oil fracking in Los Angeles at sunset

Urban and Environmental Studies

Urban and Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary department focused on critically examining two of the most dynamic issues of the 21st Century: the rapid urbanization of the global population and the dramatic increase in the complexity of human interactions with the natural environment. The department’s concentration in urban studies allows students and faculty to engage in the systemic study of cities and work to address the complex economic, political, and social problems of urbanization and urban life. Similarly, the concentration in environmental studies allows students and faculty to study complex environment-society relationships and gain a better understanding of some of the world’s most pressing ecological, political, economic, and social problems.

Los Angeles Skyline
Urban Studies majors examine urbanization and its associated social, cultural, economic, and demographic processes.
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Environmental Studies gives students a broad foundation in the environment, preparing them to approach complex environmental questions and issues from multiple angles.