Urban Studies **Major Not Offered at UNA**
What can I do with this major?
Government
Area
- Demography
- Social Statistics
- Public Administration
- Policy Analysis
- Research
- Program Development
- Human Services
- City Planning
- Law Enforcement
- Politics
Employer
- Federal departments and agencies such as:
- Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Commerce, Defense
- Health and Human Services
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Housing and Urban Development
- Veteran's Administration
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Aging
- Peace Corps
- State and local government
- Planning and development commissions
- National, state, or local parks or recreation departments
- Housing authorities
- Social service agencies
- Transportation departments
Information / Strategies
- Supplement curriculum with coursework in statistics and social research.
- Develop exceptional computer, communication, and research skills.
- Gain work experience via government internships, part-time jobs, or summer work.
- Develop a specialty such as aging, family, criminal justice, or healthcare.
- Learn the federal job application process.
- Obtain a graduate degree for advanced positions.
- Consider obtaining a minor in political science, public administration, or other relevant fields.
Regional and Urban Planning
Area
- Transportation
- Demography
- Housing
- Historic Preservation
- Urban Design
- Urban Renewal
- Environmental/Regulatory Issues
- Economic Development
- Land Use
- Research Design
- Program Development
Employer
- Architecture firms
- Engineering firms
- Local planning agencies
- Real estate and development contractors
- Investment companies
- Transportation agencies
- Zoning administration
- Federal, state, and local government
- Utility companies
- Non-profit organizations
- Historical restoration or preservation agencies
- Neighborhood revitalization initiatives
- International development organizations
Information / Strategies
- Enhance curriculum with courses in business, social sciences, and statistics.
- Earn a graduate degree in urban or regional planning from an accredited planning program.
- Find a related internship, part-time, or summer job.
- Develop strong computer skills.
- Learn another language to communicate with diverse community members or to work abroad.
- Plan to work collaboratively with a wide array of professionals and local citizens.
- Understand that most planners work for local governments.
Human Services
Area
- Counseling
- Case Management
- Advocacy
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Mental Health Services
- Programming
- Administration
Employer
- Community service agencies
- Advocacy groups
- Federal, state, and local government
- United Way agencies
- Local branches of national non-profit organizations
- Religiously-affiliated service organizations
- Private foundations
- Adoption and child care agencies
- Nursing homes and retirement communities
- Hospitals and wellness centers
- Halfway houses
- Vocational services
- Educational information services
Information / Strategies
- Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions.
- Spend summers working at camps, YMCA's, or other social service agencies.
- Gain experience working with diverse populations.
- Develop excellent communication skills.
- Concentrate course work in an area of interest such as youth, gerontology, or poverty.
- Learn a second language in order to interact with non-English speakers and increase marketability.
- Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant, or other student leader.
- Earn a master's degree in social work, counseling, or other related field to increase employment opportunities.
- Most states require licensure or certification for positions involving the direct provision of therapeutic services to clients.
Business
Area
- Real Estate
- Construction Management
- Development
- Sales
- Leasing
- Management
- Human Resources
- Sales
Employer
- Real estate firms
- Rental properties
- Construction and development companies
- Insurance firms
- Retail stores
- Banks
- Staffing agencies
- Manufacturing companies
- Credit management companies and organizations
- Service industries
- Healthcare organizations
Information / Strategies
- Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with courses in general business, accounting, and finance.
- Gain business experience through part-time jobs, summer work, and internships.
- Develop excellent computer skills.
- Learn to use software applications such as spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.
- Hone written and oral communication skills.
- Join related professional associations.
- Seek leadership roles in student organizations.
Education
Area
- Teaching
- Research
Employer
- Colleges and universities
- Adult education providers
Information / Strategies
- Earn a graduate degree for post-secondary teaching.
- Assist a professor with research.
- Take extra courses in research and statistics.
- Develop exceptional written and oral communication skills.
- Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.
Social Science Research
Area
- Data Analysis
- Demography
- Market Research
- Information Sourcing
Employer
- Universities
- Government agencies
- Research institutes
- Non-profit organizations
- Private industries
- Advertising and marketing firms
- Consulting organizations
- Information brokers
- Newspapers, magazines, news agencies
- Public opinion research polls
Information / Strategies
- Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills.
- Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs.
- Volunteer to help a professor with a research project.
- Obtain an advanced degree for research administration positions.
- Network with professionals working in areas of interest.
- Gain experience working on teams.
General Information and Strategies
- Many transferable skills such as analytical, organizational, research, interpersonal, computer, leadership, teamwork, and oral/written communication are associated with the urban studies degree.
- Internships, part-time jobs, summer jobs, and/or volunteer experiences are critical for gaining experience and developing a career path.
- An undergraduate degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions in business, industry, and government; however, a graduate degree is likely to be more desirable in a competitive market.
- An undergraduate degree in urban studies is good preparation for graduate or professional education in law, business, and other related fields. Research pre-requisites for graduate or professional programs of interest.
- To enhance graduate or professional school opportunities, maintain a high grade point average, secure strong faculty recommendations, join student or professional organizations, and gain relevant experience outside of the classroom through work, internship, volunteer, and research opportunities.
- A Ph.D. is required for teaching at the four-year university level.
- For human or social service positions, gain experience with a population of interest (i.e., children, college students, elderly adults) and develop multicultural sensitivity and understanding. Plan to earn a graduate degree in counseling, social work or related field.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals working in areas of interest.