Courses

An examination of city politics, past and present, with an emphasis on the interaction between politics and the economy. Topics include political machines and the Reform Movement in the 19th Century; suburbanization and urban decline in the 20th Century; and immigration, globalization, and urban neo-liberalism in the contemporary era. Issues of class and race/ethnicity run throughout the course. Attention is given to particular cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Detroit.

Examination of the governance of US cities, especially New York City exploring the historical development of governmental structures, political parties, machine politics and reform movements in US cities. Theories of power in the urban setting and the role of advocacy groups, ethnic organizations, business, labor, and other interest and activist groups will be discussed. (SS, US)

Rising precarity (i.e., social vulnerability and insecurity in people’s everyday lives) in an urban context. We will examine how people experience precarity across class, race, gender, geography, nationality and citizen status, sexuality and age. We will explore the way that different social movements have addressed such vulnerability and insecurity and the potential for political solidarity in contemporary society.

Most new religious movements today are centered in urban areas, and these are the cutting edge of the segment of the population that is becoming more religious while many of the long-established religious groups are experiencing loss in seminarians and in attendance. This course examines the dynamics of these religious movements and their impact on urban society.

This course analyzes movements for change in urban policies and institutions, especially mobilizations by groups without ready access to power through normal political channels.

A one-credit add-on course to a regular subject matter course on a corequisite basis. This course works on writing that is integral to the subject matter of the main course. Corequisite means that all students in the regular course will be in the writing workshop. The combination of a regular course and an urban studies writing workshop satisfies one of the college's writing-intensive course requirements. May be repeated for credit.

The study of different subcultural life styles found in the modern city including those based on economic position, ethnic background, age, and social or sexual preference. Also studied are the effects of different urban conditions on individual life styles; attitudes toward life in the city, suburbia, and the country; images of city life.

The study of different subcultural life styles found in the modern city including those based on economic position, ethnic background, age, and social or sexual preference. Also studied are the effects of different urban conditions on individual life styles; attitudes toward life in the city, suburbia, and the country; images of city life.

An overview of urban transportation in the United States. Topics include the historic relationship between transportation innovations and urban development; the evolution of federal transportation policy; the impact of the Interstate highway system on U.S. metropolitan areas; the decline and revival of mass transit in U.S.

An overview of urban transportation in the United States. Topics include the historic relationship between transportation innovations and urban development; the evolution of federal transportation policy; the impact of the Interstate highway system on U.S. metropolitan areas; the decline and revival of mass transit in U.S.