2025-2026 Catalog

Requirements (44 units)

 

Major



Introductory Coursework

Students majoring in Urban and Environmental Policy are required to take the following introductory courses:

ECON 101Principles of Economics I

4 units

UEP 101Environment and Society

4 units

An alternative Economics course may be used as a substitute with approval from the department chair. The course substitution must be filed the Registrar's Office using the Transfer Credit & Course Substitution Form.

Upper Division Coursework

Students majoring in UEP are required to take the following upper division courses:

UEP 300Environmental Law and Policy

4 units

UEP 301/POLS 301Urban Policy and Politics

4 units

UEP 310Community Organizing and Leadership

4 units

UEP 311Community Internship

4 units

UEP 410Controversies in Policy and Politics

4 units

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.

UEP 150Geographic Information Science I

4 units

UEP 305Urban Data Analysis

4 units

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

Students in UEP are required to complete three electives. At least two of these electives must be taken in the UEP department. One elective may be taken from the "Other Electives" course list below or a relevant course while studying abroad (with approval of the department chair).


All courses offered within the UEP department will fulfill the elective requirement (click here for the complete list).


UEP electives cannot be double counted to satisfy other minor and major requirements. Double counting electives will be allowed only by Petition for Special Consideration. Students are required to obtain approval from the adviser and the department chair.

BLST 218/SOC 218Black Ecological Thought

4 units

ECON 301Environmental Economics and Policy

4 units

ECON 322Economics of Sustainable Development

4 units

ECON 324The Economics of Immigration

4 units

ECON 328Economics of Race and Gender

4 units

POLS 206Race and American Politics

4 units

POLS 207Los Angeles Politics

4 units

POLS 208Movements for Social Justice

4 units

POLS 260Community Law Internship

4 units

PUBH 203Introduction to Public Health

4 units

PUBH 209/UEP 209Health Policy

4 units

SOC 250Race and Ethnicity in American Society

4 units

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

The UEP minor requires 20-units to complete.

Introductory Course

UEP 101Environment and Society

4 units

Select from one of the the following:

Students must complete either Environmental Law and Policy (UEP 300) or Urban Policy and Politics (UEP 301) as a part of their minor requirements.

UEP 300Environmental Law and Policy

4 units

UEP 301/POLS 301Urban Policy and Politics

4 units

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).