Urban Studies

Urban Studies scholars ask questions such as: Why do people live in cities? Can homelessness be eliminated? Does public art reduce crime rates?

Urban Studies is a broad interdisciplinary program designed to provide an integrated understanding of the social, political, economic, environmental and cultural processes that shape urban life, with particular attention paid to how these processes operate in space and time. Cities are sites of great cultural and ethnic diversity, economic innovation and inequality, cultural expression, resource consumption, wealth generation, and political conflict and cooperation. Today most developed societies are predominantly urban, even as global processes increasingly shape them. The processes that shape urban life play a critical role in shaping the sustainability of societies. Indeed, it is impossible to understand sustainability issues without understanding the organization of cities. The Urban Studies program provides a strong background for students interested in working in both public and private sector fields including urban and regional planning, public policy, architecture, environmental design, economic development, city administration, social services, cultural programming, urban politics, law, and education.

Co-operative work placement - Gain valuable full-time paid work experience that alternates with your academic studies.

Honours Degree - In-depth study of a specific topic completed under the supervision of a faculty member.

Field school - Discipline-specific classes taken in real-world settings, and involving hands-on course work.

Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate)

Students presenting less than 12 units of academic post-secondary coursework will be considered high school applicants.

Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) courses or previously completed SAT2 subject tests are accepted.

​As an Urban Studies graduate, you'll be prepared for career opportunities in areas such as the civil service, the non-profit sector, and the business world. A degree in Urban Studies can also be used as a stepping-stone to graduate studies or another professional degree such as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or education.Introduction to Geospatial Methods, Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology, The Gendered City, The Human Environment, ​Introduction to Cities

1. Start your application

   On August 15, you can start your application. Begin by creating a UCalgary eID.

   Once you have created an eID, click apply now.

2. Complete your application

   Use our application guide to help you with your application.

3. Submit your application

   Submit your application and pay your $125 (Canadian education) $145 (International education) application fee.

4. Submit your required documents

   Based on your application, we'll let you know in your UCalgary Student Centre how and where to submit any required documents. Visit our documents page for more information.