Are you captivated by cities, curious about the many factors that shape communities and lives, and inspired to address social justice and create positive change? Are you interested in a career that helps build better urban futures for all?
A four-year undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Studies (B.S. URS) provides an excellent foundation for professional and graduate studies in law, real estate, planning, urban data science, as well as a broader suite of specialized studies in design, public policy, and social sciences.
With this degree, students go on to work in a diverse array of fields including, but not limited to urban planning, policy, and design; sustainability and climate change; real estate and urban development; and urban data science.
Required core classes
Year 1
- Fall, AAP1103: Observing the City: Introductions to Field-Based Analysis
- Fall, CRP1106: First-year Advising Seminar
- Spring, CRP1104: Introduction to Global Urban Studies
- Spring, CRP1200: Introduction to Statistics for Urban Studies
Year 2
- Fall, CRP 2200: Community Engagement in the City: Qualitative Methods
- Spring, CRP 2100: Neighborhood Change in the City: Qualitative Methods
Years 3 and 4
Students are required to complete at least one engaged workshop course on campus in Ithaca or through AAP Study Away programs in New York City or Rome. Options include:
- CRP Neighborhood Workshop Course in Rome, Italy
- AAP NYC Planning and Policy Workshop Courses in New York City
- CRP Workshop Courses in Ithaca and Central New York
- Field Learning Workshop Semester Course in Nilgris, India
Pathway Focus Area Options
Pathway focus areas are self-directed and help students select a cluster of related electives to deepen their knowledge of a particular area or interest with a view toward a research or practice-based career. Pathways include at least two courses in CRP and four courses outside of CRP.
URS Pathway Focus Areas include:
- City Planning, Policy, and Design
- Climate Change and Sustainable Cities
- Urban Data Science and Technology in the City
- Inequality and Urban Life
- Real Estate, Housing, and Urban Economics
Fourth-year undergraduates may complete an optional undergraduate thesis, as well as apply to enroll in an accelerated Master of Regional Planning (M.R.P.).
Accelerated Professional Master’s Degree
URS students can apply for an accelerated professional planning Master of Regional Planning, which typically allows students to complete the M.R.P. degree in three semesters instead of four. Visit AAP Graduate Admissions for M.R.P. program application information.
Curriculum
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Cornell in Rome
Cornell in Rome offers students an opportunity to study architecture, art, and planning in situ as they explore the past, present, and future in the city and its surroundings.
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The Gensler Family AAP NYC Center
Located at the AAP NYC Gensler Family Center in the Tata Innovation building on the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, our New York City-based offerings expand education with first-hand experience, immersion, collaboration, and connection across disciplines and industries.
Undergraduate Minor in Urban and Regional Science
Undergraduate students from any discipline at Cornell (except current U.R.S. students) are invited to enroll in the undergraduate minor in city and regional planning. To complete the minor, students take nine credits of core URS classes and nine credits of CRP electives. The minor gives students across the university the opportunity to take advantage of the wide variety of classes offered by the Department of City and Regional Planning. Learn more…