bauer Wurster Hall, heather.grothjan@berkeley.edu,

Kristian Dawson, Undergraduate Academic Advisor
250 Bauer Wurster Hall, kristian.dawson@berkeley.edu

Mel Barbers, Undergraduate Academic Advisor
250 Bauer Wurster Hall, mbarbers@berkeley.edu

Omar Ramirez, Director of CED Undergraduate Advising
250 Bauer Wurster Hall, oramirez@berkeley.edu

Andrew Atwood, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
364 Bauer Wurster Hall, atwood@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Advising Office Hours

Fall/Spring: Monday through Friday, 10 to noon; 1 to 4 p.m. (Office opens at 9 a.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

Email Address

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. For further information or to schedule an appointment with the Career Counselor, please see the CED Career Services website.

Program Requirements

For the most current information regarding major and minor program requirements and college-wide policies, please see the following pages on the CED website:

• Newly-Admitted Students
• Current Students
• Graduation and Commencement
• Articulation
• CED Undegraduate Policies
• Forms and Documents

Mission

The College of Environmental Design (CED) Office of Undergraduate Advising helps students graduate in a timely way with a meaningful educational experience at Berkeley. In alignment with the College's Vision and Principles, the Office collaborates with CED faculty, deans, and student service units across campus toward the common objective of supporting students as they achieve their educational and career goals. The Office of Undergraduate Advising seeks to achieve the following:

• Attract a highly-motivated, diverse pool of applicants
• Connect students with resources that match their goals and aspirations
• Support the development and transformation of our undergraduates as they become educated, active and socially just citizens of the world
• Prepare graduates who are uniquely qualified and highly sought after in their field of choice

Advising Values

Student Success. Above all, the Office of Undergraduate Advising dedicates itself to maximizing student potential and to helping students succeed in their university experiences. Advisors encourage students to explore their minds and their hearts, challenge them to do their best work, and help them realize their talents and passions and achieve their goals.

Equity & Inclusion. Commitment to creating an inclusive environment in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued. Advisors aspire to provide fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all students and to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent the full participation of all.

Health & Well-Being. Collaboration with campus partners to keep the CED community healthy by helping students balance the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual and environmental aspects of life.

Advising Excellence. In all that they do, advisors strive to deliver personalized advising services of the highest quality. They also seek to continuously educate themselves on developments in the field and to evaluate, improve, and streamline services to support students in obtaining the best education and experience possible.

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