Urban Studies (BA)

Flexible Curriculum

As an Urban Studies major, you have the flexibility to explore courses in multiple academic disciplines as you explore the myriad ways urbanization affects facets of life, including politics, social justice, the environment, and the economy. You develop an understanding of the peoples and structures that make up cities both in the United States and internationally. 

You can design a customized course of study to meet your personal interests and goals, exploring issues such as:

• The role of the city in the national and global economy
• How the city shapes and is shaped by cultural life and the natural environment
• The intersection of municipal agencies and nonprofit organizations in areas such as housing and homelessness, health, and social welfare
• How neighborhoods are created, destroyed, and revitalized
• How urban politics reflects these issues and drives change

Learn more about the curriculum

We continue to offer courses and co-curricular opportunities in urban studies. Students who begin their studies in the Adult Bachelor's Program in fall 2026 or after can continue to explore this subject through:

• The Urban Studies minor.
• Topical courses in urban studies, such as Political Economy of the City, NYC Community Nonprofit Partnerships, and Gentrification.
• Programming and events hosted by institutes such as the Housing Justice Lab, the Center for NYC Affairs, and the Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility.
• Fellowships and grants such the Lang Social Science Fellowship at the Center for an Urban Future, where fellows research policy positions of City Council members.
• Internships and independent work in the community. Students have recently interned at the Mayor's Office of Urban Agriculture and with the African Services Committee. 
• Civic Liberal Arts classes connecting partners at local organizations with your coursework. Recent offerings include Community Psychology: Research, Action, and Social Justice.
• Lang’s annual Dean’s Honor Symposium, in which students connect their interests and scholarship with experiences outside of the classroom and in context with one another. 

Career Paths

Students who complete the Urban Studies major are prepared to pursue graduate study or to enter careers in fields such as community organizing, development, public policy, urban planning, public health, philanthropy, advocacy, arts, education, journalism, management, entrepreneurship, real estate, or law both domestically and abroad.

Interdisciplinary Excellence

The BA in Urban Studies is part of the university's suite of cross-college, interdisciplinary undergraduate programs, which includes Global Studies, Environmental Studies, and Urban Studies. These interdisciplinary programs are designed to prepare students for the new careers of the 21st century.