Website: http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/dept-pages/urban/urbanpag.html

Program Director: Dr. Russell Harrison, Ph.D., Joint Appointment with Departments of Political Science and Public Policy and Administration

Affiliated Teachers:

Russell Harrison, B.A. Duke; Ph.D., North Carolina (Chapel Hill)

Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, B.A., Glassboro State College; M.S.W., Rutgers; M.A. (Philosophy), Ph.D. (Sociology), CUNY; postdoctoral studies, Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government

Michael Lang, B.A., Drew; M.S., Ph.D., London School of Economics (U.K.)

Jon Van Til, B.A., Swarthmore College; M.A., North Carolina; Ph.D., California (Berkeley)

Adjunct Faculty and Part-Time Lecturers:

Felipe J. Gorostiza, B.A., M.A., New York; M.A., Brown; M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania

Thomas Knoche, B.S., Lehigh; M.R.P., North Carolina

Robert Russo, B.S., Brooklyn; M.A., Wayne

Natasha Tursi, B.A., M.A., Rutgers (Camden)

Edward Williams, B.A., M.P.A., Rutgers (Camden)

The program in urban studies and metropolitan planning is concerned with the study and resolution of societal and political problems from an interdisciplinary base. Urban studies analyzes the role of nonprofit nongovernmental organizations and the quality of governance as forces in economic development and community enhancement. Individual attention to students is a point of pride among its faculty.

Students take at least one course from each of the six core concentrations. Six further courses provide a fuller understanding of urban institutions and how they function. Twelve courses (36 credits) are needed for a major and six courses for a minor.  

The program includes courses in urban planning, nonprofit organization, and leadership/civic education that allow students to develop specialized professional skills.

The courses promote understanding of many professional and community planning approaches aimed at resolving urban and metropolitan problems. Some courses provide field experience and training appropriate to preprofessionals.

The program offers a diverse range of other options to students, including:

1.  Double majors, which allow the student to develop an urban studies major in addition to a major in another discipline or professional field.

2.  Minors, which permit majors in other departments to concentrate in one of the options of the Program in Urban Studies, Community Development, and Metropolitan Planning. Minors complete six courses in the program--including one in each of the six core concentrations.

3.  Cooperative projects between faculty and students involving research, evaluation, and fieldwork characterize much of the department's activity. A multipath approach aims to create a learning environment in which a community of scholars engages in problem solving.

4.   The bachelor of arts/master of public administration (B.A./M.P.A.) dual degree program for urban studies provides direct access to the graduate program in public policy and administration at Rutgers Graduate School-Camden.

5.   Courses in urban and regional planning are taken to earn as many as 21 credits that count towards eligibility requirements for professional planning certification.