About the Program

There are many reasons to choose an Urban Studies major. Multiple factors make this University a particularly good place to pursue this study.

The first is the campus’s location in the very center of the largest metropolitan region in the entire Upper Midwest. It is certainly possible to study cities from a perch in St. Cloud or Winona. But here you can combine academic insights with regular and direct observation of, and exposure to, the issues being studied. This immediacy clearly deepens and enriches your learning experience. The Urban Studies program has for decades taken advantage of our location by drawing on community professionals to help teach our courses. Nearly all of the Colloquia and Workshop courses are taught by working professionals. The immense wealth of cultural resources in the metropolitan area also adds to the student experience.
Though the University sometimes seems vast and overwhelming, the Urban Studies Program tries to humanize it. This is an undergraduate program only, with very personalized advising. We are able to focus on individual student needs, and students more easily get to know one another, and the faculty.
The faculty and staff who are interested in urban issues come from a number of excellent departments, and are productive researchers and teachers. A program in Urban Studies exposes students to many different departments and colleges, while maintaining a coherent focus to one's area of study.
There are opportunities to get involved in the local community on many levels. All students do internships. Many also get involved with local neighborhood groups. The possibilities are endless.