Programs in Urban Community Studies (UCS) are offered at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS), 700 East Oakwood Boulevard, 60653, in the heart of Chicago's historic Bronzeville community. The scholar/activist thrust is the overriding entity that drives the community and academic programming of the programs of the Carruthers Center.
The Programs in Urban Community Studies, through the Goodwin College of Education, offer the following degrees:
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Community Studies
Minor in Urban Community Studies
Master of Arts in Urban Community Studies
Master of Arts in Urban Community Studies
The Urban Community Studies graduate program places intense emphasis on preparing students for scholar/activist work that addresses the interests and issues of urban residents, particularly communities of color. The graduate program is centered on the in-depth examination of social, cultural economic and institutional structures that impact urban communities. Using ethnographic data collection and other action-based research methodologies as a core focus, courses in Urban Community Studies aim to forge culturally relevant understandings of human relationships in urban communities in the Chicago metropolitan area and worldwide. The graduate program seeks to prepare students to acquire employment in administrative, executive and teaching positions in urban educational, human and social service agencies.
Specific Goals of the Master of Arts Degree in URBAN COMMUNITY STUDIES
- Students will identify, deconstruct and decode the existing socio-economic forces that influence urban structures.
- Students will acquire a rigorous grounding in theory and research required to analyze and understand urban dilemmas
- Students will identify and analyze culturally relevant models of behavior to navigate dilemmas faced in urban communities
- Students will examine social movements and the role of scholar-activists in the solutions to address contemporary problems and issues in urban communities
NOTE: This program does not lead to teacher licensure.
Master of Arts in Urban Community Studies (31 cr.)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| UCS-411 | Theoretical Foundations In Urban Community Studies | 3 |
| UCS-412 | Methods In Urban Community Research | 3 |
| UCS-415 | Urban Ethnography | 3 |
| UCS-443 | Research Writing | 3 |
| UCS-452 | Field Internship | 1 |
| UCS-453 | Seminar | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES | ||
| 5 courses from list below (or other NEIU grad program 400 level courses with approval from UCS advisor) | 15 | |
(or Thesis Option - 3 courses from list and thesis hours) | ||
| The African-American Experience In Urban Communities | ||
| Migration And Diaspora In Urban Communities | ||
| Faith Institutions As Political Instruments | ||
| History And Philosophy Of Urban Education | ||
| Systemic Challenges In Public Education | ||
| Curriculum And Pedagogy In Urban Schools | ||
| Popular Culture | ||
| Urban Culture | ||
| Critical Analysis Of Hip Hop Culture | ||
| Urban Health And Wellness | ||
| Urban Youth Culture And Development | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Elective Option 1:
Students who choose the Thesis will take 6 thesis hours and 3 elective courses (9 credit hours)
Elective Option 2:
Students who choose the Comprehensive Exam will take 5 elective courses, (15 credit hours) plus
Comprehensive Exam
This program offers students a broader variety of areas of concentration that align with their research and professional interests:
- Urban Education and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
- Urban Culture and Social Identity
- Youth Development and Social Services in the Inner City
This sample curricular map is provided to guide you in the planning of your progression for this major. This guide should not replace regular consultations with your program advisor. For specific recommendations of courses not identified, please consult your program advisor.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| UCS-411 | Theoretical Foundations In Urban Community Studies | 3 |
| UCS-412 | Methods In Urban Community Research | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| UCS-415 | Urban Ethnography | 3 |
| UCS-443 | Research Writing | 3 |
| One UCS 400-level elective course | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| UCS-452 | Field Internship | 1 |
| UCS-453 | Seminar | 3 |
| One UCS 400-level elective course | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 7 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| 3 UCS 400-level elective courses | 9 | |
| or Thesis option | ||
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours: | 31 | |