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 and includes original research. 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

Major

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

Upper Division Coursework

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

Additional Electives

Majors are required to complete two additional electives (minimum 8 units). All courses offered within the UEP department will fulfill the elective requirement (click here for the complete list). Students may also choose one of these two courses from the approved UEP electives listed below outside of the UEP department. A study abroad course may count as the one outside course, as approved by the department chair.  

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.

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 Courses

Additional electives:

​Students are required to successfully complete three additional courses (minimum 12 units) within the UEP program. Students may complete one of these courses outside of the department, selected from the approved UEP electives listed above ("Additional Electives").

Second-Stage Writing

Students majoring in UEP will satisfy the second-stage component of Occidental College's writing requirement by successfully completing UEP 301. 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 requirement 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 and includes original research. 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" or "partner" organization. Students should enroll in UEP 410 in the fall semester and UEP 411 in the spring semester to undertake their comprehensive project.

Advising Information

Students interested in the UEP major are encouraged to take UEP 101 during their first year. It is also recommended to take POL 101 and ECON 101 by the end of the sophomore year. 

Though not required for the major, students are also encouraged to take environmental science courses in the Geology department such as: GEO 150, GEO 245, and GEO 255.

Placement Information

No placement exams are specifically required for the UEP major.

Sample 4-Year Plan

Curricular Notes

• It is highly recommended that students enroll in UEP 101 during their first year.

Transfer Credit Policies

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

Courses

Urban and Environmental Policy Courses

Faculty

Tenure and Tenure Track Faculty

Martha Matsuoka, chair

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 Pena

Seva Rodnyansky

Assistant Professor

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

Bhavna Shamasunder

Associate Professor

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

Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Janis Breidenbach

Rick Cole

Visiting Assistant Professor

A.B., Occidental College; M.S., Columbia University

Jordanne Dervaes

Joshua Nicholas McGuffie

Steve Zimmer

Visiting Instructor
B.A., Goucher College; M.S., California State University, Los Angeles