Sociology BA / Urban Strategy MS

Major: Sociology and Urban Strategy
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 228.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
BA Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code:
 45.1101
BA Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3041
MS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code:
 45.1201
MS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3051

About the Program

The BA in Sociology with a concentration in urban sociology (180.0 credits) and MS in Urban Strategy (48.0 credits) is a combined BA/MS cross-disciplinary degree that focuses on the sociological analysis of cities, the communities that comprise them, and the social processes that organize and transform them. Students in the urban sociology concentration learn to apply sociological concepts and methods to analyze urban issues and problems including gentrification, revitalization, suburbanization, and urban decline; concepts of space, place, community and neighborhood; and urban challenges such as poverty, affordable housing, global warming, policing and incarceration.

The BA portion of the degree prepares students to be leaders in urban issues, populations and challenges, whether through careers in urban policy, planning, social work, community nonprofits, government, or industry. This leads directly into the MS in Urban Strategy, a program designed to prepare students to become 21st century urbanists equipped to collaboratively and creatively solve complex multifaceted urban challenges on all levels: locally, nationally, and globally. The program boasts a cross-disciplinary curriculum focused on strategy, problem solving, and collaboration in the domains of urban planning, design, health, engineering, policy, community and economic development, and sociology. Master's in Urban Strategy students will benefit from the strong grounding in theory and methods of urban sociology, while urban sociology undergraduate students will gain from extending their training into a highly marketable master's degree.

Additional Information

For more information about the Sociology major, visit the Department of Sociology webpage. 

Admission Requirements

Students who meet the standard eligibility requirement for accelerated programs should consult with their advisor and work on an individual plan of study to submit with the Change of Curriculum form.

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV H101The Drexel Experience1.0
UNIV H201Looking Forward: Academics and Careers1.0
Two Consecutive Foreign Language Courses **8.0
College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum ***
Developing Quantitative Reasoning ***6.0-8.0
Two courses in MATH based on placement exams OR
Symbolic Logic I
Symbolic Logic II
Engaging the Natural World ***6.0-8.0
Analyzing Cultures & Histories ***6.0-8.0
Understanding Society & Human Behavior ***6.0-8.0
Cultivating Global Competence ***6.0-8.0
Perspectives in Diversity ***3.0-4.0
Sociology Requirements
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
SOC 240Urban Sociology4.0
SOC 241Research Design: Qualitative Methods4.0
SOC 242Research Design: Quantitative Methods4.0
SOC 355 [WI] Classical Social Theory4.0
SOC 356 [WI] Contemporary Social Theory4.0
SOC 450Capstone in Sociology4.0
Required Sociology Electives
Select at least nine of the following: (At least two must be at the 300 or 400 level).36.0
Social Problems
Medicine and Society
Race, Ethnicity and Social Inequality
Sociology of Work
Wealth and Power
Sociology of the Family
Sex and Society
Gender and Society
Sociology of Health and Illness
Sociology of Health Professions
Sociology of the Environment
Sex and The City
Sociology of Sport
Sociology of Aging
Global Climate Change and Society
Gentrification and Neighborhood Change
Sociology of Global Health
Social Networks and Health
Sociology of Deviance
Development and Underdevelopment in the Global South
Sociology of Education
Globalization
Environmental Justice
Sociology of Disasters
Practicum in Applied and Community Sociology
Medicine, Technology and Science
Housing and Homelessness
Imagining Multiple Democracies
Love, Rage & Debt: The Debt Society
Politics of Life
Social Movements
Sociology Research Seminar I: Research Design
Sociology Research Seminar II: Data Acquisition and Analysis
Sociology Research Seminar III: Practicum in Sociological Research
Special Topics in Sociology
Urban Sociology Electives
Select two of the following:8.0
Sex and The City
Housing and Homelessness
Special Topics in Sociology ((Gentrification and Neighborhood Change))
Free Electives55.0
MS Urban Strategy Requirements
ECON 616Public Finance and Cost Benefit Analysis3.0
EOH 550Introduction to Urban Health3.0
URBS 510History of Urban Space (Shared Course)3.0
URBS 520What is a City3.0
URBS 530Quantitative Methods & Reasoning for Urban Strategists3.0
URBS 610Civic Engagement & Participatory Methods3.0
URBS 620City of Systems3.0
URBS 630Spatial Reasoning for Urbanists, Architects & Designers3.0
URBS 670Thesis I: Research Inquiry & Design3.0
URBS 675Thesis Seminar I1.5
URBS 680Thesis II: Fieldwork3.0
URBS 685Thesis Seminar II1.5
URBS 690Thesis III: Documentation3.0
Four Graduate Free Electives 12.0
Total Credits228.0-239.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Select from one of the following:

Two courses in: ARBC 103 or ARBC 201-499, CHIN 103 or CHIN 201-499, FREN 103 or FREN 201-499, GER 103 or GER 201-499, JAPN 103 or JAPN 201-499, KOR 103 or KOR 201-499, SPAN 103 or SPAN 201-499.

***

See Core Curriculum List for complete list of course options

Select 12.0 credits from 500-600 level courses, including special topics (T580 and T680) in AADM, AAML, BUSN, CHP, COM, DSRE, EDPO, ENTP, ENVP, HMP, INTR, PBHL, PLCY, SCTS, URBS.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4+1, 1 co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0COOP 101*1.0VACATION
SOC 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV H1011.0SOC 2404.0(UG) Free Electives7.0 
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0Perspectives in Diversity3.0-4.0 
Foreign Language Course4.0Foreign Language Course4.0Sociology Elective 4.0 
Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0   
 17-19 15-16 18-19 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOC 2414.0SOC 3554.0SOC 2424.0UNIV H2011.0
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0(UG) Free Elective3.0
Sociology Electives8.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0(UG) Free Electives 6.0Sociology Elective 300-4004.0
 (UG) Free Electives4.0Sociology Elective 4.0Sociology Elective 300-4004.0
 Sociology Elective4.0 Sociology Urban Elective4.0
 15-16 18-20 17-18 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0SOC 3564.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
(UG) Free Elective3.0Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0  
Sociology Urban Elective 4.0(UG) Free Electives6.0  
Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0URBS 6103.0  
URBS 5103.0   
 16-18 16-17 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
(UG) Free Electives4.0SOC 4504.0(UG) Free Electives12.0Student converts to Graduate status
Sociology Electives8.0(UG) Free Electives10.0ECON 6163.0 
URBS 5203.0URBS 6203.0(GR) URBS Elective3.0 
URBS 5303.0URBS 6303.0  
 18 20 18 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
EOH 5503.0URBS 6751.5URBS 6851.5 
URBS 6703.0URBS 6803.0URBS 6903.0 
(GR) URBS Elective3.0(GR) URBS Elective3.0(GR) URBS Elective3.0 
 9 7.5 7.5 
Total Credits 228-239
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

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