Nov 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Urban Studies (BS)


The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Urban Studies (US) is the degree for individuals desiring to make a difference in their community. The BSUS at UNLV is an undergraduate degree that provides students with the conceptual knowledge and technical skills they need to understand and analyze the physical, social, political and economic environment of large and small urban communities.

Urban Studies at UNLV will equip students with the skills and understanding to address many of the most pressing issues facing society today, and most of them are urban in nature. The curriculum will offer a set of core classes building a duel foundation of urban data analysis and community engagement. Because of the school’s belief in a multi-disciplinary approach to learning, Urban Studies students will develop a deeper grasp of specific aspects of the urban environment, including but not limited to economic development, sustainability, governance, or data analytics. Finally, and maybe most importantly, Urban Studies students will have the opportunity to apply skills to meeting community needs and solutions. Students, faculty, and graduates will work in public agencies and a wide range of community-based organizations in the Las Vegas metro region.

Please see the Urban Studies web page at www.unlv.edu/publicpolicy  for information about department programs, faculty and facilities. Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available at www.unlv.edu/degree/bs-urban-studies.

Learning Outcomes

 Upon completing an undergraduate degree program in Urban Studies, a graduate will be able to:

  • Examine whether an organization or community meet multiple conditions of sustainability.
  • Characterize the roles of individuals and organizations in policy and governance.
  • Produce analyses that demonstrate information literacy and numeracy.
  • Communicate data needs and analyses to multiple audiences to support decision-making processes.
  • Apply knowledge and skills required for successful collaboration.

Advising


Please see advising information at the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Student Advising Center.

Accreditation


For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements


Please see Graduation Policies  for complete information.

Recommended Courses That Meet General Education Core Requirements


The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs strongly recommends that students address their General Education Core curriculum requirements through our college. The following classes offered in our college meet graduation requirements:

Urban Studies (BS) Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits


General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 33-37 Credits


First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3


English Composition - Credits: 6


Second-Year Seminar - Credits: (Fulfilled by Major Requirements)


Constitutions - Credits: 4-6


Mathematics - Credits: 3


Distribution Requirement - Credits: 18-19


Please see Distribution Requirements  for more information.

  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 credits
    • Two 3-credit courses in the humanities and one 3-credit course in fine arts.
  • Social Science:
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirement
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking - 9-10 credits

Multicultural and International


Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to: www.unlv.edu/provost/multicultural-requirements.

General Electives - Credits: 38 - 47


Total Credits: 120


Notes


  1. GSC 300  is a required course for all majors in Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.  In addition, must complete at least 42 credits at the upper division level to graduate.
  2. URST 301  is a Milestone Experience course for Urban Studies B.S.
  3. URST 498  is a Culminating Experience course for Urban Studies B.S.