Urban Studies Major and Minor Developed

Wheaton College is now offering an urban studies major and minor to undergraduates through a recent expansion of the urban studies department.

In the past, Wheaton only had an urban studies certificate, which included either on-campus studies or a semester spent living in the Chicago neighborhood of Uptown through the Wheaton in Chicago program.

Due to a recent increased desire among students for a more intentional pursuit of urban studies, the department sought to enlarge its presence.

“So many students created an IDS (interdisciplinary studies) major or decided to take more credits than they needed just because they love the coursework. We wanted to be able to give more to those students, provide them an opportunity to go deeper with the course material for them to get a better foundation,” said Noah Toly, director of the urban studies program.

The department’s expansion included the creation of new courses and a doubling of the faculty within the department.

Toly said that the new degree opportunities would help to further conversation about cities.

“Now that we have restructured the Wheaton in Chicago program, an urban studies major and minor and a new urban studies club, we have a much more stable and diverse set of platforms in which to build those conversations,” he said.

The major includes classes such as “The Social Life of Cities,” taught by Christa Tooley, professor of urban studies and anthropology. Tooley, who has a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, was brought onto staff this year as part of the department’s expansion.

Tooley said that she is “excited to be able to contribute to (urban studies) expanding and allowing students to explore cities.”

Toly is equally excited about the new addition of the urban studies minor.

“Everybody who ever wanted to do urban studies still can,” Toly said.

Toly commented on the versatile nature of the minor, saying, “The minor keeps it available to all students no matter what their major.”

This minor is building upon the certificate and allows students to go deeper into the program while maintaining a separate major.

In order to complete the urban studies major and minor, each student has to participate in Wheaton’s residential living and learning experience called Wheaton in Chicago. This semester — spent in Wheaton’s apartments in Uptown — includes up to 18 credit hours as well as an internship with an urban organization.

The upcoming Wheaton in Chicago group for the fall of 2013 is the biggest one yet.

“(Wheaton in Chicago students) find it interesting and challenging. It is more than just an intellectual exercise, but not less than. Learning about the city and wrestling that with their own lives. Considering questions like what are our roles to cities and people who live in cities,” Tooley said.

“A lot of us come from suburban backgrounds; I know I certainly did originally,” she added. “There is something particular to life in the city. The residential program allows you to live in a city and experience how that is different, which actually takes things to another level besides reading about it and learning about it, which is very important.”

The addition of this new major and minor is building on the success of the urban studies certificate and past Wheaton in Chicago programs.

“Students in Wheaton in Chicago do well in finding and keeping jobs because of internships,” Toly said.

Wheaton in Chicago alumni have gone on to study in a variety of graduate schools and professional schools of all the social sciences. A few have received Fulbright fellowship grants and jobs right after graduation.

The department is also looking to add an international component to both the major and minor in the near future.

Tooley also remarked on the importance of a global perspective: “It allows you to be a more active participant in the global major. Cities are the nodes of globalization.”

Toly hopes urban studies students obtain an experience that is “academically rigorous, experiential, global and theologically informed.”

All information regarding this major, minor and the Wheaton in Chicago program can be found at wheaton.edu.