Historically, cities have functioned as the cradle of civilization. Modern politics, economies, and cultures, are all shaped in urban environments. In today’s world, the majority of people live in cities and their importance continues to grow. But cities also present us with great challenges such as sustainable growth, governance, and civil relations. Standard topics in the field of Urban Studies include the historical emergence of cities, urban forms, urban ecology, the city as incubator of innovations, global urban networks, local urban government, and urban management.
Urban Studies as a field of academic training has existed for a long time but it is now more important than ever. Consider the following trends:
- More than 50% of the global population resides in cities, and the urban population continues to grow.
- The bulk of the global economy is of an urban nature (consumer and producer services, information, finance, etc.).
- Major world cities have become the seats of power in the global economy.
- The human habitat is increasingly one of urban environments and questions of urban sustainable development and urban planning are steadily making their way to the top of the agenda of development planners.
- The emergence of urban regions, around the world, raises important and urgent questions of governance and public policy.
- Culturally, urban living and lifestyles are becoming the norm for most people and individual identities and definitions of citizenship are increasingly forged in urban contexts.
Our University is located in one of the fastest growing urban regions of the nation and one with global allure. Miami has emerged as a major global city and it is often considered as a forward experiment of urbanization. The Minor in Urban Studies will allow you to be part of an innovative field of study in which your work in the classroom links directly to the “real world” experience in Miami and other cities.
