Urban Affairs, BA

Urban Affairs (no concentration)
Nonprofit Management Concentration
Urban Management Concentration
Urban Planning Concentration

Program Description:

Urban Affairs

If you want to make communities better places to live, then the Urban Affairs major is right for you! By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will be urban. Population growth expands the need for efficient and effective use of scarce resources, for thoughtful policies, plans and programs that deal with problems of safety, economic opportunity and poverty and that develop and sustain a healthy quality of life, and for educated leaders and administrators who have vision, communication skills and can organize and manage a skilled workforce. Become prepared for professional positions in government, nonprofit organizations, and private sector businesses.

Urban Affairs is an interdisciplinary program offering a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree. The program provides students with an appreciation of the urban environment as a complex system and teaches them to approach urban processes from an interdisciplinary perspective. The Bachelor of Arts degree places emphasis on the qualitative aspects of public service management. In contrast, the Bachelor of Science degree emphasizes quantitative data analysis.

The program is designed to prepare some students for junior- or entry-level positions in both local government and selected community agencies, and it also provides a foundation for students preparing for graduate work. To be admitted as majors, students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average; interested students may apply for admission at any time. Majors are required to complete a common core of courses and may choose a general program of study or select a specialization in one of three areas: public management, nonprofit management, or urban planning.

Urban Affairs students are required to participate in the department’s internship program. The internship is designed to complement class work and give students experience in the professional work environment. Students interested in the internship should contact the department internship coordinator or their advisor. Students currently working in a related field may have the internship requirement waived.

Urban Affairs Honors Program

The Urban Affairs Honors Program provides an opportunity for students to achieve their highest possible level of intellectual attainment. Urban Affairs majors of superior academic ability are invited to apply. A student may enter either upon successful application or at the invitation of the Urban Affairs Honors Committee. To be eligible, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better in all course work completed at Wright State University. It is recommended that students apply to enter the program during their junior year and no later than the first quarter of their senior year.

For further information about the program and admission criteria and procedures, students should contact the School of Public and International Affairs, 325 Millett, (937) 775-2942.

Admissions:

Minimum GPA of 2.0 is required to enter the program.

For additional information:

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 3 Hours

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

II. Departmental Requirements: 39 Hours

Core Courses: 18 Hours

URS 3000 - Foundations of Urban Affairs Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3100 - The American City Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3300 - Ethics in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4270 - Public Policy Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4990 - Applied Research Project Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4950 - Urban Affairs Internship Credit Hour(s): 3 or
URS 4970 - Nonprofit Internship Credit Hour(s): 3

Elective Courses: 21 Hours

Seven electives selected from:

URS 3200 - Community/Regional Planning I Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3210 - City Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3250 - Urban Youth Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3450 - Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 3460 - Public Personnel Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4200 - Public Management Strategies Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4210 - Public Leadership and Change Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4230 - Public Budgeting Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4240 - Public Sector Labor Relations Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4260 - Public Administration in a Global Society Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4280 - Criminal Justice Organization and Management Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4290 - Issues in Urban Management Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4300 - Nonprofit Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4310 - Philanthropy and Grantmaking Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4330 - Strategic Planning Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4340 - Fundraising and Grant Writing Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4390 - Issues in Nonprofit Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4400 - Community and Regional Planning II Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4410 - Cities and Technology Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4430 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4450 - Community Development: Principles and Practice Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4490 - Issues in Metropolitan Development Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4500 - Issues in Metropolitan Planning Credit Hour(s): 3
URS 4900 - Special Topics Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
URS 4940 - Youth and Community Engagement Credit Hour(s): 3

III. Related Requirements: 6 Hours

ENG 3000 - Business Writing Credit Hour(s): 3 or
ENG 3610 - Technical Writing Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3400 - Urban Geography Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Foreign Language and Research Methods: 18 Hours

Foreign Language: 12 Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language:

Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, American Sign Language or other.

Methods of Inquiry

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods - URS 3980 Quantitative Research Methods , PLS 3100 Quantitative Methods in Political Science , or SOC 3410 Introduction to Research Methods

V. Electives: 19 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.