AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub

The Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Studies provides a solid foundation for professional work or advanced study aimed at addressing some of the most important challenges and issues facing the U.S. and other world regions, such as urban sprawl, economic marginalization, ethnic and racial conflict and environmental degradation. The program covers a wide range of topics related to these issues, including transportation, housing, land use, environmental management, regional and international development, human-environment interaction, globalization and socioeconomic change.

Upon completing this program, students will have acquired the following.

A multidisciplinary understanding of urban and regional dynamics and planning Students will develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the characteristics of cities and other regions, the factors that shape them over time and the role of planning in influencing socioeconomic and environmental conditions therein. Among the key topics covered are: * The urbanization process in the United States * Urbanization and regional change in other cultures and historically * Urban design and the built environment * Economic geography * Urban and regional demographics and sociology * The relationship between the natural environment and urbanization and other land use change * Local and regional politics * The role of planning tools and strategies in addressing urban and regional problems, such as poverty, congestion and environmental degradation * Mastery of general and major-specific skills

Students will acquire the skills needed to function as well-rounded, educated citizens, including those required for careers or advanced study in urban and regional analysis, planning and community development. These include: * Oral, written and graphic communication * Social science and planning methods, including quantitative and qualitative analysis * Research using government documents and other library sources * Cause and effect reasoning * Organized presentation of ideas * Critical and independent thinking * Computer proficiency * The ability to work in groups * Analysis of maps and other spatial data * Ethics and a sense of social and personal responsibility

Students will develop a strong ethical foundation and a sense of social and personal responsibility rooted in an understanding of and sensitivity to: * The complex notions of the public good * The potential social costs and other externalities of regional and economic change * Human needs and requirements for becoming a more humane and egalitarian society * The ethical dimensions of social conflict and ways in which it can be addressed * Diverse cultural and class perspectives * The ethical standards of professional behavior

• Link: Urban and Regional Studies (BS)