Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Majors

The Urban Planning and Public Policy department offers two undergraduate majors, each leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree:

Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies

Urban Studies majors learn about the global challenges of urbanization and the analytical skills required to address them. Students will acquire the background to enter fields that focus on urban issues, such as urban planning, public policy, community and economic development, transportation, public health, social services, and public administration, with career opportunities in a wide variety of settings across areas of government, business, nonprofit, law, education, and research. 

Urban Studies major

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy 

The Environmental Science and Policy major is an interdisciplinary program, offered jointly with UCI's Earth System Science department, for students interested in environmental problem solving. It integrates theories, analytical tools, and experiences from social and natural sciences to investigate the causes, prevalence, and consequences of environmental challenges and to develop approaches for addressing them.

Environmental Science and Policy major

Undergraduate Minors

The department also offers two undergraduate minor options that complement a wide variety of majors. Why minor in urban studies or urban planning? Engineers learn about urban infrastructure systems, including water supply and transportation. Social scientists find out about public management and community organizing. Humanities majors discover that planning draws on critical analyses of race, class, and ethnicity. Science majors learn to apply knowledge of statistics, engineering, and environmental systems to solve complex urban problems. 

Review the minor requirements for each option in the UCI General Catalogue.  


The School of Social Ecology's Student Services office provides a variety of resources to guide students on their academic path, whether you're a prospective applicant or a current student. Visit their website for information.


Photo: Ajay Garde