Academic Programs

The urban studies major provides a broad understanding of how urban dynamics shape both global interdependence and local spaces. It emphasizes how cities are increasingly critical to the organization of economic, social, and cultural activities that shape and transform human experience. The major provides opportunities for community learning in Hartford, approved, selective courses at the University of Connecticut or the University of Hartford, study away in international cities, as well as internships in a variety of urban settings.

The graduate certificate in urban planning consists of four courses that look at city planning at the local, state, regional, national, and global levels, beginning with Trinity’s location in Hartford.

The master of arts in urban planning consists of twelve courses and gives those who are planning a career in urban planning and those already working in the field the tools and skills needed to succeed as town and city planners or as policy specialists. Our curriculum is designed to meet the American Planning Association’s Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) standard to teach “students the essential knowledge, skills, and values central to the planning profession.”

The minor in Urban Studies helps students develop a sophisticated grasp of the rapidly evolving reality of how dynamic urban centers and regions drive a global system and how cities are increasingly critical to the organization of economic, social and cultural activities. The minor draws from nearly 70 urban courses taught by a variety of faculty within and across many departments and programs in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

This minor is facilitated by academic programming and initiatives at CUGS and features curricular collaboration among faculty representing the departments or programs of Anthropology, Art History, International Studies, Language and Culture Studies, Sociology, Urban Studies, Women, Gender and Sexuality, and the Office of Study Away. Opportunities for students include studying away at Fudan University in Shanghai, traveling to China for a summer field course, taking courses with Fudan University faculty at Trinity, and grants for summer field research in Chinese cities.