About the Program

Bachelor of Arts

The study of cities is a vital part of a liberal arts curriculum. During this moment of global change, such forms of knowledge are of critical importance. The world is more urban now than in any other era in human history, and with this rapid urbanization has come the crucial role of cities as sites of economic development, crucibles of civic citizenship, and spaces of cultural imagination.

The Urban Studies major is housed in the Department of City and Regional Planning (DCRP) of the College of Environmental Design. The major seeks to introduce students to the following bodies of knowledge:

1. Historical and contemporary analysis of American and global urbanization, urbanism, urban societies, and urban political economies
2. Conceptual tools, analytical methods, and theoretical frameworks to understand urban environments such as economic analysis, social science theory, and visualization technologies
3. Forms, functions, and practices of urban planning and design, metropolitan governance, social movements, and social justice, including issues such as transportation planning, community development, and housing
4. Ways of providing more humane, equitable, environmentally sensitive, and efficient settlements as well as ways to lead change for better urban futures

The major trains undergraduates for a variety of future careers and fields of graduate study that are related to urban studies and planning. These include practice-oriented fields such as urban planning, law, non-profit management, and public policy as well as research-oriented fields such as geography, sociology, and anthropology. Above all, the intent of the major is to produce urban citizens and global leaders.

Admission to the Major

Students must declare one of the CED majors at the time of application to the college; however, current UC Berkeley students may apply to change into CED. Transfer applicants must complete two years worth of lower division coursework to be considered for admission to CED. For information regarding admission to the major for freshmen, transfer students, and current students who wish to change majors or colleges, please see the College of Environmental Design (CED) page in this Guide or the CED website.

Minors offered by the Department of City and Regional Planning

City Planning
Geospatial Information Science and Technology (offered in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management in the College of Natural Resources)

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

The Urban Studies major requirements differ by students’ admit year to UC Berkeley. The major requirements listed below are the most recent. In the Berkeley Academic Guide Archive, refer to the year you were admitted to UC Berkeley for your major requirements.

General Guidelines

1. All lower division courses taken in fulfillment of major requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
2. Courses taken to fulfill lower division major requirements may also be used to fulfill seven-course breadth.
3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
4. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 for all courses taken at UC Berkeley is required for graduation.
5. Courses used to fulfill upper division requirements may not simultaneously fulfill the breadth requirements.
6. Up to two upper division courses taken at another institution, including an approved study abroad program, may be applied to the major requirements below (if transferable and approved in advance).

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Summary of Major Requirements

Lower Division Major Requirements: Freshman and Sophomore Year

Upper Division Urban Studies Core: 1 Course

Upper Division Major Electives List One: 5 Additional City Planning Courses^†

Upper Division Major Electives List Two: 2 Interdisciplinary Courses Outside of CED, at least 1 with International Content

Students admitted to Berkeley FL16 and later must select two urban studies-related courses outside CED from the following list of courses. One of the two courses must have international content, marked with an asterisk (*). Students can also petition to have other urban studies-related courses count for this requirement. Students admitted to UCB prior to FL16 must select three courses from this list; at least one of the three must have international content.

Upper Division Capstone Experience 

During the junior and/or senior year, students admitted to UC Berkeley FL 16 and later are required to complete ONE of the following four capstone experiences. Courses taken to fulfill the Capstone Experience requirement may be used for the Capstone only and may not also be used to fulfill other Upper Division Urban Studies Requirements above or the requirement to complete 3 “Upper Division College of Environmental Design Courses Outside of City Planning”:

1. Thesis: This option requires ENV DES 195B (Thesis Research and Writing). Whether a thesis is written or a project is produced, this option should be pursued with a faculty advisor.
2. Planning Studio: CY PLAN 116, an advanced synthetic educational experience.
3. Research Seminar: CY PLAN 180 Research Seminar in Urban Studies.
4. Field experience/internship with a written planning report: CY PLAN 197. Each student must find their own urban studies-related internship and tenure-track faculty advisor, who will be the faculty of record for a CY PLAN 197 field studies course. CY PLAN 197 must be taken for 3 units and requires a final written report (analyzing the fieldwork and internship experience) submitted to the faculty advisor. To merit 3 units, the internship should require approximately 9 hours per week for 15 weeks. If you are thinking about doing an internship in the summer, see the Urban Studies advisor in 250 Bauer Wurster Hall for details.

College Requirements

For College Requirements, please refer to the College of Environmental Design.

Plan of Study

Each student’s plan will vary depending on interests. Students should see an advisor if they are interested in applying for graduate school, studying abroad, attending summer school, or pursuing a minor or second major.

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information or GPA requirements), please see the Major Requirements tab.

^One course from Elective List Two must have international content. See the major handbook for more information.

Students must complete 120 units to graduate.

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals of the Major

The Urban Studies major seeks to introduce students to the following bodies of knowledge:

• Historical and contemporary analysis of American and global urbanization, urbanism, urban societies, and urban political economies. Conceptual tools, analytical methods, and theoretical frameworks to understand urban environments such as economic analysis, social science theory, and visualization technologies.
• Forms, functions, and practices of urban planning and design, metropolitan governance, social movements, and social justice including issues such as transportation planning, community development, and housing.
• Ways of providing more humane, equitable, environmentally sensitive, and efficient settlements as well as ways to lead change for better urban futures.

Major Map

Major Maps help undergraduate students discover academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities at UC Berkeley based on intended major or field of interest. Developed by the Division of Undergraduate Education in collaboration with academic departments, these experience maps will help you:

• Explore your major and gain a better understanding of your field of study

• Connect with people and programs that inspire and sustain your creativity, drive, curiosity and success

• Discover opportunities for independent inquiry, enterprise, and creative expression

• Engage locally and globally to broaden your perspectives and change the world

• Reflect on your academic career and prepare for life after Berkeley

Use the major map below as a guide to planning your undergraduate journey and designing your own unique Berkeley experience.

View the Urban Studies Major Map PDF.

Advising

The CED Office of Undergraduate Advising provides a wide array of programmatic and individual advising services to prospective and current students as well as to students in other colleges who are pursuing CED minors or taking CED courses. The professional advising team assists students with a range of issues including course selection, academic decision-making, achieving personal and academic goals, and maximizing the Berkeley experience.

Advising Staff

Architecture Major Advisor: Mel Barbers
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
mbarbers@berkeley.edu

Landscape Architecture Major Advisor: Kristian Dawson
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
kristian.dawson@berkeley.edu

Sustainable Environmental Design Major Advisor: Heather Grothjan
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
heather.grothjan@berkeley.edu

Urban Studies Major Advisor: Kristian Dawson
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
kristian.dawson@berkeley.edu

College Evaluator: Heather Grothjan
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
heather.grothjan@berkeley.edu
 

Undergraduate Advising Director: Omar Ramirez
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
oramirez@berkeley.edu
 

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies: C. Greig Crysler
250 Bauer Wurster Hall
cgreigc@gmail.com

Advising Hours

Fall/spring: Monday through Friday, 10 to noon (office opens at 9 a.m.) & 1 to 4 p.m.
Summer: Monday through Friday, 10 to noon  & 1 to 3 p.m.

Address

Office of Undergraduate Advising
College of Environmental Design
250 Bauer Wurster Hall #1800
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1800
cedadvising@berkeley.edu

CED Career Services

The CED Career Services Center (CSC) offers personalized career counseling, a yearly CED Career Fair, and a wide variety of professional development workshops on topics such as licensure, internships, and applying for graduate school. To schedule an appointment with the Career Counselor or for more information on CED CSC, please click here.

Office of Undergraduate Advising

• Newly-Admitted Students
• Current Students
• Graduation and Commencement
• Services and Contract
• Articulation
• Policies and Resources
• Forms and Documents

Mission

The College of Environmental Design (CED) Office of Undergraduate Advising:

• Supports students holistically as they earn their degree,
• Advocates for just and equitable policies and practices,
• Connects current and prospective students with resources and opportunities,
• Fosters a sense of belonging and community.

Advising Values

The CED Office of Undergraduate Advising aspires to the following core values:

Student-Centered

We provide support services centered on student self-actualization. We aim to hold a welcoming space in which students are encouraged to explore their minds and their hearts, do their best work, realize their talents and passions, and achieve their goals. We put the student voice and experience first.

Justice & Equity

We actively seek to eradicate all forms of individual and institutionalized discrimination and oppression. We aim to provide students with an equitable experience in complete appreciation of their identities, economic status, and immigration status.

Health & Well-Being

We strive to build and sustain a culture in which our community can thrive in all aspects of life: intellectual, emotional, social, physical, occupational, spiritual and environmental.

Courage & Vulnerability

By learning from our own experiences, educating ourselves on developments in the field, collaborating with our communities, and taking strategic risks, we aim to improve our advising services and the student experience. We are committed to continuous self-reflection, growth, and development.

Academic Opportunities

Student Groups and Organizations

The college provides opportunities for students to be involved in student chapters of professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIAS) as well as other student groups like the Berkeley Urban Studies Student Association (BUSSA), the Chican@/Latin@ Architecture Student Association (CASA), Global Architecture Brigades, and more. For information regarding  student groups, please see the Getting Involved page of the CED website.

Study Abroad

The College of Environmental Design (CED) encourages all undergraduates in the college to study abroad. Whether students are interested in fulfilling general education requirements, taking courses related to their major/career, or simply living and studying in a country that is of interest to them, CED will work with students to make it happen. For information about study abroad programs, please see the Berkeley Study Abroad website.

CED Career Services

The CED Career Services Center (CSC) offers personalized career counseling, a yearly CED Career Fair, and a wide variety of professional-development workshops on topics such as licensure, internships, and applying for graduate school. For further information, please see the CED Career Services website.

Prizes and Awards

CED offers a number of annual prizes, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and grants to its currently enrolled students. Some of these prizes and awards are college-wide, and some are geared toward students in specific majors. For general information regarding CED prizes and awards, including application instructions and a deadline calendar, please click here.

CED Events and Exhibits Calendar

CED and Wurster Hall is home to a variety of events, lectures, and exhibitions that welcome professors, professionals, and friends to the college to discuss and celebrate the community and professions. Through events and media, CED is constantly creating ways to keep the college connected and up-to-date. To view this calendar, please click here.

CED on Facebook

CED Lecture Series

The Departments of Architecture, City and Regional Planning, and Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning each sponsor lecture series which offers students the opportunity to hear internationally-acclaimed speakers. These speakers often also participate in classes and seminars as part of their visit to campus. For a schedule of speakers and events in these lecture series, please see the CED website.

WursterLife

WursterLife is a closed-network platform that enables CED students and alumni from across the globe to connect with classmates, find alumni by practice area, geographic region, affinity group, or shared interest, share professional updates, news, photos, events, and jobs, enhance your career through your alumni connections, and find ways to stay engaged with the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design.

Research Opportunities, Internships, Public Service, and Volunteer Opportunities

Check out the CED Office of Undergraduate Advising website for additional opportunities.

Courses

Urban Studies

Faculty and Instructors

+ Indicates this faculty member is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.

Faculty

Charisma Acey, Associate Professor. Water, sanitation, basic services delivery, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, environmental justice, urban governance, participatory planning, community-based development, international development, development planning, sustainable development, African studies.
Research Profile

Sai Balakrishnan, Assistant Professor. New Spatial Forms of Urbanization, Land-use changes.
Research Profile

Teresa Caldeira, Professor. Comparative urban studies, urbanization in the global south, social theory, ethnography qualitative methodology.
Research Profile

Karen Chapple, Professor. Poverty, economic development, regional planning, metropolitan spatial patterns, labor markets, community development, neighborhood change, gentrification.
Research Profile

Daniel Chatman, Associate Professor. Transportation, urban planning, travel behavior, immigration, housing, agglomeration.
Research Profile

Stephen J. Collier, Professor. Social welfare transformation, infrastructure, neoliberalism and governmental rationality, emergency government in the United States, urban vulnerability and resilience, insurance and climate change .
Research Profile

Jason Corburn, Professor. Urban health, informal settlements, global public health, urban climate change, environmental impact assessment, mediation, environmental justice.
Research Profile

Karen T. Frick, Associate Professor. Transportation policy and planning, major infrasctructure projects, American politics and conservative views about planning.
Research Profile

Carol J. Galante, Adjunct Professor.

Marta Gonzalez, Associate Professor. Data Science, computer modeling.
Research Profile

Zachary Lamb, Assistant Professor. Urban spatial politics, ecological design, and uneven vulnerability to environmental hazards, particularly hazards associated with climate change.
Research Profile

Elizabeth S. Macdonald, Professor. Urban design.
Research Profile

Ben Metcalf, Adjunct Professor.
Research Profile

John Radke, Associate Professor. City and regional planning, landscape architecture and environmental planning, geographic information systems, database design and construction, spatial analysis, pattern recognition computational morphology.
Research Profile

Carolina K. Reid, Associate Professor. Affordable housing, access to credit, foreclosures, community development, the Community Reinvestment Act, poverty, neighborhood change, homeownership and mortgage finance (with a focus on low-income and minority households).
Research Profile

Daniel Rodriguez, Professor. Public transportation, urban sustainability, urban health, environment and health impacts of traveler behaviors Transportation, land development, and their health and environmental impacts .
Research Profile

Paul Waddell, Professor. UrbanSim, land use models, transportation models, urban sustainability.
Research Profile

Jennifer Wolch, Professor. Sustainable urbanism, urban design and public health, poverty and homelessness, human-animal studies.
Research Profile

Lecturers

Sara Hinkley, Lecturer.

Kimberly Suczynski Smith, Lecturer.

Emeritus Faculty

Edward J. Blakely, Professor Emeritus.

Peter C. Bosselmann, Professor Emeritus. Urban design, architecture, city and regional planning, landscape architecture.
Research Profile

Manuel Castells, Professor Emeritus.

Robert B. Cervero, Professor Emeritus. Transportation planning, city and regional planning, transportation and land use, transportation and urban development, international transportation.
Research Profile

Karen Christensen, Professor Emeritus. Evaluation, intergovernmental relations, city and regional planning, housing policy, planning theory, organizational theory.
Research Profile

Stephen Cohen, Professor Emeritus.

Frederick C. Collignon, Professor Emeritus. Urban economics, metropolitan planning, city and regional planning, urban recreational space, passive recreational parkland, urban redevelopment, public assistance, disability.
Research Profile

Elizabeth A. Deakin, Professor Emeritus. Urban design, city and regional planning, transportation policy, planning and analysis, land use policy and planning, legal and regulatory issues, institutions and organizations, energy and the environment, new technologies.
Research Profile

Michael James Dear, Professor Emeritus. Social theory, disability studies, urban theory, comparative urbanism.
Research Profile

David Dowall, Professor Emeritus. City and regional planning, urban and regional development, international comparative urban development policy, domestic and international land management, housing policy, economic development strategy, infrastructure planning, management and finance.
Research Profile

Judith E. Innes, Professor Emeritus. Innovation, governance, collaborative planning and policy making, regionalism, interpretive methods, complexity and adaptation.
Research Profile

Allan B. Jacobs, Professor Emeritus.

Raymond Lifchez, Professor Emeritus.

Michael Southworth, Professor Emeritus. Management, analysis, design, city and regional planning, landscape architecture, environmental planning, morphology of the post-industrial city, design of public space.
Research Profile

Michael Teitz, Professor Emeritus.

Irene Tinker, Professor Emeritus.

Martin Wachs, Professor Emeritus.