Urban Studies

Times Square Street Scene - LG

Degree Options: Major, Minor
Locations: Lincoln Center, Rose Hill
Visit the Urban Studies Program

Learn how cities tick in one of the most influential urban centers on the planet.

For the first time in human history, more people live in cities than on farms. How do cities differ from Anchorage to Santiago, Reykjavik to Tokyo, Casablanca to Capetown? What happens when so many people cluster so close together? How do people think, work, and live? Who excels, and who falls behind?

Designed as an interdisciplinary program, our program offers a broad introduction to the city and the urban environment. You’ll combine coursework and research in a variety of disciplines with hands-on experience in New York City as well as other American and international cities.

You’ll graduate ready to pursue a wide range of careers in government service, community development, nonprofit, journalism, teaching, social work, public policy, architecture, urban planning, law, and more.

You’ll learn more than urban studies here. You’ll also study philosophy, theology, history, mathematics, languages, science, and the performing arts through Fordham’s common core curriculum, the centerpiece of our liberal arts education.

We want you to excel in your field—and as a human being.

  • As an urban studies major, you’ll take 10 courses. It’s an interdisciplinary program, so you’ll take classes in a range of disciplines, including:

    • Sociology
    • Economics
    • Political Science
    • African American Studies
    • Latino Studies
    • Architecture
    • Urban Design
    • Environmental Studies

    We also offer an urban design and architecture concentration that will prepare you for graduate study in urban and regional planning, architecture, and landscape architecture.

    Internships

    What better place to put your urban studies knowledge to work than New York City? An internship is an integral—and required—part of the urban studies major. We connect you with community organizations where you can choose from a variety of fields, including:

    • Tutoring
    • Youth Leadership
    • Housing
    • Urban and Economic Development
    • Counseling
    • Advocacy
    • Architecture and Planning

    Study Abroad

    We enthusiastically encourage you to venture abroad for your urban studies education. There is a globe of possibilities available through Fordham’s International and Study Abroad Program.

    Some of the countries where universities offer urban studies and planning courses:

    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Brazil
    • Dominican Republic
    • France
    • India
    • Jordan
    • Korea
    • Portugal
    • Senegal

  • Sample Courses
    Urban Politics
    Urban Psychology
    Architectural Design
    Anthropology of Cities
    Islamic City
    Urban Economics
    Green Architecture
    European Cities
    East Asian Cities
    The African City
    Urban Poverty

  • The interdisciplinary approach of the urban studies major prepares you for a wide range of careers. Some of the many places our graduates have landed:

    —in the nonprofit sector:

    • Hostos Center for Arts and Culture
    • United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg
    • Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

    —in urban planning, architecture, and urban design:

    • New York City Department of Planning
    • American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter
    • Metropolitan Planning Council

    —in real estate, development, consulting, and management:

    • Centerline Capital Group
    • MP Engineers, P.C.
    • MTA Capital Construction

    —in business and finance:

    • Citi
    • Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
    • Symantec

    —in education and research:

    • Chicago Public Schools
    • San Francisco State University
    • NASA Ames Research Center

    —in lobbying and government:

    • Stop the Violence, Office of the Mayor, City of New York
    • Farmers Market, City of Ann Arbor
    • U.S. Department of Labor’s Emergency Management Center

    —in medicine and health:

    • Holy Name Medical Center
    • Medic Mobile
    • Franciscan Hospital for Children

    —in arts and design:

    • WNYC Radio
    • London Artscom, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
    • Bruno NYC MSY Design

    You get access to our powerful (and Fordham-loyal) network of alumni, who want to see you succeed as they have.

Learn More About the Urban Studies Program

Visit the Urban Studies Program