The Urban Science domain emphasis explores the theories and methods used to understand the deep structure of how cities function and the potential of urban policies and planning to shape more equitable futures. Topics include sustainability, mapping, visualization, design, urban economic analysis, smart urbanism, metropolitan structure, urban communities, and place-making, among others.

From the lists shown below, students will select one course from the lower-division, and two courses from the upper-division. The lower division course is a required element of the Domain Emphasis.

Courses in this domain emphasis are often restricted by major to enroll, and several have extensive prerequisites. It may be difficult to complete this emphasis given these restrictions. Students are advised to make appropriate alternate plans.

Prerequisites are shown within square brackets.

Lower Division (select one)

  • CIV ENG 88. Data Science for Smart Cities (2 units) [Pre/corequisite: COMPSCI/STAT/INFO C8]
  • ENV DES 4B. Global Cities (3 units)
  • GEOG 70AC. The Urban Experience (3 units)

Upper Division (select two)

  • ARCH 110AC. The Social and Cultural Processes in Architecture & Urban Design (4 units)
  • CY PLAN 110. Introduction to City Planning (4 units)
  • CY PLAN 113A. Economic Analysis for Planning (3 units)
  • CY PLAN 114. Introduction to Urban and Regional Transportation (3 units)
  • CY PLAN 119. Planning for Sustainability (3 units)
  • CY PLAN 140. Urban Design: City-Building and Place-Making (3 units)
  • ENE,RES 131. Data, Environment and Society (4 units)
  • ENVDES 100. The City: Theories and Methods in Urban Studies (4 units)
  • ENVDES 102. Climate Change and City Planning: Adaptation and Resilience (3 units)
  • GEOG 181. Urban Field Study (4 units)
  • GEOG 182. Field Study of Buildings and Cities (3 units)
  • LD ARCH 130. Sustainable Landscapes and Cities (4 units)
  • LD ARCH / GEOG C188. Geographic Information Systems (4 units) [Prerequisites: DATA 8, COMPSCI 61A, MATH 54]
  • LD ARCH 187. Representation as Research: Contemporary Topics in Landscape Visualization (3 units)
  • SOCIOL 136. Urban Sociology (4 units)

These course lists are subject to change.