Bachelor of Arts: Urban Studies
This program is currently not accepting students.
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Be able to analyze how gender, ethnicity, and race play important roles in understanding the city. They will be exposed to the broader public through internships in the community.
- Be able to analyze how local, regional, and state governments and related institutions interact.
- Be able to describe how the urban society is structured in interrelated sectors that influence each other locally and interact with sectors beyond the local city.
- Be able to interpret demographic patterns at various scales, from the city block to the metropolitan area.
- Be able to design and implement a research project analyzing a specific urban issue.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (satisfied in major requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
Students must successfully complete the major requirements below with at least 12 hours of the noted upper division (300+) course requirements completed at UMKC.
During the first 60 hours of coursework, students are advised to fulfill prerequisites for core courses and for required courses in the urban studies concentration they choose.
When prerequisites and general requirements have been satisfied, students must complete for the urban studies major:
- Core course requirements: 22 hours
- Interest area requirements: 18 hours
Total hours required for the major in urban studies: 40 hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 110 | Precalculus Algebra (satisfies Math Pathway) | 3 |
| Required Courses | ||
| GEOG 309/UPD 320 | Urban Geography | 3 |
| URBAN ST 495 | Urban Studies Internship | 3 |
| URBAN ST 499WI/ECON 406WI | Urban Studies Seminar | 3 |
| History | 3 | |
| History Of Planning And Urban Design | ||
| Statistics (Choose 1) | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistics in Sociology/Criminal Justice | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Race/Class/Gender (Choose 1) | 3 | |
| Hate & Bias Crimes | ||
| Political Economy of Race, Class And Gender: Theory, History, And Policy | ||
| Race and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Urban Political Economy (Choose 1) | 3 | |
| The Kansas City Economy | ||
| Urban Economics | ||
| Methods (Choose 1) | 3 | |
| Methods Of Sociological Research | ||
| Quantitative Planning Methods And Techniques | ||
| Interest Area Electives (see below) | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
General Electives
Students must take elective credit hours to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree, including at least 36 credit hours of coursework at the 300-level or above. The minimum required by the university is 120 credit hours, of which at least 30 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, but some degree programs require more.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 45 | |
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 120
Interest Areas (18 hours)
In addition to the core requirements, 18 hours should be taken in an interest area:
- Community Development and Housing
- Community Organization and Social Services
- Urban Policy/Management
In consultation with an advisor, selected by the student or designated by the program director, students are expected to develop a program (reflecting interest and applicability to career goals) in one interest area: a recommended course and five electives from those listed under the interest area chosen. Students may not double count any core courses toward the 18 hours.
Community Development and Housing
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Course | ||
| UPD 340 | Neighborhood And Community Development | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Urban Anthropology | ||
| The Kansas City Economy | ||
| Environmental Design Studio I | ||
| Environmental Design Studio II | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Latinx Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees in the U.S | ||
| Cities and Society | ||
| GIS For Urban Planning | ||
| History Of Planning And Urban Design | ||
| Land Use Planning | ||
| Planning And Design Studio I | ||
| Planning And Design Studio II | ||
| Planning Theory And Practice | ||
| Transportation Planning | ||
| Planning For Historic Preservation | ||
| Planning Law And Practice | ||
| Urban Redevelopment | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Community Organization and Social Services
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Course | ||
| ANTHRO 331 | Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Introduction To Criminal Justice | ||
| Hate & Bias Crimes | ||
| Restorative Justice | ||
| Political Economy of Race, Class And Gender: Theory, History, And Policy | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Labor, Politics and Society | ||
| Latinx Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees in the U.S | ||
| Social And Psychological Development Through The Life Cycle | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Race And Ethnic Relations | ||
| Immigration and the City | ||
| Cities and Society | ||
| GIS For Urban Planning | ||
| Neighborhood And Community Development | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Urban Policy/Management
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Select six of the following: | 18 | |
| Hate & Bias Crimes | ||
| The Kansas City Economy | ||
| Public Finance | ||
| Urban Economics | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Labor, Politics and Society | ||
| Nonprofit Organizations in Context | ||
| Latinx Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees in the U.S | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Immigration and the City | ||
| GIS For Urban Planning | ||
| Planning Theory And Practice | ||
| Transportation Planning | ||
| Planning For Historic Preservation | ||
| Urban Environment Planning And Design | ||
| Planning Law And Practice | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
NOTE: Courses counted towards the core requirements cannot be double-counted for the Interest Area
Internship (3-6 hours)
In developing internships, students should first contact the urban studies director.
The student is expected to participate in work activities in a community organization and receive instruction from agency staff for a minimum of 240 hours on site by the end of the program.
The internship may be repeated up to a maximum of two semesters and should be taken as URBAN ST 495. Other internship courses may satisfy this requirement with approval of the advisor.
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).