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    Urban Studies

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  • Contact Us

    Office of Admission

    Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts
    79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor 
    New York, NY 10003 
    Phone: 212.229.5150 or 
    800.292.3040
    Fax: 212.229.5355
    [email protected]

    Program Contacts

    Chair and Departmental Faculty Advisor for Environmental Studies
    Jürgen von Mahs

    Associate Professor, Urban Studies
    [email protected]

    Student Success Advisor for Global, Environmental, and Urban Studies 
    Chris McElderry
    Assistant Director of Student Success Advising at Lang
    [email protected] 
    646.909.2260

  • Virtual Tour

  • Examine the complex cultural, governmental, physical, and social ecosystems of the modern city. The Urban Studies program at The New School examines the 21st century's greatest challenges — globalization, urbanization, social justice, and sustainability — with the aim of making cities more viable, equitable, and healthy. The flexible interdisciplinary curriculum allows you to customize your course of study and gain important skills related to policy, planning, and activism.

    • Study Options Major, Minor

    More than half of the world's population lives in cities, and the majority of work, living, and recreational spaces; cultural institutions; and ethical development and commercial activities exist in the context of cities and their surrounding metropolitan regions. As an Urban Studies student, you explore courses in multiple academic disciplines as you learn to address the myriad ways urbanization affects many 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.  

    Drawing on the expertise of faculty and courses from across the university, you can design a customized academic pathway for 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

    Major requirements

    Minor requirements

    Interdisciplinary Excellence

    Urban Studies is part of The New School'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.

    Connecting to New York City

    While it offers the atmosphere and intimacy of a small college, Eugene Lang College is part of The New School, a major progressive university in New York City. With a focus on the study of cities, Urban Studies students engage with NYC as a living laboratory for experiential learning, field-based research, university-community partnerships, internships, and immersive learning building on existing and expanding relationships with community organization, employers, and government agencies.

    Career Paths

    Our flexible and interdisciplinary Urban Studies curriculum provides a strong foundation for graduate study and exciting careers in community organizing, development, public policy, urban planning, management, advocacy, arts, education, journalism, or law.

    Consult our 4-Year Lang Career Pathways Map (PDF) for helpful steps and resources to link your academic journey to your future plans. If you are planning to pursue graduate studies, consider applying to the Bachelor's-Master's program, which enables you to earn graduate credits that will apply to both your Lang degree and a master's degree in Public and Urban Policy or in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management at the university's Schools of Public Engagement.

    Outcomes at Lang

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Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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