The University established the urban studies program in 1969. In the 1960s, studying cities and urban life and form was considered avant-garde in all disciplines. Urban studies is an explicitly cross-disciplinary major rooted in College of Liberal Arts but accepting courses from a diversity of undergraduate colleges. The program offers students a mix of academic, hands-on, experiential and skill-based coursework focused on a common theme of urban social/cultural issues, urban political economy and planning, urban infrastructure and environment, or international urban issues. Through required urban studies coursework students are exposed to local practitioners who teach courses based around their areas of expertise such as: homeless youth, public-private partnerships, transit development, or housing in an international perspective. These local practitioners expose students to the diverse careers that can come from a degree on urban studies. Students are encouraged to study abroad. Students who major in urban studies come to understand the way cities work and use the vast resources of the Twin Cities to explore their interests. All students complete one required 140 hour internship as part of their exploration of careers they might pursue. Finding an internship is great practice for a job hunt. With the vast local network of alumnus of the program, there are many internship possibilities each term. The program offers one-on-one advising and students come to know one another through shared classes and through the student group: Minnesota Urban Studies Student Association Post graduation some students go on to graduate school in fields as diverse as social work, law, finance, geography, and medicine. Other students elect to spend their post-graduate year in a service based organization such as Teach for America, Peace Corps, Reading Corps, Americorps etc. The majority go on to get some on-the-job experience. Urban studies gives students a breadth of knowledge and the knowledge of how to be engaged in urban issues often leading to long-term careers in public service.

At least 15 upper division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Students may earn up to one undergraduate degree in the urban studies program: a BA, a BS, or a minor. Students who major or minor in urban studies may combine those degrees with a major or minor in geography or the other departmental minors: public health, geographic information science. All incoming CLA first-year (freshmen) must complete the First-Year Experience course sequence. All incoming CLA first-year (freshmen) students earning a BA, BS, or BIS degree must complete the second-year career management course CLA 3002. All students must complete a capstone in at least one CLA major. The requirements for double majors completing the capstone in a different CLA major will be clearly stated. Students must also complete all major requirements in both majors to allow the additional capstone to be waived. Students completing an additional degree must complete the capstone in each degree area.