Urban Studies
AREAS
GOVERNMENT
- Demography
- Social Statistics
- Public Administration
- Policy Analysis
- Research
- Program Development
- Human Services
- City Planning
- Law Enforcement
- Politics
EMPLOYERS
- Federal departments and agencies such as: Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Drug
- Enforcement Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, Veteran’s Administration, National Institutes of Health,
- National Institute of Aging
- Peace Corps
- State and local government
- Planning and development commissions
- National, state, or local parks or recreation departments
- Housing authorities
- Social service agencies
- Transportation departments
STRATEGIES
- Supplement curriculum with coursework in statistics and social research.
- Develop exceptional computer, communication, and research skills.
- Gain work experience via government internships, part-time jobs, or summer work.
- Develop a specialty such as aging, family, criminal justice, or healthcare.
- Learn the federal job application process.
- Obtain a graduate degree for advanced positions.
- Consider obtaining a minor in political science, public administration, or other relevant fields.
AREAS
REGIONAL AND URBAN PLANNING
- Transportation
- Demography
- Housing
- Historic Preservation
- Urban Design
- Urban Renewal
- Environmental/Regulatory Issues
- Economic Development
- Land Use
- Research Design
- Program Development
EMPLOYERS
- Architecture firms
- Engineering firms
- Local planning agencies
- Real estate and development contractors
- Investment companies
- Transportation agencies
- Zoning administration
- Federal, state, and local government
- Utility companies
- Non-profit organizations
- Historical restoration or preservation agencies
- Neighborhood revitalization initiatives
- International development organizations
STRATEGIES
- Enhance curriculum with courses in business, social sciences, and statistics.
- Earn a graduate degree in urban or regional planning from an accredited planning program.
- Find a related internship, part-time, or summer job.
- Develop strong computer skills.
- Learn another language to communicate with diverse community members or to work abroad.
- Plan to work collaboratively with a wide array of professionals and local citizens.
- Understand that most planners work for local governments.
AREAS
HUMAN SERVICES
- Counseling
- Case Management
- Advocacy
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Mental Health Services
- Programming
- Administration
EMPLOYERS
- Community service agencies
- Advocacy groups
- Federal, state, and local government
- United Way agencies
- Local branches of national non-profit organizations
- Religiously-affiliated service organizations
- Private foundations
- Adoption and child care agencies Nursing homes and retirement communities
- Hospitals and wellness centers
- Halfway houses
- Vocational services
- Educational information services
STRATEGIES
- Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions.
- Spend summers working at camps, YMCA’s, or other social service agencies.
- Gain experience working with diverse populations.
- Develop excellent communication skills.
- Concentrate course work in an area of interest such as youth, gerontology, or poverty.
- Learn a second language in order to interact with non-English speakers and increase marketability.
- Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant, or other student leader.
- Earn a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or other related field to increase employment opportunities.
- Most states require licensure or certification for positions involving the direct provision of therapeutic services to clients.
AREAS
BUSINESS
- Real Estate: Construction Management, Development, Sales, Leasing
- Management
- Human Resources
- Sales
EMPLOYERS
- Real estate firms
- Rental properties
- Construction and development companies
- Insurance firms
- Retail stores
- Banks
- Staffing agencies
- Manufacturing companies
- Credit management companies and organizations
- Service industries
- Healthcare organizations
STRATEGIES
- Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with courses in general business, accounting, and finance.
- Gain business experience through part-time jobs, summer work, and internships.
- Develop excellent computer skills.
- Learn to use software applications such as spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.
- Hone written and oral communication skills.
- Join related professional associations.
- Seek leadership roles in student organizations.
AREAS
EDUCATION
- Teaching
- Research
EMPLOYERS
-
Colleges and universities
-
Adult education providers
STRATEGIES
- Earn a graduate degree for post-secondary teaching.
- Assist a professor with research.
- Take extra courses in research and statistics.
- Develop exceptional written and oral communication skills.
- Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.
AREAS
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
- Data Analysis
- Demography
- Market Research
- Information Sourcing
EMPLOYERS
- Universities
- Government agencies
- Research institutes
- Non-profit organizations
- Private industries
- Advertising and marketing firms
- Consulting organizations
- Information brokers
- Newspapers, magazines, news agencies
- Public opinion research polls
STRATEGIES
- Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills.
- Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs.
- Volunteer to help a professor with a research
project.
- Obtain an advanced degree for research administration positions.
- Network with professionals working in areas of interest.
- Gain experience working on teams.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Many transferable skills such as analytical, organizational, research, interpersonal, computer, leadership, teamwork, and oral/written communication are associated with the urban studies degree.
- Internships, part-time jobs, summer jobs, and/or volunteer experiences are critical for gaining experience and developing a career path.
- An undergraduate degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions in business, industry, and government; however, a graduate degree is likely to be more desirable in a competitive market.
- An undergraduate degree in urban studies is good preparation for graduate or professional education in law, business, and other related fields. Research prerequisites for graduate or professional programs of interest.
- To enhance graduate or professional school opportunities, maintain a high grade point average, secure strong faculty recommendations, join student or professional organizations, and gain relevant experience outside of the classroom through work, internship, volunteer, and research opportunities.
- A Ph.D. is required for teaching at the four-year university level.
- For human or social service positions, gain experience with a population of interest (i.e., children, college students, elderly adults) and develop multicultural sensitivity and understanding. Plan to earn a graduate degree in counseling, social work or related field.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals working in areas of interest.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer
