Urban Studies Minor

The Minor in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary, community engagement focused minor available to students from all majors to learn and gain skills in the dynamic scholarly discipline of urban studies within the urban incubator that is Chattanooga, Tennessee. An Urban Studies minor fulfills one of the major pillars of UTC’s strategic plan -  community engagement.

The Minor in Urban Studies provides an excellent pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in architecture, urban and community planning, urban design, law, public policy and administration, transportation, housing and commercial development, real estate, politics, social work, and research. With a Minor in Urban Studies, students will develop well-rounded skills in critical thinking, experiential learning, GIS, and community engagement from courses in sociology, geography, political science, history, and economics. The Urban Studies minor will provide students with an understanding of the  social, cultural, political, historical, economic and spatial phenomena of urban areas that shape our cities and make them into what we see today. The minor will offer students  opportunities to work and engage with community stakeholders in Chattanooga, strengthening the relationship between UTC and the community, and offer innovative ways to improve the city in a way that benefits as many of our citizens as possible. There will be many experiential learning opportunities for students with an Urban Studies minor. The city is our laboratory, and there are things the city can teach us, and many issues to tackle.