Urban Studies

If you are passionate about making a positive impact on the world, programs in WSU Department of Urban Studies will provide you with the necessary tools, geared toward the workplaces of today, to do just that. Faculty mentors work with you to develop an in-depth understanding of the complex challenges facing our increasingly urban and diverse world by taking what you learn in the classroom and putting it into practice. You will learn valuable professional and personal skills that allow you to succeed in 21st-century workplaces while you engage in purposeful research and action in urban communities. As a graduate of one of the few Urban Studies departments in New England, and you will stand out as a creative problem solver and critical thinker seeking to understand and provide solutions for urban residents locally and globally.

Our Mission:

• Teaching: we challenge students to think creatively and write critically about urban issues, and to solve problems using theoretical and applied approaches.
• Research: we emphasize ethical collaborative action research involving faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and the community.
• Action: we engage students through a variety of intergenerational and intercultural community endeavors.
• Personal Development: we facilitate the growth of individual skills such as empathy, reflection, confidence, and self-advocacy, and other tools necessary to succeed professionally in a globalized world.