Urban Studies (BA)
What is Urban Studies?
Wayne State's Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary course of study that equips students with a firm grounding in knowledge about cities and metropolitan areas, their history and spatial patterns, social, economic and political life and their greatest challenges and opportunities.
We study cities around the world as well as in our own backyard to understand city life and find solutions to urban problems. Classes examine cities and their regions in historical context and in an international and comparative manner. Students will examine economic, political and cultural concerns and explore practical solutions to current urban problems.
What can I do with an Urban Studies Degree?
Students earning a degree in urban studies possess a robust skill set for entry-level positions in a wide variety of fields, including business, non-profit and governmental sectors. Community development, research, analysis, and writing about urban areas are among the many skills accorded to degree holders in urban studies. In addition, students are well-prepared to further their career goals by attending graduate education in law, planning, business, economics, or other urban-related fields.
Course planning
Choose an area of study (associate degree), earn Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), and complete pathway courses. The below pathway outlines the required Henry Ford College courses. Courses not taken or transferred from Henry Ford College can be completed at Wayne State University.
Choose an area of study
| Associate Degree |
|---|
| Associate in Arts (AA) |
| Associate in General Studies (AGS) |
| Associate in Science (AS) |
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) |
Earn the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA)
| MTA Requirement/Specific Course | Credit Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *ENG 131 Intro to College Writing (ENG 1020) | 3 | or ENG 132H |
| *ENG 132 College Writing & Research (ENG 3010) | 3 | |
| Approved Mathematics (see MTA) | 4 | |
| Approved Natural Science (see MTA) | 3-4 | |
| Approved Natural Science with lab (see MTA) | 4-5 | Second Science must be from different disciplines with lab |
| SOC 151 Social Problems or 251 Diversity in Society (SOC1020 or 2600) | 3 | |
| Approved Social Science (see MTA) | 3 | Second Social Science must be from different discipline |
| Approved Humanities/Fine Arts (see MTA) | 3 | |
| *ARA 131, FRE 131, GER 131, SPN 131 (see MTA) | 4 | Satisfies 1 of 2 WSU required foreign language |
| Total | 30 credits (minimum) |
*Meets MTA requirements and/or satisfies Wayne State degree requirement (prerequisites may be required, see HFC Academic Advisor).
Complete pathway courses
| Course | Credit Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 152 Modern American History (HIS 2050) | 3 | |
| *ARA 132, FRE 132, GER 132, SPN 132 (second language, same language) | 4 | Satisfies 2 of 2 WSU required foreign language proficiency |
| Total | 7 credits |
*All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must successfully demonstrate language proficiency equivalent to the two-course sequence in a single foreign language. Proficiency is demonstrated by completing courses numbered 1010 and 1020 in one of the following subject area codes: ASL, ARB, ARM, CHI, FRE, GER, GKA, GKM, HEB, ITA, JPN, LAT, POL, RUS, SPA, SWA, and UKR.
Course planning
The following courses are required to finish the degree requirements. Any pathway course(s) not completed at the community college can be completed at Wayne State University.
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| US 2000 Intro to Urban Studies | 4 |
| GPH 3130 Introductory Urban Geography | 4 |
| GPH 3600 Intro to Urban Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| US 4510 Cities and Regions | 3 |
| US 4620 Urban Studies Senior Capstone Research | 3 |
| UP 4460 Sustainable Cities | 3 |
Research Methods Courses (Select one of the following) | 3-4 |
| CRJ 3550 Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| GPH 6420 Quantitative Techniques I | 4 |
| PS 3600 Methods of Political Inquiry | 4 |
| SOC 3200 Methods of Social Research | 3 |
Urban Studies Core Electives (Select one of the following) | 3 |
| US 2200 Global Urbanism | 3 |
| US 3530 Urban and Regional Planning | 3 |
| US 3140 Urban Visualization | 3 |
| US 3550 Public Health and the City | 3 |
| Total | 30-31 credits (minimum) |
Transfer credit summary
| Transfer credit summary | Credits |
|---|---|
| Henry Ford College transferrable credits | 75 credits |
| Required Wayne State University Major credits Additional Electives, or Minor (see WSU advisor) | 27 credits (minimum) 18 credits |
| Total credits required to complete bachelor's degree | 120 credits (transferred or WSU) |
- WSU requires a minimum of 30 hours in residency.
- You can review how courses transfer using the course equivalency tool for other acceptable equivalences.
How do I get started?
- Join Wayne State Transfer Pathways
- Schedule a WSU Transfer Success Appointment
- Meet with your academic advisors and track your academic progress
Notes
- The pathway allows multiple associate degree options with the flexibility to customize your degree path. The minimum eligibility to participate in the Wayne State Transfer Pathways is a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), and an associate degree (earned or Reverse Transfer).
- All college-level (non-developmental), non-duplicated courses with a 2.0 (C) grade point average (GPA) or above will be considered for transfer credit. Earned credit will transfer as 1) direct course equivalency, 2) major/department credit, or 3) elective credit. Credits not earned at the community college will need to be taken at WSU.
- These pathways do not replace the importance of community college and Wayne State academic advising. The pathway provides a general roadmap to degree completion.
Primary contacts
Henry Ford College
Academic Advising
313-317-6845 | advising@hfcc.edu
Transfer Student Success Center
313-577-2487 | transfer@wayne.edu
Department of Urban Studies and Planning
313-577-2701 | Academic Advising
Career insights
This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.