Overview

An interdisciplinary minor, urban studies focuses on urban issues and locates them within a Christian worldview. The minor consists of a curriculum of six courses, one of which must be sociology 302, "Urban Sociology." Remaining course depends on your specific interests and career goals. Choose from these three course tracks:

• urban social development: sociology, philosophy and history
• the built environment: architecture, environmental studies and geography
• urban policy: political science, economics and social work

  Careers in Urban Studies

  • Counselor
  • Corrections Officer
  • Advocate
  • Programmer
  • Rehabilitator
  • Teacher

  See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

  Student involvement

  Spend a semester studying in Chicago, Washington D.C. or Amsterdam; Explore downtown Grand Rapids; Assist a professor with sociological research through a summer fellowship.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Urban Studies minor

(22 semester hours)

• SOC-302 Urban Sociology
• One three course track from the following:
  • Track 1: Urban Social Development
    • SOC-250 Diversity and Inequality in the U.S.
    • PHIL-207Justice and the Common Good: Studies in Political Philosophy
    • HIST-356 Social and Cultural Hist of US
  • Track 2: The Built Environment
    • ARCT-202 Architectural History II
    • ENST-210 Human Impacts on the Environment
    • GEOG-310 Urban Geography
  • Track 3: Urban Policy
    • POLS-202 American State and Local Politics
    • POLS-208 Urban Politics
    • ECON-330 Urban Growth and Development or SOWK-360 Social Welfare Policy
• Two of the following elective courses:
  • ARCT-202 Architectural History II
  • CAS-303 Community-based Drama
  • ECON-330 Urban Growth and Development
  • ENST-210 Human Impacts on the Environment
  • GEOG-310 Urban Geography
  • GEOG-351 City and Regional Planning
  • HIST-356 American Social and Cultural History
  • HIST-357 American Economics History
  • PHIL-207 Justice and the Common Good: Studies in Political Philosophy
  • POLS-202 American State and Local Politics
  • POLS-208 Urban Politics
  • SOC-250 Diversity and Inequality in the U.S.
  • SOWK-360 Social Welfare Policy Analysis
  • SPAN-310 Hispanic Culture in the U.S.
  • One approved interim course will be allowed (these will be approved on an ad hoc basis by members of the minor?s governing committee).

Special topics courses and independent studies are allowed with the permission of the urban studies minor committee. Substitutions for specific classes may also be allowed with the permission of the committee.

Students may also receive credit for internships and off-campus programs (e.g.: Chicago Semester) for up to six credits. To receive such credit, a student must receive prior approval from the urban studies minor committee.

Scholarships

New students are automatically considered for general academic scholarships ranging from $1,000-15,000 based on a careful review of their application materials.

For a complete listing of departmental scholarships available to first-year students, use the Scholarship Search ».

Faculty

David Billings Assistant Professor of Philosophy Department of Philosophy HH 355A dbilling@calvin.edu (616) 526-8611 Kristin Du Mez Associate Professor Department of History HH 488 kkd3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6809 Becky Haney Assistant Professor Department of Economics NH 188 brh22@calvin.edu (616) 526-6338 Henry Luttikhuizen Professor of Art History Department of Art and Art History SC 105B lutt@calvin.edu (616) 526-6327

Elisha Marr Assistant Professor Department of Sociology SC 213 emm24@calvin.edu (616) 526-7019 Mark Mulder Associate Professor Department of Sociology SC 229 mtm3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6755 Lissa Schwander Assistant Professor Department of Social Work SC 235 lschwand@calvin.edu (616) 526-6243 James Skillen Assistant Professor Department of Geology Geography & Environmental Studies NH B77 jrs39@calvin.edu (616) 526-7546