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Urban Studies and Community Development

What is Urban Studies and Community Development?

Urban Studies and Community Development relates the past to the future of cities. It explores their politics and economics, and environmental and cultural trends. Multidisciplinary and experiential, it builds applied skills highly prized in urban and community development professions through teaching, engagement and research.

Urban Studies graduates are trained as urban analysts who combine strong communication and analytical skills with deep, applied knowledge about how cities, communities, and regions function.

What can I do with this degree?

Urban Studies students work in government, law, business, conservation, advocacy and urban planning. We also nurture a life-long passion for civic engagement.

Spotlight on Careers

  • City Council Administrator
  • Director of Development
  • Economic Development
  • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Grant Manager
  • Mayor’s Office
  • Program Manager
  • Rural Development Manager
  • Sustainability Coordinator
  • Urban Planner

What kind of real-world experience will I receive?

Urban Studies builds on experiential learning from the first to the last class through service-learning projects, internships, Investigate Boise and the culminating professional Capstone project.

Urban Studies uses Boise, a booming mid-sized city, to illustrate metropolitan and global trends.