Urban and Environmental Policy

Overview

Occidental's Urban and Environmental Policy (UEP) major is an interdisciplinary program for students who want to change the world.

The UEP major combines politics, planning, environmental policy, public health, urban studies, economics, sociology, community engaged research, and other disciplinary approaches. The major recognizes that "urban" and "environmental" are very much interconnected and that issues of economic and environmental justice are integrally linked to where and how we live, work, play, eat, and go to school. Topics covered in the program include housing and community development, public health, land use and transportation, environmental health, food and resource issues, education, environmental justice, immigration, climate change, air and water quality, water and energy supply, poverty and social welfare, criminal justice, race and gender and class relations, globalization, and other topics at the local, state, national and international levels. Students interested in the UEP major should have a strong commitment to public service and social justice and change, be interested in working on group projects with other students, and be interested in engaging in community activities and internships.

The UEP major is a unique combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience in the field of public affairs and civic engagement. Students learn interdisciplinary social science skills and public policy analysis with special emphasis on applying those skills in the real-world challenges. It is an intensive major designed for students with a strong interest in public service careers such as government, law, human services, urban and/or environmental planning, public health, community organizing, social work, journalism and communications, socially responsible business, or academia.

The goal of Occidental's UEP program is not simply to produce policy experts, but to educate students to think and act critically on issues at the intersection of urban and environmental policy. The major includes careful consideration of ethical issues that arise in the formulation and implementation of public policy. It trains the next generation of change-agents and future leaders how to think critically and creatively and act effectively to solve problems and improve society. 

The UEP major coursework includes a series of intensive seminars in the junior and senior years, with introductory courses in the frosh and sophomore years. The course of study includes developing skills in public policy analysis, internships, community participation, a research project with an applied policy focus, and leadership training. In addition to the prerequisites and the core seminars, students are encouraged to take electives in a variety of disciplines to sharpen their expertise in different policy areas and approaches.

We encourage our students to engage in off-campus learning. Some students may choose to spend a fall semester in the Campaign Semester program (offered in alternate Presidential and Congressional election years); summer research and/or internships in Los Angeles or abroad (e.g., through the China-Environment program, the Richter program, and the Undergraduate Summer Research Program), through the Occidental-at-the-United Nations program, or in one of the abroad programs sponsored or approved by the College.

During their senior year, students design and complete a policy-oriented comprehensive project that has an applied focus. This project may take several forms. It can be a traditional research paper, a hands-on policy research report, a project in collaboration with other students, or a study conducted for a community-based "client" organization.

A significant dimension of UEP’s problem-solving and social change-related curriculum is its connection to the research, education, and community-based activities of the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI). UEPI is the research and advocacy program arm of UEP and a key component of Occidental’s focus on community engagement. UEPI's mission is to connect ideas and action to create a more just and livable region, nation, and world.

Through UEP and UEPI, students experience a range of classroom-based and independent internships and engage with urban and environmental policy through government agencies, political campaigns, grassroots community and environmental justice organizations, public interest groups, social service agencies, labor unions, health organizations, food justice groups, as well as the government and private sector. Under the supervision of faculty as well as the UEPI program staff, students gain experience in practical applied research by working with and for community partners in the Los Angeles area, across the country, and abroad. Current programs address food justice, environmental and public health, the built environment and transportation, and global trade and freight transportation. We also facilitate College-wide initiatives such as our minor in Public Health and a China-Environment program that links students to universities and NGOs in Hong Kong, Nanjing, and other partners in China. More information about UEPI is available at www.oxy.edu/uepi.

Requirements (44 units)

Major

Introductory Coursework

Upper Division Coursework

One Course Methods Requirement

UEP majors are required to take at least one methods course. Students may take either UEP 305 (Urban Data Analysis) or UEP 150 (Geographic Information Systems/Spatial Statistics). Each of these has a focus on examining data to ask/answer urban and environmental questions. In addition, for students who are interested in pathways that center quantitative methods, we encourage students to take both UEP 150 and UEP 305, one of which would count as your UEP elective and the other towards a methods requirement. In some cases, students may take POLS 300 (Research Methods in Politics and Public Policy) or other methods course(s) with permission of the UEP department Chair. You must complete your methods requirement before enrolling in UEP 410, the senior comprehensive requirement.

Additional Electives (12 units with at least 8 units taken within the UEP department)

Honors in the Major

Students are required to have an overall grade point average of 3.50. Contact the department chair for more information and specific requirements.

Minor

Introductory Course

Select from one of the the following:

Three Electives (12-units)

Students are required to successfully complete three additional elective courses (minimum 12 units) for their minor. Two of these courses (8-units) must be taken within the UEP department. Students may complete one of these courses outside of the department, selected from the approved UEP electives listed above ("Additional Electives") or complete one of their electives abroad, as approved by the department chair. All courses offered within the UEP department will fulfill the elective requirement (click here for the complete list).

Second-Stage Writing

Students majoring in UEP will satisfy the second-stage component of Occidental College's writing requirement by successfully completing UEP 301 or UEP 300. In cases in which the course is not successfully completed, contact the department chair for alternative means of completing this requirement for graduation.

Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirements at the time of declaring the major. Contact the department chair for more information.

Comprehensive Requirement

During their senior year, UEP majors design and complete a policy-oriented comprehensive project that has an applied focus. This project may take several forms. It can be a traditional research paper, a hands-on policy research report, a project in collaboration with other students, or a study conducted in partnership with a community-based "client" or "partner" organization. Students will develop their projects in collaboration with the course faculty advisor during the senior seminar, UEP 410. Students who wish to continue their senior research into spring semester may plan in collaboration with their faculty advisor and do so as a Directed Research course (UEP 493).

Transfer Credit Policies

The UEP Program policy on transfer credit conforms to College policy. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for details.

Advising Information

Students interested in the UEP major are encouraged to take UEP 101 during their first year. It is also recommended to take ECON 101 by the end of their second year. Students should plan to take the Methods requirement (UEP 305 or UEP 150) in their second year at Oxy, no later than their third year.

Placement Information

No placement exams are specifically required for the UEP major. We do not accept the AP Environmental Science exam as a replacement for UEP 101.

Sample 4-Year Plan

Curricular Notes

UEP 310 and UEP 311 must be taken simultaneously.

UEP Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in UEP:

• Transfer students intending to start Occidental as rising juniors should have completed the equivalent of ECON 101 before enrolling. Transfer students should plan to enroll in UEP 101 in their first year at Oxy.

General advice for transfer students wanting to major in UEP:

• All transfer students should complete their Methods requirement during their junior year and prior to the start of senior comps in the fall of their senior year.

• Transfer students should have completed the equivalent of ECON 101 by the end of their sophomore year.

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

• Rising Juniors starting in the fall of their junior year, must register for the 8-unit Organizing class in their first semester. To do this, students must talk with Claire Cahen (instructor) or Sylvia Chico (administrator) during the summer to ensure an internship placement. UEP 311 is an internship with a 10-12 hours per week commitment in addition to the UEP 310 seminar .

Courses

Urban and Environmental Policy Courses

Faculty

Tenure and Tenure Track Faculty

Bhavna Shamasunder, chair; designated transfer adviser (Fall)

Associate Professor

B.S., B.A., University of California, San Diego; M.ES, Yale University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Martha Matsuoka, chair; designated transfer adviser (Spring)

Professor; Executive Director, Urban and Environmental Policy Institute

A.B., Occidental College; M.C.P., University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Claire Cahen

Peter Dreier

E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics

B.A., Syracuse University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Chicago 

Karla Peña

Seva Rodnyansky

Assistant Professor

B.A., Northwestern University; Ph.D., University of Southern California 

Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Janis Breidenbach

Sharon Cech
Visiting Instructor
B.A., Bard College; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles 

Jordanne Dervaes

Joshua Nicholas McGuffie

Rosa Romero
Visiting Instructor
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles; M.Ed., UH Manoa