Urban Studies Programs

School/College: College of Letters and Science

Degrees Conferred:

• MS in Urban Studies
• PhD in Urban Studies

Contents

• Graduate Faculty
• Master of Science in Urban Studies
• Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies
• Courses

Overview

Urban Studies Programs offers two interdisciplinary graduate programs of study. Both programs are jointly sponsored by the Departments of History and Sociology and include participating faculty from these two departments plus Geography and Political Science.

The Master of Science degree program in Urban Studies provides students with a broad understanding of urban society and trains them in research techniques appropriate to the study of metropolitan communities. The course of study stresses the understanding of social processes and the analysis of social and economic policies affecting cities.

All MS students must complete a five-course core curriculum that establishes a common base of knowledge and research skills. On completing the core, students have two options. They may either secure a generalist degree, requiring 15 additional credits in elective courses, or they may specialize in an area of concentration in consultation with the MS Program Coordinator. The specialist option requires 15 credits in specified courses beyond the core. Both options require either a master's thesis or a master's paper. Graduates are prepared to enter professional careers in government or social agencies, or to enter doctoral programs for further study.

The PhD degree program in Urban Studies is designed to prepare individuals to obtain employment in academic departments, as well as government institutions and social agencies, and to conduct sophisticated research in the field of urban studies. The course of study emphasizes history, research methodology, and social science theory.

All doctoral students must take a six-course core curriculum and then establish a specialization in one of three areas: Urban Development, Human Service Organizations, or Race, Class, Gender, and Ethnicity. Graduates are equipped with the necessary research and methodological tools to conduct urban research deriving from theory and/or contributing to theory development.

MS/MLIS Coordinated Degree Program

In cooperation with the School of Information Studies, Urban Studies Programs offers an MS/MLIS program to prepare students for positions as urban information specialists. Students in this program concurrently pursue an MS in Urban Studies and a MLIS degree program. Prerequisite to the award of either degree in this program is the simultaneous award of its counterpart degree.

Graduate Faculty

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(Professors' home departments appear in parentheses)

Professors

Anderson, Margo, Ph.D., Rutgers University (History)

Greer, Ann, Ph.D., Northwestern University (Sociology)

Levine, Marc, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (History)

Meyer, Stephen, Ph.D., Rutgers University (History)

Mathiowetz, Nancy, Ph.D., University of Michigan (Sociology)

Montgomery, Rhonda, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Sociology)

Percy, Stephen, Ph.D., Indiana University (Political Science)

Shashko, Philip, Ph.D., University of Michigan (History)

Velez, William, Ph.D., Yale University (Sociology)

Associate Professors

Austin, Joe, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (History)

Bharadwaj, Lakshmi, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Sociology)

Bohte, John, Ph.D., Texas A&M University (Political Science)

Costello, Carrie Yang, Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley (Sociology)

DeSousa, Christopher, Ph.D., University of Toronto (Geography)

Edari, Ronald, Ph.D., Northwestern University (Sociology)

Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava, Ph.D., University of Oregon (Sociology)

Ghose, Rina, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (Geography)

Gordon, Michael, Ph.D., University of Rochester (History)

Green, Donald, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Sociology)

Ihrke, Douglas, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University (Political Science)

Jordan, Jennifer, Ph.D., University of California - San Diego (Sociology)

Kenny, Judith, Ph.D., Syracuse University (Geography)

McCarthy, Linda, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Geography)

Oliker, Stacey, Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley (Sociology)

Rast, Joel, Ph.D., University of Oregon (Political Science)

Redding, Kent, Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Sociology)

Renda, Lex, Ph.D., University of Virginia (History)

Rodriguez, Joseph A., Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley (History)

Seligman, Amanda, Ph.D., Northwestern University (History)

Wilson, F. Harold, Ph.D., University of Michigan (Sociology)

Assistant Professors

Aneesh, A, Ph.D., Rutgers University (Sociology)

Chesley, Noelle, Ph.D., Cornell University (Sociology)

Master of Science in Urban Studies

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Admission

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus the following requirement to be considered for admission:

• Undergraduate major in one of the social sciences or experience in relevant occupational roles such as planning, community organization or social work.
• Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic ability. Recommendation forms may be obtained from the Urban Studies Programs office.
• Submission of Graduate Record Examination scores is recommended but not required.

Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses.

The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the individual graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree.

Major Professor as Advisor

The Coordinator of the Urban Studies Master of Science degree program acts as the initial advisor to all entering students. Therefore, upon admission to the program, students should meet with the Coordinator to discuss their course of study. As specified by The Graduate School, the student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student's studies. Once the student has defined an area of interest within Urban Studies, an advisor with similar interests may be chosen from among the other members of the USP faculty.

Credits and Courses

The minimum degree requirement is 30 graduate credits. All Urban Studies students are required to take a core curriculum of 15 credits:

Urb Std 731 Quantitative Analysis in Urban Research (or equiv)

Urb Std 921 Seminar: Research Methods in Urban Studies

Three of the following four substantive courses

Urb Std 901 Seminar: Urban Social Structure

Urb Std 913 Urban Political Process

Urb Std 945 The Internal Structure of the City

Urb Std 971 Seminar in the History of American Urban Problems

MS/MLIS

Students in the MS/MLIS program follow all of the requirements and standards as described in this section of the Bulletin with the following joint exceptions: 21 of the 24 credits, including the optional 3 credits for a master's thesis, required for the Urban Studies portion of the joint degree are taken within USP. All courses in related areas and any exceptions to the 21 credit rule must be reviewed by the Coordinator of Urban Studies. All courses selected are expected to be consistent with the objectives of the Urban Studies program.

Paper or Thesis

A master's paper or thesis is required to receive the MS degree in Urban Studies. A master's paper may be developed from a seminar paper and should demonstrate conceptual ability and research competence in a sub-area of Urban Studies. It is expected that the master's paper will be prepared in a scholarly fashion conforming to the format characteristics of journal articles published in the chosen area of study.

A master's thesis is a more formal document of greater breadth and depth than a master's paper. Students should refer to Master's Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Format Requirements for information regarding preparation and review of the thesis.

Regardless of the option chosen, the student, in consultation with the faculty advisor, must assemble a committee of three faculty who will serve as the paper or thesis examination committee. The student must pass an oral examination based on the paper or thesis. Students who elect to write a master's theses may enroll in USP 990 and earn up to 3 credits toward the MS degree.

Time Limit

The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment.

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies

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Admission

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements, hold a master's degree or the equivalent in a social science or a related field, and meet the criteria established by the Urban Studies Programs Faculty to be considered for admission:

1. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic work. Recommendation forms may be obtained from the Urban Studies Programs office.
2. A sample of the applicant's written work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to conduct independent social science research and/or the ability to critically analyze the work of others.
3. A letter of intent outlining the applicant's reasons for graduate study.
4. GRE scores.
5. A response to a question that elucidates the applicant's reasons for taking up the academic study of urban affairs and describes her/his intellectual ambitions in the field.

Course of Study

Minimum degree requirement is 33 credits beyond the master's degree, at least 27 of which must be earned in residence at UWM. Of the total credits required, 9 credits must be completed in methodology and analysis (USP 979, 982, 984), 9 credits in theory and history (USP 980, 981, 983), and 6 credits in the thesis course (USP 991). (Students may enroll for additional thesis credits but no more than 6 credits may be counted toward fulfilling the degree requirements.)

In addition, the student is expected to plan a program of study with the student's major professor in order to gain competence in a field of specialization. The possible fields of specialization include Urban Development, Human Service Organizations, and Race, Class, Gender, and Ethnicity. The student is required to take 9 credits (three courses) at the 700 level or above in the specialization field, no more than 3 credits of which may be in independent study courses. The additional specific requirements for each specialization are described below.

Specialization in Urban Development: Comparative Historical and Comtemporary Perspectives

Six of the credits required in this specialization should be in History or in Comparative or Historical Sociology. Courses satisfying this requirement include History 833, 909, 924, and 930, Sociology 770 and 775, and other courses deemed appropriate by the Coordinator.

Specialization in Human Service Organizations

A student in this specialization must take 9 credits at the 700 level or above in the study of complex organizations or in some aspect of human service systems. Of these 9 credits, 3 credits must come from USP 985 or 986, Sociology 732, or other courses deemed appropriate by the Coordinator.

Specialization in Race, Class, Gender, and Ethnicity

A student in this specialization must take 9 credits at the 700 level or above in the study of inequality. Of these 9 credits, 3 credits must come from History 827, 831, or 912, Sociology 780 or 790, or other courses deemed appropriate by the Coordinator.

Residence

The PhD student may meet the residence requirement by completing 8 or more graduate credits in each of two consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions, or by completing at least 6 graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions.

Doctoral Preliminary Examination

The student must pass a doctoral preliminary examination to qualify for formal admission to candidacy for the degree.

Dissertation

The candidate, working under the supervision of the major professor and the candidate's dissertation committee, must write a dissertation which demonstrates ability to formulate a research topic and pursue original investigation.

Dissertation Defense

The candidate must, as a final step toward the degree, pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

Time Limit

All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.

For additional information on the PhD, see the Graduate School Doctoral Requirements page.

Courses

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Courses numbered 300-699 are Undergradute/Graduate. Courses numbered 700 and above are Graduate only.

450 (effective 09/02/2008) Urban Growth and Development: A Global View. 3 cr. U/G.

Urban growth and development from an international perspective. Prereq: jr st or cons instr.

450 National Urban Growth and Growth Control Policies-A Global View. 3 cr. U/G.

A review of urban growth policies throughout the world in order to understand the underlying goals and objectives. Prereq: jr st.

497 Study Abroad: (Subtitled). 1-12 cr. U/G.

Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially-prepared program course work. Prereq: jr st; acceptance for Study Abroad Prog, contact CIE Overseas Programs, PER 166, 229-5182.

601 Fundamentals of Urban Planning. 3 cr. U/G.

Introduction to city and metropolitan planning. Includes the historical background, philosophy, theory, process, techniques, procedures, tools, and administration of planning. Prereq: sr st.

607 Aging and Public Policy. 3 cr. U/G.

The politics of aging policy, the substance and shift in major aging legislation, the 'graying' of the federal budget and its consequences for aging policy. Prereq: jr st; college-level course in Econ, Sociol, Pol Sci, or Urb Std recom.

625 Law and Urban Poverty. 3 cr. U/G.

Examination of the relationship between law and poverty, with emphasis upon federal legislative attempts in specific problem areas to alleviate the condition of poverty. Prereq: jr st; cons instr.

639 Health Care Organization and the Low Income Consumer. 3 cr. U/G.

Analysis of health care organizational structures and their impact on the delivery of health care to low income consumers. Prereq: jr st.

639 (effective 09/02/2008) Health Care and Public Policy in the United States. 3 cr. U/G.

Health care policies in the United States. Prereq: jr st or cons instr.

701 Comparative Urban Development. 3 cr. G.

A cross cultural examination of urban development analyzing the manner in which European and other countries approach the problems or urban growth and redevelopment. Prereq: grad st.

704 Seminar in Nonprofit Organizations. 3 cr. G.

Overview of structure, functions, and governance of nonprofit organizations. Comparison with government and for-profit organizations. Pol Sci 704, Sociol 704, & Urb Std 704 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

704 (effective 05/19/2008) Seminar in Nonprofit Organizations. 3 cr. G.

Overview of structure, functions, and governance of nonprofit organizations. Comparison with government and for-profit organizations. Pol Sci 704, Sociol 704, & Urb Std 704 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

719 Social Objectives Of Urban Development. 3 cr. G.

Examination of the empirical and normative theory of urban communities and their social goals. Prereq: grad st.

720 Theory and Method in Local Economic Development. 3 cr. G.

Major economic concepts and methods relevant to the analysis of public sector economic development policy. Emphasis on spatial markets and local public finance. Prereq: grad st.

725 Methods of Urban Community Development. 3 cr. G.

A multi-disciplinary, applied social science approach to the development of organizational, institutional, and sub-community action systems in urban areas. Prereq: grad st & cons instr.

726 Advanced Methods of Urban Community Development. 3 cr. G.

Evaluation of model cities, community health, community corporations, decentralized government. Practice issues: program design, federal policy, consulting, training, participation, decision making process, economic feasibility. Future models. Prereq: grad st & cons instr.

728 Urban Community Workshop. 3 cr. G.

Group research into specific milwaukee problems conducted jointly under the supervision of departmental faculty and community leaders stressing practical and theoretical applications. Prereq: grad st.

731 Quantitative Analysis for Public Administration and Urban Research. 3 cr. G.

Application of various quantitative methods to problems in public administration and urban research, including analysis of spatial distributions, quantitative modeling, bivariate and multivariate analyses. Prereq: grad st.

732 Applications of Computer Technology in Urban Affairs. 3 cr. G.

Survey of applications and assignments in statistical analysis, data processing, projection, and simulation. Use of "canned" and original programs. Computer management issues. Prereq: grad st; cons instr, conc reg fortram short course.

733 Public Program Evaluation. 3 cr. G.

Scope and methods of evaluation: analytic background and skills necessary in evaluation. Discuss and analyze citizens' preferences, legislative intent, bureaucratic implementation, and goal attainment. Prereq: grad st.

734 Urban Demography: Methods and Emerging Policy Issues. 3 cr. G.

Major demographic processes (fertility, mortality and migration) are examined within the context of urban social policy. The principal focus is on methods required to assess demographic change. Prereq: grad st.

740 Alternative Urban Futures. 3 cr. G.

Introduction to planned or imagined urban futures. Emphasis on determining the ends-means relationships with special reference to the organizational, social and economic correlates of anticipated systems. Use and development of a selected methodology which deals with discontinuities. Prereq: grad st.

741 Introduction to Metropolitan Development. 3 cr. G.

Preview to metropolitan development from an analytical viewpoint. Emphasis on the quantitative tools and conceptual framework necessary to interpret phenomena in a metropolitan area. Prereq: grad st.

770 The Law and the American City. 3 cr. G.

Legal environment of american cities; powers of municipal corporations; relations of municipalities to state and federal governments as controlled by constitutions, statutes, and judicial decisions; special government units; local authorities and bill of rights limitations. Prereq: grad st.

830 Seminar in Dynamics of Metropolitan Development. 3 cr. G.

Overview of urban development, particularly the role of resource use and economic efficiency in the metropolis, with emphasis on functions of metropolitan subareas. Prereq: grad st; cons instr.

832 Urban Policies: Analysis and Alternatives. 3 cr. G.

Methods of determining policies in various areas of urban development. Emphasis on economic determinants of problems and effectiveness of alternative public actions and expenditures. Prereq: grad st; cons instr.

833 Bureaucracies in the Public Sector. 3 cr. G.

The roles of public bureaucracies in democratic political systems. Their structures, processes, and behavior. Prereq: grad st.

840 Community Health Planning. 3 cr. G.

Examination of processes of planning for delivery of integrated systems of health services to the urban community. Social, economic, political and organization factors are discussed and interrelated. Prereq: grad st.

841 Health Policy in Urban Society. 3 cr. G.

Emerging health policy in modern society. Emphasis on the uncertainty of goals, contending interest, and the urban context. Prereq: grad st.

888 Candidate for Degree. 0 cr. G.

Available for master's students who must meet minimum credit load requirement. Fee for 1 cr assessed. Prereq: grad st.

890 Urban Social Institutions Institute: 3 cr. G.

Interdisciplinary study of selected urban and metropolitan problems. Focuses on the analysis of forces shaping the metropolitan milieu. Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max. Prereq: grad st or cons UrbInst coord.

901 Seminar: Urban Social Structure. 3 cr. G.

Comprehensive analysis of the emergence and institutionalization of cultural and social patterns in urban settings; and future American urban social structures. Sociol 901 & Urb Std 901 are jointly-offered & count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

901 (effective 05/19/2008) Seminar: Urban Social Structure. 3 cr. G.

Comprehensive analysis of the emergence and institutionalization of cultural and social patterns in urban settings; and future American urban social structures. Sociol 901 & Urb Std 901 are jointly-offered & count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

911 Urban Development and Redevelopment. 3 cr. G.

Urban development seen as a cycle: problem identification, policy response, development implementation, evaluation in redevelopment. Economic, social, and political development, private and public, national and local. Prereq: grad st.

913 Seminar in Urban Political Process. 3 cr. G.

Analysis of the forces and processes that shape urban political life, with particular emphasis on patterns of government, political culture, power structures, and civic participation in urban and metropolitan communities. Pol Sci 913 & Urb Std 913 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

921 Seminar: Research Methods in Urban Affairs. 3 cr. G.

Methodological orientations and techniques in urban affairs: philosophy of science, conceptualization measurements, research designs, data collection, data analysis. Prereq: grad st.

927 Urban Internship. 2-3 cr. G.

Advanced application and analysis of theory and acquired skills in supervised agency assignment. Retakable to 6 cr max. Prereq: grad st.

932 Labor, Leisure, and the American City. 3 cr. G.

Interdisciplinary seminar organized to focus on urban policies and programs pertaining to the urban labor force and the quality of life. Prereq: grad st.

933 Development of the Workforce in American Cities, 1880 to the Present. 3 cr. G.

The factory and work setting in their relation with community and home life. Prereq: grad st.

939 Urban Lifestyle and Holistic Health Care. 3 cr. G.

Examines the implications of urban life style for health promotion and protection with special emphasis on developing appropriate health maintenance modalities. Prereq: Urb Std 639(P) or 841(P).

945 (effective 05/19/2008) The Internal Structure of the City. 3 cr. G.

The interaction of forces responsible for the evolution of the city as a spatial form and the allocation of economic and social activity within the spatial configuration. Geog 945 & Urb Std 945 are jointly-offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

945 The Internal Structure of the City. 3 cr. G.

The interaction of forces responsible for the evolution of the city as a spatial form and the allocation of economic and social activity within the spatial configuration. Geog 945 & Urb Std 945 are jointly-offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

960 Seminar: The City in Theory and Practice: (Subtitled). 3 cr. G.

Problems of integration in urban theory and of the role of the urbanist in treating key public policy issues. Retakable w/chg in topic to 6 cr max. Prereq: grad st; regis in Urb Std prog.

965 Municipal Management. 3 cr. G.

The political, social, and economic contexts in which the urban manager functions, with an emphasis on managing municipal service delivery and resources. Pol Sci 965 & Urb Std 965 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: Grad st.

970 Seminar-The City in History. 3 cr. G.

Analysis of the historical forces that have helped shape urban life; examination of the role and use of history in social science research involving urban phenomena. Prereq: grad st.

971 Seminar on the History of American Urban Problems. 3 cr. G.

Historical analysis of the current problems of housing, race relations, the powers and functions of municipal government, law enforcement, and city planning in the United States. Hist 971 & Urb Std 971 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

971 (effective 05/19/2008) Seminar on the History of American Urban Problems. 3 cr. G.

Historical analysis of the current problems of housing, race relations, the powers and functions of municipal government, law enforcement, and city planning in the United States. Hist 971 & Urb Std 971 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

979 Methods of Research and Analysis for Urban Social Institutions I. 3 cr. G.

Seminar on logic, design, and presentation of social science research. Inductive and qualitative methods, theory construction, and ethics and procedures of research in natural settings. Sociol 979 & Urb Std 979 are jointly-offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

979 (effective 05/19/2008) Methods of Research and Analysis for Urban Social Institutions I. 3 cr. G.

Seminar on logic, design, and presentation of social science research. Inductive and qualitative methods, theory construction, and ethics and procedures of research in natural settings. Sociol 979 & Urb Std 979 are jointly-offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

980 Growth of Urban Society. 3 cr. G.

Seminar in historical, social, and ecological growth and development of urban agglomerations. Comparative framework will be used to examine the urban process. Hist 980 & Urb Std 980 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

980 (effective 05/19/2008) Growth of Urban Society. 3 cr. G.

Seminar in historical, social, and ecological growth and development of urban agglomerations. Comparative framework will be used to examine the urban process. Hist 980 & Urb Std 980 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st.

981 Perspectives Toward Change in Urban Social Institutions. 3 cr. G.

Historical and ideological bases for urban social institutions. Growth of social institutions and role of government in supporting and controlling them. Prereq: grad st.

982 Methods of Research and Analysis for Urban Social Institutions II. 3 cr. G.

Evaluation of different methods of generating data and their applications to the analysis of public policies and programs. Sociol 982 & Urb Std 982 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st; min. score of 85 on dept diagnostic exam.

982 (effective 05/19/2008) Methods of Research and Analysis for Urban Social Institutions II. 3 cr. G.

Evaluation of different methods of generating data and their applications to the analysis of public policies and programs. Sociol 982 & Urb Std 982 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: grad st; min. score of 85 on dept diagnostic exam.

983 Contemporary Urban Social Structure and Change. 3 cr. G.

Range of research issues conceptualized in terms of major categorical and more intentional social structures that bear on urban social actions. Prereq: grad st.

984 Research Project in Urban Institutions. 3 cr. G.

Structural research problem in which doctoral students can master research techniques needed in pursuing dissertation and later in career research. Prereq: grad st.

985 Seminar in Urban Delivery Systems. 3 cr. G.

Structure, processes, and roles of selected social service urban delivery systems as they relate to institutional responsiveness and societal needs. Prereq: grad st.

986 Urban Public Policy and Social Institutions. 3 cr. G.

Government forms and processes bearing on formation and implementation of urban social policies. Prereq: grad st.

987 Urban Social Control. 3 cr. G.

Graduate seminar introducing concepts of social control, pervasiveness of social control, and how social control is maintained in urban environments. Prereq: grad st.

988 Seminar in Urban Social Institutions: (Subtitled). 3 cr. G.

Historical and sociological forces shaping selected urban issues and social institutions. Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max. Prereq: grad st.

990 Master's Research or Thesis. 1-3 cr. G.

Research or thesis work for students in the master's program in Urban Studies. Prereq: grad st.

991 Doctoral Research or Dissertation. 1-6 cr. G.

Research or dissertation work for students in the doctoral program in Urban Studies. Retakable. Prereq: grad st.

998 Independent Study for Master's Students. 1-3 cr. G.

Independent study in a subject area of special need or interest after consultation with a faculty member. Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max. Prereq: grad st.

999 Independent Study for Doctoral Students. 1-3 cr. G.

Independent study in a subject area of special need or interest after consultation with a faculty member. Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max. Prereq: grad st.