What is an urban studies major?

Students major in urban studies as an adjunct major to their primary major.  By taking urban related courses in a variety of disciplines one simultaneously gains breadth across disciplines while gaining an in-depth focus on the urban world.  You will see your fellow urban studies majors in different urban related courses even as you pursue your different primary majors in other departments. You will come together in the senior thesis seminar. This seminar allows you to develop your own  project of interest, raise your own questions,  research them, and write-up your results with the guidance of faculty and shared with your fellow urban studies majors.

What do people do with an urban studies major?

At the academic level in your career at Northwestern urban studies can be a focus within other disciplines like urban politics, urban economics, urban history, urban geography, urban sociology, and urban anthropology.

At the career level beyond Northwestern urban studies can be a stepping stone to professional work in architecture, urban planning, public policy, economic development, social work, education, and a host of non-profit social change organizations. Urban issues are also a focus of concern in many professions such as law, medicine, journalism, and management.