Urban Studies
Director
Peter R. Hoffman
Faculty
Associate Professor: Peter R. Hoffman
Assistant Professor: Mara Marks
Objectives
As an interdisciplinary program, Urban Studies encourages students to examine urbanization and the multitude of issues inherent in urban life from the perspectives of a wide range of disciplines and methodological traditions. The critical analysis of urban issues helps students evaluate the various political, sociocultural, and economic strategies available to urban planners, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and others seeking to remedy the problems of contemporary cities.
The curriculum of the Urban Studies program, including its internship program, allows students to take advantage of one of LMU’s greatest assets: the many linkages that connect LMU to the extraordinarily dynamic, multicultural metropolitan area surrounding the University. Los Angeles is both an educational resource and a laboratory for Urban Studies students.
Career options for Urban Studies majors may be found in local government, law enforcement, real estate development, and urban social services. The major is also appropriate preparation for students seeking careers or graduate education in urban planning, public administration, social welfare, policy analysis, or the law.
Urban Studies Student Learning Outcomes
By virtue of their Urban Studies Program courses, students should know:
- The general history of urbanization and its associated economic and demographic processes
- The structures and expressions of urbanization and urban life associated with modern and postmodern cities
- The structures and expressions of urbanization and urban life associated with cities of the developed realms/core and those associated with cities of the less developed realm/periphery
- The basic research questions and agendas associated with the various disciplines contributing to our understanding of urban issues
- The general expressions of urbanization and urban life associated with contemporary Los Angeles
- The common theories, practices, and methodologies employed in contemporary urban planning and policy analysis;
By virtue of their Urban Studies Program courses, students should be able to:
-
Effectively employ contemporary social science methodology in the analysis of urban issues
-
Demonstrate written and oral competencies in the analysis of urban issues and police
-
Identify and utilize appropriate primary data, including census materials, for the analysis of urban issues
-
Apply their understanding of urban issues to the development and critical analysis of programs and policies appropriate to addressing contemporary social and economic problems
-
Successfully pursue graduate education in such areas as urban planning, public administration, policy analysis, social welfare, and the law upon completion of their major;
By virtue of their Urban Studies Program courses, students should value:
- Diverse perspectives in the analysis and assessment of urban issues and policies
- Thoughtful analysis of the implications of urbanization and urban policy in the context of social justice and sound environmental practices
- Rigorous, scientific research that enlightens the experience of urban populations and contributes to the resolution of the social and environmental problems associated with urbanization
- Community-based participation in the development of programs and policies that contribute to the social, economic, political, and environmental improvement of their communities and cities.