UWM-L&S: Faculty Document No. 607

College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 607
November 1, 2001

2000-2001
Proposal for an Undergraduate Urban Studies Certificate Program

Description of Request:

This is a recommendation of the Urban Studies Advisory Committee to establish the Urban Studies Certificate Program, an interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate program administered by the Urban Studies Advisory Committee and housed in the College of Letters and Science.

Rationale:

The Urban Studies Certificate Program is congruent with the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to serve to the fullest extent possible as an intellectual resource for the surrounding community. The Urban Studies certificate program will encourage undergraduates to achieve a broad understanding of urban life with particular focus on the disciplines in the arts and sciences. Students seeking employment in urban areas will find that the study of urban society will aid them in their careers. Moreover, the certificate program may introduce students to a field of study that can lead to graduate studies at UWM, in Urban Studies or in another urban-focused discipline. The Urban Studies certificate program is also consistent with the Milwaukee Idea that encourages increased interaction between the Milwaukee community and UWM. The certificate will assist undergraduates seeking more community experience prior to earning their baccalaureate degree. The Urban Studies certificate program is also consistent with the Milwaukee Commitment goal of increasing the diversity of the student body and the faculty.

Students come to UWM from Milwaukee and the surrounding areas. Their daily walk, drive, bus ride to and from school alerts them to the complex nature of cities. Those who have taken undergraduate courses in Urban Studies express interest in concentrating their courses in a coordinated certificate program. These include students interested in urban ecology, history, sociology, geography and political science. Urban Studies has recently hired two new faculty members, one with a tenure-home in history and another in political science, so has the new faculty resources to support the proposed program. Moreover, the new and redesigned graduate programs at UWM increasingly have an urban concentration. These include the Geography Ph.D. and the proposed History Ph.D. The Urban Studies certificate will allow UWM students to be better prepared for admission into these and other Ph.D. programs and facilitate their admission into the History, Geography, and USP master's programs.

Institutional Location:

Urban Studies Programs in the College of Letters and Science is well suited to administer the program. Besides housing a MS and PhD. program, USP currently offers a limited number of undergraduate courses, including USP 250: Exploring the Urban Environment, which carries GER credit. The current interdisciplinary USP graduate programs draw graduate students from several social science majors. Currently, the Urban Studies faculty includes historians, sociologists, geographers, and political scientists who are strongly committed to interdisciplinary teaching and research.

Program Description:

The certificate provides the undergraduate student with a coordinated core of courses which focus on urban issues and policy alternatives examined from a variety of humanistic, social scientific and professional perspectives. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of gender, racial and ethnic diversity within the context of urban policy choices and delivery. This certificate will be of particular interest to those students considering careers in urban areas and as a supplement to majors in the arts and sciences or professions.

Eligibility for the Program:

The Urban Studies Certificate Program is open to all students seeking a bachelor's degree from UWM and to students who previously have received a bachelor's degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university.

Program Requirements:

Completion of 18 credits in approved Urban Studies courses with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Completion of Urban Studies 250 (Exploring the Urban Environment), Urban Studies 193 (Freshman Seminar), or Urban Studies 360 (Perspectives on the Urban Scene) [under development].

Of the 18 credits, 6 must be in the humanities and 6 in the social sciences, and 9 must be at the 300 level or above taken in residence at UWM. It is recommended that the student also complete one course in the natural sciences.

No more than 9 credits from any one department outside Urban Studies may count toward the certificate.

A maximum of 6 credits in independent study may be taken. In the senior year, a student may plan an independent study course to synthesize previous work in Urban Studies.

An internship in Urban Studies 289 or 489 is recommended highly.

While students may elect courses outside the College of Letters and Science to count toward the certificate, at least 12 credits must be completed in L&S courses, at least 6 of these at the 300 level or above.

A total of 9 credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at UWM.

Credits earned at other institutions in equivalent Urban Studies programs and accepted by UWM as transfer credits may count in partial fulfillment of the certificate requirements.

Urban Studies Related Courses

The following courses in the College of Letters and Science are approved to count toward the Urban Studies Certificate. In addition, the Advisory Committee will review instructor submissions of new courses for approval for the Certificate. Each semester, the Advisory Committee will review and approve variable content course sections for the Certificate.

Africol 300	Urban Violence
Africol 319	History of Blacks in the American City
Anthro 431	Urban Anthropology
ArtHist 360	Modern Architecture II: The Rise of Modern Architecture
ArtHist 361	Modern Architecture III: Contemporary Architecture
ArtHist 458	A Comparative History of Architecture and Urbanism
Econ 323	Urban Economics
Geog 140	Our Urban Environment: Introduction to Urban Geography
Geog 440	Geography of Cities and Metropolitan Areas: External
Geog 441	Geography of Cities and Metropolitan Areas: Internal
Geog 443	Cities of the World: Comparative Urban Geography
Geog 540	Globalization and the City
Geog 564	Urban Environmental Hazards
GeoSci 140	Water, Man and the Urban Environment
Hist 450	Growth of Metropolitan Milwaukee
Hist 463	History of the American City
PolSci 213	Urban Government and Politics
PolSci 413	Governing Metropolitan Areas
PolSci 450	Urban Political Problems
Sociol 377	Urbanism and Urbanization
Sociol 603	Urban Minority Communities
Sociol 604	Research in Urban Minority Communities
Urb Std	All U and U/G courses

Awarding of Certificate:

Students currently involved in baccalaureate studies who complete the requirements of the program successfully will be awarded the certificate at the time of graduation. Post-baccalaureate students will receive the certificate upon successful completion of the program requirements.

Program Administration:

The program will be administered by an Advisory Committee composed of five faculty members in Urban Studies, appointed annually by the director of Urban Studies. One member of the committee will serve as Program Coordinator. The committee will be responsible for curriculum development and review, student admission and advising, and awarding of certificates.

Program Review:

The program will be reviewed by the College Administration, in consultation with the appropriate L&S Faculty committee(s), every five years to identify any problems and to determine its viability for continuation.

Budgetary Needs:

There are no funds needed to implement this program. The faculty members needed are already on staff.

Catalog Copy:

Add the following to the Certificate Program section of the Undergraduate Catalog:

URBAN STUDIES CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Margo Anderson, Professor of History, Coordinator

The Urban Studies Certificate Program provides the undergraduate student with a coordinated core of courses which focus on urban issues and policy alternatives examined from a variety of humanistic, social scientific and professional perspectives. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of gender, racial and ethnic diversity within the context of urban policy choices and delivery. This certificate will be of particular interest to those students considering careers in urban areas and as a supplement to majors in the arts and sciences or professions.

The Program is open to all students seeking a bachelor's degree from UWM and to students who previously have received a bachelor's degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university.

Students enrolled in the program must complete at least 18 credits in approved Urban Studies courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.5. Completion of Urban Studies 250 (Exploring the Urban Environment), Urban Studies 193 (Freshman Seminar), or Urban Studies 360 (Perspectives on the Urban Scene) is required. In addition, students must select 6 credits in humanities and 6 in social sciences from approved Urban Studies related courses. It is recommended that students also complete one course in the natural sciences. No more than 9 credits from any one department outside Urban Studies and a maximum of 6 credits in independent study courses may be applied to the certificate requirements. In the senior year, a student may plan an independent study course to synthesize previous work in Urban Studies. An internship in Urban Studies 289 or 489 is recommended highly.

While students may elect courses outside the College of Letters and Science to count toward the certificate, at least 12 credits must be completed in L&S courses, at least 6 of these at the 300 level or above. A total of 9 credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at UWM. Credits earned at other institutions in equivalent Urban Studies programs and accepted by UWM as transfer credits may count in partial fulfillment of the certificate requirements.

Urban Studies Related Courses

Africol 300	Urban Violence
Africol 319	History of Blacks in the American City
Anthro 431	Urban Anthropology
ArtHist 360	Modern Architecture II: The Rise of Modern Architecture
ArtHist 361	Modern Architecture III: Contemporary Architecture
ArtHist 458	A Comparative History of Architecture and Urbanism
Econ 323	Urban Economics
Geog 140	Our Urban Environment: Introduction to Urban Geography
Geog 440	Geography of Cities and Metropolitan Areas: External
Geog 441	Geography of Cities and Metropolitan Areas: Internal
Geog 443	Cities of the World: Comparative Urban Geography
Geog 540	Globalization and the City
Geog 564	Urban Environmental Hazards
GeoSci 140	Water, Man and the Urban Environment
Hist 450	Growth of Metropolitan Milwaukee
Hist 463	History of the American City
PolSci 213	Urban Government and Politics
PolSci 413	Governing Metropolitan Areas
PolSci 450	Urban Political Problems
Sociol 377	Urbanism and Urbanization
Sociol 603	Urban Minority Communities
Sociol 604	Research in Urban Minority Communities
Urb Std	All U and U/G courses

Students currently involved in baccalaureate studies who complete the requirements of the program successfully will be awarded the certificate at the time of graduation. Post-baccalaureate students will receive the certificate upon successful completion of the program requirements.