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Bachelor of Arts

Urban Studies and Planning

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Minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

To enhance your job prospects after graduation, add a minor in geographic information systems to your resume. The minor provides you with hands-on training in GIS and spatial data collection, visualization, and analysis, and teaches you how to approach problems related to resource management, agriculture and forestry, urban planning, land use mapping, market research, and social inequality. Coursework includes topics in cartography, interactive mapping, remote sensing, and computer graphics.

See the Undergraduate Bulletin for details.

Four young professionals engaged in urban planning

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Applied Learning

As an urban studies and planning student, you’re required to complete a high degree of fieldwork, service learning, and community engagement. 

With over 100 internship options, you’ll gain practical experience solving real problems for diverse neighborhoods, city governments, nonprofits, and private firms in the Capital Region.

Career Paths

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With a large alumni network and the geography department’s close ties with local and state policymakers, urban planners, and GIS professionals, you’ll be connected with potential employers even before you graduate.

Urban studies and planning graduates are making an impact as:

  • Housing developers
  • Site location analysts
  • Surveyors
  • Multi-modal transportation planners
  • Historic preservation experts
  • Renewable energy specialists

Earning this degree also prepares you for graduate studies in landscape architecture, public administration, urban and regional planning, historic preservation, economic development, and sustainable design.

“As an urban studies and planning major at UAlbany, I’ve learned how we can make cities more sustainable by redesigning public transportation systems and planning eco-friendly cities that accommodate growing populations without contributing to climate change. With a career in urban planning, I’ll be able to make a positive impact in cities and the world."

- Reid Conde, 2019

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Arts
  • A knowledge of urbanism and urbanization as historic, geographic, social, and cultural processes.
  • An understanding of the historical development, contemporary condition, and environmental impact of US cities and metropolitan areas.
  • A comparative understanding of global patterns of urbanism and urbanization, stimulating global awareness and knowledge of the role of urbanization in global change.
  • An introduction to the principles, practices, and professional literature of urban planning, site planning, and urban design in the United States and other parts of the world.
  • Familiarity with some principal data sources in urban analysis and planning, such as Census data and other public and private data sources, maps, and codes.
  • A multidisciplinary understanding of urban related issues growing from exposure to the disciplines of Geography, Planning, and at least one cognate field.
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

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Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

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Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

Student conducting undergraduate research

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies
  • Cybersecurity
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History
  • Informatics
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies