George Hopkins
 For the Undecided
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 WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN urban studies? Gaining an in-depth understanding of the important concepts involved in urban studies prepares you for work in a variety of engaging areas, including city planning, urban development and public administration. It also endows you with a strong basis for continuing your studies in graduate or professional school. The Urban Studies Program at the College of Charleston is a multidisciplinary major in which students are encouraged to develop their own unique course plan. You can choose to follow one of two tracks: Urban Planning and Administration or Urban Policy and Social Problems. Studies in either area will provide you with the academic foundation needed to understand and be sensitive to the problems and potential of the city and its environment. You’ll become acquainted with approaches to the study of urbanization through courses offered by several departments including, but not limited, to political science, economics, sociology, history and finance. “This major is more than just an area of study. It opens your eyes to the real-world problems that society encounters every day, and the interdisciplinary approach teaches you more than the course material — it teaches you how to learn on your own and use that skill toward solving societal problems.” Misty Black O’Neal ’06 A degree in Urban Studies is excellent preparation for careers in such fields as:
Some of our graduates have chosen to work for nonprofit organizations while others are employed in the for-profit sector by developers, planners and architects. Others have carved out careers within local, state and federal government. Graduate Schools selected by our majors include:
“The Urban Studies major at the College of Charleston is a broad and all-inclusive program of study. The major requires an internship that offers great learning experiences and career preparation. I served my internship at the Charleston County Planning Department. Doing this allowed me to confirm my career goals and helped prepare me for the job that planners do.” David Williamson ’08 Active Learning Opportunities Internships are a requirement of the major. These enable students to work with an agency or department of their choice within city or county government (i.e. planning, neighborhood development, economic development, housing) or with a nonprofit organization (i.e. Lowcountry Housing Trust, Crisis Ministries Homeless Shelter) and apply concepts learned in the major to real-world situations. Research opportunities abound. Urban Studies majors engage in both classroom-based projects and special one-on-one endeavors supervised by faculty members. Some examples of research topics recently explored by our students include:
Learning Resources
Other Special Opportunities Urban Studies Club. Open to majors and non-majors alike, the club organizes film showings and lecture/discussion sessions as a means of enhancing the educational experience. Urban Affairs Association. The college is a member of the national association for urban studies professionals. The Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Library archives this organization’s periodical—the Journal of Urban Affairs—along with numerous other urban studies-related journals. “I specifically came to the College of Charleston for the Urban Studies program. I was impressed with its multidisciplinary approach and the fact that it exists in one of America’s greatest cities. Not only did the classroom experiences prepare me for my career, but the everyday laboratory of downtown Charleston and the local issues of creating outstanding urban design, economic development, redevelopment and preservation were also crucial in my education.” Christopher T. Morgan ’89 |
Community Planning