Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations

Graduate Specialization in Global Urban Studies

The Graduate Specialization in Global Urban Studies, which is administered by the College of Social Science, offers interdisciplinary doctoral-level study, integrated with programs offered by disciplinary departments and is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University.

The Graduate Specialization in Global Urban Studies addresses political, spatial, cultural, and economic processes and issues in urban areas across the United States and the world, as well as the global processes that impact and unite urban areas. Course work includes foci on urban areas in the United States and abroad; urban areas in comparative context regionally, nationally and internationally; and how the forces of globalization change urban areas.

With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the doctoral degree.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Global Urban Studies

               
1. Both of the following courses (6 credits):  
  SSC 800 The World System of Cities 3
  SSC 886 Global Urban Research Practicum 3
2. Complete two of the following courses. Each course must be from a different sphere. Students may select other courses from other departments or disciplines with the approval of the specialization advisor. (6 or 7 credits)  
  Political Sphere          
  PLS 808 Issues in Urban Policy and Services 3
  PLS 822 Urban Government and Politics 3
  Spatial Sphere          
  GEO 413 Urban Geography 3
  GEO 453 Metropolitan Environments: Urban Form and Land Use 3
  UP 823 Urban Land Management 4
  Social/Cultural Sphere
 
  ANP 815 Transnational Processes and Identities (D) 3
  HST 410 History of Western Urbanization 3
  SOC 838 Comparative Urban Theory 3
  Economic Sphere
   
  AEC 991 Advanced Topics in Agricultural Economics 3
  EC 840 International Trade: Theory and Commercial Policy 3