Urban Studies and Planning

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Department of Urban Studies and Planning
HSS 263
415-338-1178
Fax: 415-338-2391
Web Site: http://bss.sfsu.edu/urbs/
Department Chair: Ayse Pamuk

Faculty

Professor—Pinderhughes

Associate Professor—Pamuk

Assistant Professors—Das, Rubin

Programs

B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning
Minor in Urban Studies and Planning

Program Scope

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers two programs: The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning and a Minor in Urban Studies and Planning. The B.A. is designed to prepare students for a wide range of urban planning and policy careers. The minor is designed to complement a wide range of SF State majors by offering students an opportunity to develop competence in urban planning and policy. The major and the minor in Urban Studies and Planning are founded upon the conviction that urban universities have unique opportunities as well as responsibilities to help shape the future of city life.

Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning. The Urban Studies and Planning major offers an interdisciplinary curriculum in urban planning and policy.

The major reflects a social science education with an applied, problem-solving focus, training in research methods, and practical hands-on experience in a carefully supervised internship and a practicum (senior seminar). Core courses integrate social science perspectives into the study of cities, develop the research and analytic tools necessary for urban planning and policy analysis, and offer hands-on applied research experience. Elective courses are designed to apply the basic core course content to urban planning and policy areas of interest.

The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning is recognized as a solid basis for graduate study. Recent program graduates have gone on to M.A. and Ph.D. programs in schools of city and regional planning (Cornell, Harvard, UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, the New School for Social Research, University of Texas at Austin), schools of public policy and administration (Kennedy School, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State), and other fields including law, architecture, social work, public health. We also have a large number of students who seek entry level urban planning and policy jobs with a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning.

Minor in Urban Studies and Planning. The minor consists of a three course core and three elective courses in urban planning and policy.

Career Outlook

The Urban Studies and Planning program has been fortunate in attracting talented and motivated students whose central concern is to make our cities more livable, humane, and sustainable. These students have made important contributions as interns and researchers and as alumni; they have gone on to work as planners, analysts, and managers in private, non-profit, and public organizations throughout the region and beyond. Urban studies alumni are employed in planning departments, housing and community development corporations, transportation planning agencies, health and social service organizations, private consulting firms, environmental organizations, real estate firms, general public management positions, and political organizations. The network of contacts maintained by the department with alumni provides solid evidence of the job opportunities available to Urban Studies and Planning graduates and their continuing contributions to the larger community and offers an invaluable resource to new graduates as they begin their job search.

A copy of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning Advising Handbook and further information about the major and minor can be found on the department’s web page at http://bss.sfsu.edu/urbs/

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING

Courses offered by the Department of Urban Studies and Planning are included in the course description section of the Bulletin, which is organized alphabetically by discipline. Many of the urban studies and planning courses included below in the list of program requirements are cross-listed with other departments and are designated as GE III cluster courses.

All students who enter the program as majors or minors are required to receive at least a grade of C in all core courses required for the major or minor (including electives) in order to fulfill the requirements.

All courses in the major or minor (including electives) must be taken for a letter grade.

Students planning to enroll in USP 603 and USP 604 must attend a mandatory informational meeting the semester preceding their enrollment in these courses.

Urban Studies and Planning majors who successfully complete USP 401 GW in fall 2009 or thereafter will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. Course are listed in the Bulletin. On-line course descriptions including pre-requisites are available.

Possible foci

Housing Policy and Planning
Community Development
Urban Poverty
Land Use Planning
Urban Policy
Sustainable Urban Development
Environmental Justice
Urban Transportation

MINOR IN URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING

Emphases