SKIP navigation
Graduate Studies
Graduate Studies

This page's main content:

urban studies graduate program.

The modern world is increasingly an urban world. Urban Studies seeks to understand the physical, social, economic, demographic, political, and environmental implications of urbanization and urbanism.

The MS in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary degree program offered through the School of Public Administration. As UNO is a comprehensive, metropolitan university, the MS in Urban Studies helps fulfill the urban mission of UNO.

Graduates with the MS in Urban Studies:

  • will possess a broad range of technical skills and an understanding of the problems and challenges of contemporary urban society
  • will pursue a professional, research or teaching career in the urban studies field
  • or will pursue careers with governmental, non-profit agencies and private businesses who employ urban studies graduates in a variety of management, planning, technical, analytical, human service, and other professional positions

Students enter the MS in Urban Studies with a variety of undergraduate degrees and a range of interests. They will take either a practitioner or research track in their studies and their plans of study will include an area of concentration or specialization reflecting career goals and aspirations.

Omaha, a metropolitan area of nearly three-quearters of a million people, contains a rich and diverse urban environment. Its ethnic neighborhoods contribute to a vital and energetic community that provides the student in the MS in urban Studies program with many opportunities and venues for field research and training.

The Center for Public Affairs Research, the Labor Institute, and several neighborhood-based development programs operated by faculty and staff of the School of Public Affairs and Community Service also offer community research, outreach, and service learning activities that the Urban Affairs student may utilize.

Admission

The general prerequisite for admission to the Urban Studies program is a four-year bachelors' degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the junior and senior years combined (the last 50-60 credit hours). Under extenuating circumstances an average below 3.0 will be considered. The following factors will be considered in determining an applicant's admission status:

  • Grade point average for the junior-senior year
  • Grade point average for the undergraduate degree
  • Writing skills (based on the applicant's admissions essay)
  • References (based on two written letters of recommendation)

New students are admitted to the program for the fall semester (spring admission is allowed only in exceptional circumstances and course availability in such cases is limited.)

A detailed resume and a statement of purpose on how the Master of Science in Urban Studies will further the applicant's career objectives must be included with the application for admission.

Additionally applicants are required to submit:

Transfer of Credit

Students may transfer up to one-third of the course work required for the urban studies degree requirements. This requires approval of the Graduate Program Committee and Graduate Dean. Students should discuss this with a faculty advisor. The request for a transfer of credit should be made as soon as possible and a letter of explanation from the student is required. An official transcript is also required.

Degree Requirements

The Urban Studies program consists of 37 hours, or 12 courses. Core courses required of all students are

  • UBNS 8000 Seminar in Urban Studies*
  • PA 8120 Research Methods*
  • PA 8010 The Public Economy
  • UBNS 8020 Race, Ethnicity and American Urban Culture
  • GEOG 8056 Geographic Information Systems I
  • UBNS 8060 Introduction to Urban Planning
  • UBNS 8200 Community Organizing and Development
  • PA 8990 Capstone Seminar**
  • 12 hours of electives - Students select four elective courses from those listed below. In particular circumstances, other electives may be accepted by the Director of Urban Studies. Many electives include course prerequisites; Urban Studies courses or undergraduate preparation may fulfill those requirements, as determined by the Director of Urban Studies. Electives are intended to give students knowledge and skills that prepare them to manage projects and organizations. Electives currently offered online and approved for Urban Studies students are:.
    • PA 8050 Public Administration and Democracy
    • PA 8090 Organization Theory and Behavior
    • last updated [11/23/2010 1000hrs]
    • PA 8300 Policy Design and Implementation
    • PA 8320 Public Policy Evaluation
    • PA 8400 Public Budgeting
    • PA 8410 Public Human Resource Management
    • PA 8436 Municipal Administration
    • PA 8470 Administrative Ethics and Leadership
    • PA 8480 Public Financial Administration
    • PA 8530 Strategic Planning and Management
    • PA 8550 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector

*UBNS 8000 and PA 8120 must be completed before other courses are taken (PA 8010, UBNS 8020, or approved electives may be taken concurrently).

**PA 8990 is to be taken in the final semester of coursework, in spring semester. In unusual circumstances it may be taken in other semesters by arrangement, but it should be taken in spring with the Urban Studies group.

Internship

Students who have not had at least two years full-time professional experience in the public or nonprofit sector (experience must have been in the sector of the student's primary future career interest) will complete an internship. The internship is given as a supervised course of three credit hours in addition to the 37 hours required in the Urban Studies program. The internship is taken following completion of preparatory coursework as determined by the Director of the Urban Studies program.

Thesis Option

A thesis option is available for students who wish to explore a particular aspect of urban affairs in depth, or who want to prepare for advanced graduate work. Students choosing the thesis option do not take PA 8990, the capstone seminar, but instead take 6 credit hours of UBNS 8980, Thesis, engaging in a major research project. This results in an addition of 3 credit hours to the student's overall program. Please contact the director of the Urban Studies program for more information.

For more information

For more information about the graduate program in urban studies, please contact Dr. Meagan Van Gelder at (402) 554-3480.

last updated : 11/2/2011 at 4:00pm