Urban and Regional Studies
Undergraduate Programs
Description
The Urban and Regional Studies Institute is an interdisciplinary degree program oriented toward examining and understanding the broad range of problems and challenges associated with the nation’s cities and regional areas. There are many career opportunities in community development, urban/regional planning, local government, and local government management. Also, the major is excellent preparation for graduate work in the professional fields of planning, management, business, etc.
This national award-winning program includes classroom, research, and field experience. In addition to formal course work, students are encouraged to undertake independent study, become involved in community service projects, participate in field studies, and accept internships in local agencies. Students should contact the Urban and Regional Studies Institute for further information.
Majors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Studies BS | BS - Bachelor of Science |
|
120 |
Minors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Studies Minor | 18 |
Policies & Faculty
Policies
Admission to Major is granted by the department. Minimum university admission requirements are:
- a minimum of 32 earned semester credit hours.
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (“C”).
Contact the department for application procedures.
P/N Grading Policy. The internship must be taken on a P/N basis. All other courses must be taken for grade.
Contact Information
109 Morris Hall
Main Office (507) 389-2721http://sbs.mnsu.edu/ursi/
Faculty
Department Coordinator
- Beth Heidelberg, DPA
Faculty
100 Level
Credits: 3
A fresh look at the city, with emphasis on the reasons why cities have grown and how people can make cities livable.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-08
Credits: 3
Appreciation of the city as the highest cultural achievement in design and architecture.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-06
Credits: 3
This course will identify and analyze global social, economic, political and environmental problems impacting community viability and explore the full range of solutions to these problems. The course will view communities as complex, sustainable organisms and bring together the works of the great minds working on sustainability.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-10
200 Level
Credits: 3
Introduction to community leadership-elected, professional, or voluntary-and the skills and values which support it.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-09, GE-11
Credits: 3
Introduction to community leadership-elected, professional, or voluntary-and the skills and values which support it.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-09, GE-11
Credits: 3
Introduction to knowledge, values and skills required to strengthen and maintain the capacity of a local group (neighborhood, city, or region) to provide for the resident's needs.Prerequisites: none
400 Level
Credits: 3
This course is a survey of the local community--the forces which shape it, the significance of a democratic public, and the professional practice of local government service.Fall, SpringPrerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Introduction to skills and techniques used to form questions about urban affairs, to organize and analyze information to answer it, and to present the results of one's analysis in a professional format.Fall, SpringPrerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Prepares students to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions and utilize techniques of analysis.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course, designed for student preparing for a professional career in local government or public service, focuses on media relations and building citizen involvement through public awareness projects.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Reviews processes and techniques related to evaluation of public programs.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Public policy and programs that address issues of housing supply, quality, costs, and neighborhood revitalization.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
An overview of local government law and local governing powers. In addition, public issues in the legal context will be examined from a management and operational perspective.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
A basic working knowledge and vocabulary of urban design concepts and techniques in an applied problem solving context.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Theory and applications of principles of landscape architecture or urban design.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Examines the problem of central business district deterioration and explores the changing patterns of economic and social mobility with primary focus upon the trends of downtown revitalization currently being employed by the public and private sectors.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Preservation techniques, principles of structural evaluation, adaptive use potentials and options, economic consideration in preservation and the role of legislation.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Historic Preservation: Policy and Field Methods introduces students to the rules and laws of structural historic preservation. The course will investigate the major policy documents, laws, agencies, survey methods, and examine how they are applied in local government preservation.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Advanced course to explore the interactions of space and social institutions in an urban context.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Nature of the Third Sector, from a variety of perspectives, and implications for managing both internal and external relations of nonprofit organizations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Raising resources for public and nonprofit organizations--from needs assessment through obtaining funding to managing the grant after it is awarded.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Regional and county planning content and procedures, including basic research, land use planning, and implementation of regulations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
A survey course covering the concepts, processes, tools and strategies of economic development in local communities. Emphasis is on the why and how of economic development.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Examines and applies the fundamental concepts, techniques and mechanisms for environmental planning at the city, county, and sub-state regional levels.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Examines transportation problems of, and solutions for large and medium sized cities. Special emphasis on reducing traffic congestion, improving management of transit systems, and linking transportation and land-use planning.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-3
Varying topics dealing with emerging trends and contemporary needs facing urban America.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
Varying topics using applied techniques to address community issues.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
Problem solving in communities and direct involvement into specific areas of study of student interest.Prerequisites: Consent
Credits: 3
Assemble and evaluate information and opinions into a coherent position on what makes cities work, and prepare for entry into professional world of work in cities.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-12
Scheduled work assignments, varying in length and content, under the supervision of selected professional sponsors.Prerequisites: Consent
Credits: 1-4
Independent study under supervision of an instructor with a research paper or report to be presented.Prerequisites: Consent
