Introduction to the Major
The Urban Studies(link is external) major educates students on the significance and implications of the global movement towards urbanization. The major trains undergraduates for a variety of future careers and fields of graduate study that are related to urban studies and planning. These include practice-oriented fields such as urban planning, law, non-profit management, and public policy, as well as research-oriented fields such as geography, sociology, and anthropology. Above all, the intent of the major is to produce urban citizens and global leaders.
Admission to the Major
First-year applicants must declare the major at the time of application to the College of Environmental Design (CED). However, current UC Berkeley students may apply to change colleges into CED if admission requirements are met and space is available. Transfer applicants must complete lower division college and major requirements prior to Berkeley to be considered for admission to CED.
The department offers a minor in City Planning(link is external). The minor is open to undergraduate students at UC Berkeley except those in the Urban Studies major.
Amplify Your Major
- Get involved with the college as a CED Admissions Ambassador(link is external) or as a member of the Undergraduate Student Council(link is external) or CED student organization(link is external) such as the Berkeley Urban Studies Student Association(link is external).
- Complete a course thread in the Historical and Modern City(link is external) or certificate in Global Urban Humanities(link is external).
- Study Urban Studies in international contexts through Berkeley Summer Abroad(link is external).
Jobs and Employers
- Advisory Associate, KPMG
- Analyst, BAE Urban Economics
- Asst. Management Analyst, City of San Diego
- Asst. Project Manager, Habitat for Humanity
- Asst. transit planner, City of Union City
- Designer, IDEO
- Designer/Drafter, CA Landscape & Design
- Electric Bike Mechanic, Electric Bikes LA
- Investment Analyst, Prudential
- Junior Designer, BDE Architects
- Park Planner, Central Park Conservancy
- Research Asst., CapitalEdge
- Senior Urban Planning Consultant, Hatch
- Sourcing Coordinator, Clif Bar & Company
- Transit Data Specialist, Swiftly
- Transportation Planner, City of Oakland
Graduate Programs
- Energy & Resources, PhD
- City and Regional Planning, Master’s, Phd
- Urban Studies
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
- Real Estate Development
- City Planning
- Land Use Law
Examples gathered from the First Destination Survey(link is external) of recent Berkeley graduates.
Connect With Us
Cal Day
Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House(link is external) in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.
Golden Bear Orientation
Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation(link is external) program for all new students.
Events
Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit ced.berkeley.edu/news-events(link is external) for news and updates.
Advising
Advising for prospective and current students is available in-person at the CED Office of Undergraduate Advising in 250 Bauer Wurster Hall and virtually via Zoom. See ced.berkeley.edu/advising/connect-with-advising(link is external) for the advising schedule.
Advising Hours
Fall/Spring: Tuesday - Friday 10am-12pm, 1-4pm
Summer: Tuesday - Friday 10am-12pm, 1-3pm
Visit ced.berkeley.edu/advising/undergraduate-advising(link is external) for more information or with advising questions.
How to Use this Map
Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.
