2018-2019 Academic Catalog

Dec 11, 2024

2018-2019 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Urban Development and Social Change Concentration

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Overview

Undergraduate Concentration

Urbanization has been one of the most powerful processes shaping American life. More than three-quarters of the U.S. population is currently classified as urban, suggesting that in many ways understanding contemporary America requires understanding cities-the broad patterns and notable variations in their growth, decline, and in some cases, revitalization. The urban development and social change concentration provides students majoring in any field with a structured program of study that enables them to understand the historical, social, economic and political factors that have shaped U.S. cities and how cities have, in turn, affected the lives of their inhabitants. The study of urban development and social change is made all the more significant since more than half of the world’s population will soon be living in cities, and urbanization will undoubtedly be one of the key forces influencing life in the 21st century.

Students in the urban development and social change concentration study the key concepts and methodological tools used to explore and analyze urban phenomena, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on cities in the United States. Students may also choose to take a course that examines urbanization in other parts of the world. Proceeding from an introductory course through intermediate and advanced courses offered in several different departments, students then apply these concepts and methods in their capstone experience. The capstone can be either a research project or an internship, conducted under the supervision of one of the concentration’s participating faculty or done as part of an urban-research or internship seminar.

For a capstone project, students in the concentration are encouraged to take advantage of the unparalleled opportunities for field research and applied learning that are offered by Clark’s location in the center of Worcester. Like many medium-sized cities in the Northeast and Midwest, Worcester has experienced significant social, economic and political changes over the past several decades, which make it a superb laboratory for learning. Moreover, Clark’s involvement in the University Park Partnership (UPP)-a partnership the University forged with neighborhood groups, businesses, and city and state government agencies-provides unique opportunities for students to contribute to innovative efforts to improve education, housing, and economic and social conditions in our inner-city neighborhood.

Students who pursue the UDSC concentration acquire a solid foundation for Clark’s Community Development and Planning Master’s Program.

For more information, please visit the Urban Development and Social Change website.

Concentration Requirements

Students must take a minimum of seven courses in the concentration, including the capstone project.
The seven courses must come from three or more different departments.
One of these courses, which should be taken at the outset, must be an introductory course selected from Group A.
One of these courses must be a research methods course, which should be taken as early as possible, selected from Group B.
At least four additional courses focusing on U.S. cities must be taken from Group C (with an option to include one additional Group A course as an elective). At least two of these courses must be at the 200 level.
One of the seven courses may be selected from Group D and have a non-U.S, international or comparative focus.
One of the seven courses must include a culminating capstone experience, consisting of a research or internship project, done either as part of an urban-research or internship seminar or as a directed project supervised by a core faculty adviser or a participating faculty member in the urban development and social change concentration.
No more than two courses in the concentration can also be used to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor or other concentration (excluding courses required for the major).

Courses listed under more than one category may only be counted once for a single category.

Students pursuing the concentration will receive advice from one of the core faculty advisers on selecting appropriate courses for the concentration.

Courses

Group A: Introductory Courses (1 required)

Group B: Urban Research Tools & Practice (1 required)

Group C: U.S. Urban Electives (at least 4 required; students may take all 5 Urban electives from this list)

(**) indicates that the course may be used to fulfill the capstone requirement

Group D: Comparative or International Courses (students may elect to choose 1 course from this list)

(**) indicates that the course may be used to fulfill the capstone requirement

Program Faculty

John Ameer, Ed.D.
Asha Best, Ph.D.
John Brown, Ph.D.
Mark Davidson, Ph.D.
Patricia Ewick, Ph.D.
Jacqueline Geoghegan, Ph.D.
Deborah Martin, Ph.D.
Deborah Merrill, Ph.D.
Sarah Michaels, Ph.D.
Constance Montross, Ph.D.
James T. Murphy, Ph.D.
Amy Richter, Ph.D.
Laurie Ross, Ph.D.
Robert Ross, Ph.D.
Marianne Sarkis, Ph.D.
Rhys Townsend, Ph.D.
Kristina Wilson, Ph.D.
Junfu Zhang, Ph.D.

Core Faculty

Ramon Borges-Mendez, Ph.D.
John Brown, Ph.D.
Mark Davidson, Ph.D.
Deborah Martin, Ph.D., Program Coordinator
Amy Richter, Ph.D.
Laurie Ross, Ph.D.

Courses

Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years