Liberal Arts

Urban Affairs and Geography

Professors Mazey, Oshiro, Pammer

Associate Professor Dustin (chair)

Assistant Professors Killian, Subban, Wenning

Lecturer Lowrey

Urban Affairs

Urban Affairs is an interdisciplinary program offering a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. Students learn about the urban environment as a complex system. They study theories and practices of urban development processes from an interdis-ciplinary perspective. Urban affairs develops student core competencies that include quantitative and qualitative analysis, effective communications, systems thinking, and consensus building and teamwork. The program is designed to prepare students for junior- or entry-level positions in local government and nonprofit organizations or to embark on a graduate program.

Students must have at least a 2.3 GPA or receive a special waiver from the chair to be admitted to the major. Interested students may apply for admission after meeting college admis- sion requirements and completing the General Education Area IV social science requirement (PLS 200, SOC 200, EC 200, PSY 105). Majors are required to complete a common core of courses and a specialization in one of four areas: community development, criminal justice, urban management and administration, or urban social and physical planning.

Urban affairs majors may participate in the department’s internship program. The internship is designed to complement urban affairs students’ class work and gives them experience in the actual work environment. Students interested in the internship should contact the departmental coordinator of the program or their advisor. For further information about the program and admission criteria and procedures, students should contact the Department of Urban Affairs and Geography.

Degree Requirements - Urban Affairs

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Degree Requirements - Urban Affairs

Bachelor of Science Degree

(See specializations below and advisor before enrolling in these or other approved foundation courses.)

Criminal Justice Concentration - 32 Credit Hours

This concentration meets the needs of students preparing for careers in crime prevention and law enforcement. Knowledge of law, the urban environ-ment, psychology, and social relations provides a foundation for work in the criminal justice system. Employment may be found in various judicial, administrative, and police agencies at all levels of government and in private companies. In addition to required courses, students select elective courses that fit their unique career objectives. Prior to enrollment, students should discuss with their advisor which courses best fit their needs.

Recommended foundation courses include:
URS 321, 345, 425, 450; and SOC 444.

Required concentration courses includes URS 420 and PLS 436, plus 24 credit hours of department approved courses.

Community Development Concentration - 32 Credit Hours

Community development involves revitalizing, sustaining, and expanding urban areas. Such work requires an understanding of many of the principles found in planning, organizing, managing, policy-making, finance, economics, and physical development. The community development course series prepares students for careers as community developers in public, not-for-profit, or grassroots organizations. Students should select courses that fit their unique career objectives, such as economic development, neighborhood development, and social development. Prior to enrollment, students should discuss with their advisor which courses best fit their needs.

Recommended foundation courses include:
URS 317, 321, 425, 450; and GEO 340.

Required concentration courses include:
URS 415, 416, and 24 credit hours of department approved courses.

Urban Management Administration - 32 Credit Hours

This area is suggested for students who wish to develop careers in management and administration in public agencies, including municipal, county, and state governments and not-for-profit organizations. It includes courses in management, personnel and labor relations, budgeting, and public administration. Prior to enrollment, students should discuss with their adivsor which courses best fit their needs.

Recommended foundation courses include:
URS 321, 345, 425, 450, and 470 or 475.

Required concentration courses include:
URS 346, 446, and 24 credit hours of department approved courses.

Urban Physical and Social Planning - 35 Credit Hours

Urban physical planning prepares students for involvement in functions and processes such as infrastructure design, zoning, land use, code enforcement, and pollution abatement. Urban social planning involves students in careers associated with health, recreation, welfare, and social wellness. Municipalities, counties, public authorities, not-for-profit organizations, and engineering and architectural firms employ physical and social planners. Prior to enrollment, students should discuss with their advisor which courses best fit their needs.

Recommended foundation courses include:
URS 317, 321, 424, 450; and GEO 340.

Required concentration courses include:
URS 318; GEO 365, 447, 448; and 16 credit hours in department approved courses.

Urban Affairs Honors Program

The Urban Affairs Honors Program provides an opportunity for students to achieve their highest possible level of intellectual attainment. Urban affairs majors of superior academic ability are invited to apply. A student may enter either upon successful application or at the invitation of the Urban Affairs Honors Committee. To be eligible, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better in all course work completed at Wright State University. It is recommended that students apply to enter the program during their junior year and no later than the first quarter of their senior year.

Honors students are required to complete all urban affairs degree requirements, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all course work, complete URS 411 (senior seminar) with a grade of "A", defend orally the seminar paper to a committee composed of the URS Honors Committee and the faculty advisor for the seminar paper, and complete at least one University Honors Seminar.

Minor in Urban Affairs

The minor in urban affairs will benefit students who pursue careers that have connections to urban administration, planning, criminal justice, or community development and nonprofit organizations. Students minoring in urban affairs study and analyze cities and urban regions as systems. They will gain an understanding of complex social, political, and economic forces shaping urban life. Interdisciplinary urban affairs courses may be useful to majors in the social sciences, economics, business, education, and health care.

Acceptance into the minor in urban affairs requires an overall 2.3 GPA. Students who do not have a 2.3 GPA may petition the chair of the department for a waiver from this requirement. Students should complete the social science General Education requirements prior to enrolling in minor classes. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the minor.

* Political Science students who take URS 321 and URS 345 for their major must substitute URS 450 and 470 for the Urban Affairs minor.

Geography

Geography is the study of the location and interrelationships of human and physical phenomena on the earth’s surface. Because of its emphasis on spatial organization and distribution of these phenomena, geography has a broad cross-disciplinary base. Topics of study such as cartography, climatology, landform analysis, remote sensing, settlement theory, spatial inter-action, and urban morphology indicate the breadth of contemporary geography. The undergraduate major in geography includes the study of cultural, economic, physical, and regional geography, as well as cartography, quantitative methods, and field work. Backgrounds in the natural and social sciences, humanities, statistical methods, and computer programming are useful to the geography major.

The geography program allows students to select a curriculum best suited to their particular interests. Geography majors select a program leading to either a Bachelor of Arts degree or Bachelor of Science degree.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in geography focuses on examining the processes of formation and the characteristics of the cultural landscape. Students select an area of study from physical geography, resource analysis land management, or economic geography.

The Bachelor of Science program in geography emphasizes technical skills and logic. Courses in physical, economic, and social geography, and in cartography, photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geographic information systems are emphasized in the program. These courses are complemented by courses in mathematics, philosophy, and computer science.

Geography may be selected as an academic major, a secondary teaching major in social science or earth science program, or as part of an elementary teaching major. Students majoring in geography may qualify for licensure at the secondary level by meeting the minimum requirements in professional education courses for licensure by the state of Ohio. Students are strongly urged to consult with an advisor before registering because of sequential requirements and prerequisites.

Geography majors may participate in the department's internship program. The internship is designed to complement geography students' class work and gives them experience in the actual work environment. Students interested in the internship should contact the departmental coordinator of the program or their advisor.

Certificate Program

The Department of Geography provides a certificate program in cartography, photogrammetry, and remote sensing. Included is a group of five courses exposing participants to the latest developments in data collection and analysis techniques, aerial and space cameras and sensors, photographic materials and reproduction processes, and mapping procedures, including computer mapping. Upon completing these courses, each participant must present a portfolio of materials for faculty review and complete an oral review of his or her work with the faculty. Students interested in the certificate program should contact the department chair.

Degree Requirements - Geography

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Degree Requirements - Geography

Bachelor of Science Degree

Geography Honors Program

The geography honors program allows superior students to work on a geographic problem of their own choosing. Applicants must be majors in geography, have senior standing with 36 hours of geography courses to their credit, and meet certain minimum GPAs. Candidates are required to complete an honors project under the direction of a geography faculty member. Successful completion of the project, including written and oral project reports, carries four academic credits and entitles students to graduate with honors in geography. Geography honors students are encouraged to participate in the University Honors Program; interested students should contact the departmental coordinator of the program.

Minor in Geography

The minor in geography is designed for students in other disciplines who wish to supplement their knowledge and skills with geographic analytical skills and perspectives. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in the minor.

The course requirements for a minor in geography are:

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