Urban Studies

Melina Patterson, Program Director

Affiliated Faculty

Jason James, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Leslie Martin, Associate Professor of Sociology
Andrea Smith, Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation

The Urban Studies Program

Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding cities, including their historical, social, cultural, economic and political contexts and processes. It includes both theoretical or descriptive approaches to the city and urban life and applied or practical approaches to urban planning, historic preservation and urban policy making. Urban studies also addresses urban problems including housing, education, suburbanization, segregation, gentrification, crime, public space, and others. Urban studies recognizes that cities are distinctive places to live and work and that urban life produces particular opportunities and issues.

The Urban Studies Minor allows University of Mary Washington students to explore the particular dynamics of cities from an interdisciplinary framework. It emphasizes breadth. Students interested in obtaining a minor in Urban Studies should contact the program director or one of the affiliated faculty.

Requirements for Urban Studies Minor

Eighteen (18) credits to include one introductory class (Historic Preservation 209, Geography 231 or Geography 237); one research intensive class (Anthropology 344; Historic Preservation 469; or Sociology 313); IDIS 400; and nine credits (three courses) in electives from a pre-approved list. The electives must be in three different disciplines and at least two must be at the 300-level or beyond. One 3-credit Individual Study course may be substituted for one of the elective courses with the approval of the instructor and the Director of the minor program. One 3-credit internship can be substituted for one of the elective courses with the approval of a faculty sponsor and the Director of the minor program.

Electives for Urban Studies Minor

Anthropology 344; Art History 310 and 470U; Classics 103, 105 and 390; Economics 351, 352, 353 and 354; Geography 231, 236, 237, 337 and 410Q; Historic Preservation 209, 469, 470, and 471VV; History 308; Political Science 332; Sociology 313, 332 and 440. American Studies Seminars (AMST 202 and 303) and special topics classes in Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics will count when the topics are relevant and approved by committee.