Urban Studies
Overview
The world's population is increasingly concentrated into multicultural,
multiracial urban areas. These areas have grown--and continue to
grow--largely because they provide jobs, services, and hope to prospective
residents. At the same time, many large cities are beset with problems:
poverty, crime, housing shortages, racism, and fiscal stress, to name a
few.
The interdisciplinary Urban Studies program offers a major and a
concentration to students wishing to focus their academic studies on urban
areas. The program builds on courses offered by several departments at St.
Olaf and is supplemented by courses from off-campus urban studies
programs.
Requirements for the Major
Students should take a minimum of eight urban studies courses. All students
must take Sociology/Anthropology 242, Economics 249, or another survey course agreed upon by the Coordinator of Urban Studies. In addition, each major must
receive three course credits from an off-campus Urban Studies semester program.
Off-campus programs include: Chicago, Minneapolis, Scandinavia, and South
America. (Consult the Index for more information.) The major coursework is
completed by a selection of courses from the list below.
Students should meet with the Coordinator of Urban Studies to plan their
major.
Requirements for the Concentration
Students may do an Urban Studies Concentration in any of the participating
departments. A concentration may be earned by completing five urban
studies courses. The five courses should include Sociology/Anthropology 242 or Economics 249; two more courses from the following:
Economics 371, 249, History 242, 246,
Political Science 240,
Sociology/Anthropology 235, 242, 246,
247, or American Racial and Multicultural
Studies 121; and two courses from an
off-campus urban semester program. Concentrations should be arranged with
the Coordinator of Urban Studies and a departmental advisor.
Courses
American Studies 100; American Racial and
Multicultural Studies 121; Economics
249, 371, 372, 376; History 205, 206, 242, 243, 338; Interdisciplinary 395;
Religion 253; Political Science 240, 246, 251, 252, 371, 376, 380;
Sociology/Anthropology 244, 241,
242, 252, 259,
371, 372;
and Social Work 221, 258. Other Interims or specially offered
courses may apply. Consult the coordinator.
Faculty
The faculty of interdisciplinary programs are drawn from a variety of
departments. See faculty listing under department for individual degree
information.
Janet Contursi (Coordinator)
Associate Professor of Anthropology,
Paracollege Tutor, 1989-
Jo Beld
Associate Professor of Political Science,
Paracollege Tutor, 1984-
Mary Carlsen
Associate Professor of Social Work,
1989-
Michael Fitzgerald
Associate Professor of History, 1986-
Daniel Hofrenning
Associate Professor of Political Science,
1988-
Naurine Lennox
Associate Professor of Social Work,
1977-
Bruce Nordstrom
Associate Professor of Sociology,
Paracollege Tutor, 1982-
Steven Soderlind
Associate Professor of Economics, 1978-81,
1982-