In Urban Studies, an interdisciplinary academic department, we recognize that in a globalized world, power on individual, community, and systemic levels are interconnected. With that in mind, we teach critical thinking, cultivate leaders, and engage in purposeful research and action in urban communities.

More specifically,

• Teaching -- we challenge students to think creatively and write critically about urban issues, and to solve problems using theoretical and applied approaches.

• Research -- we emphasize ethical collaborative action research involving faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and the community.

• Action -- we engage students through a variety of intergenerational and intercultural community endeavors.

• Personal Development -- we facilitate the growth of individual skills such as empathy, reflection, confidence, and self-advocacy, and other tools necessary to succeed professionally in a globalized world.

1967

Interested faculty members and students established an Urban Affairs Committee to develop programs in urban studies at what was then Worcester State College.

1969

The Urban Affairs Committee presented a Minor in Urban Studies to the college community. The minor was accepted, and students began taking classes on campus that focused on urban topics. At the same time, there were moves within the larger state college system to expand urban-related study.

1970

Responding to interest in urban studies on campus and in the state, the Urban Affairs Committee created a variety of field experiences in such areas as public services, social agencies, health care, urban planning, environmental conservation, and youth and legal services.

1972

The Board of Higher Education’s Long Range Planning Committee called for programs “in Afro-American Studies, Latin American Studies and Metropolitan Studies” to be “strengthened at Boston and introduced at Worcester, since both colleges exist in metropolitan areas which are experiencing rapid ethnic and social change.”

With support from WSU personnel and dozens of area social, political, cultural, and educational institutions, the Worcester State trustees gave the Urban Affairs Committee approval to plan an Urban Studies major. Historian Vincent "Jake" Powers and sociologist Harold Langlois are the first faculty members.

1974

Spring: Board of State College Trustees approved the major

Summer: Board of Higher Education approved the major.

Fall: the major went into effect at Worcester State.

Department’s original offices located in 134 Glendale Street

1975

Maureen Power joins the faculty

1977

Tuck Amory joins the faculty

1978

The Consortium Gerontology Studies Program created with Urban Studies playing the lead role on campus for this new initiative. This catalyzed the creation of Urban Studies aging courses and laid the ground work for WSC becoming an age-integrated campus

Late-1970s

Non-Profit Management program begins as a series of management seminars for a Juvenile Justice Agency, Key Program, Inc.

1981

MS in Human Services degree approved as part of Urban Studies.

1983

Urban Studies hosts Elder Week which initiates WSU's becoming an age-integrated campus and offering free tuition and fees to elders 60 and over. The department became the hub for this development and has continued to guide its growth and development .

1994

Launch of the Intergenerational Urban Institute within the department—designed to channel the energies of college students of all ages into service in the community

1995

Steve Corey joins faculty.

1998

Elder Immigrant Naturalization program (which later became the IUI English Language Learner Program) was initiated through the Urban Studies course, Aging in Metropolitan Society.

2000

Jake Powers retires.

Lisa Boehm joins faculty.

By December, Lisa’s Boehm’s office moved to LRC.

2001

May: Steve Corey becomes director of Honors Program

Summer: all department offices moved to LRC

2002

IUI creates the annual Celebration of Service Across the Ages.

2003

Hunger Initiative begun through the service learning component of UR 320 Human Needs and Social Policy. It has grown into the IUI Hunger Outreach Program (HOT)

2006

Vincent “Jake” Powers passes away. Read a tribute column in the Telegram here

CityLab renamed to honor Jake and the CityLab Fund is established to support its work

2007

Tuck Amory retires

2008

The department begins creating an Oral History Center in CityLab.

2009

Major curriculum overhaul of the Non-Profit Management program.

2010

Tom Conroy joins the faculty

All state colleges become state universities by an act of the Massachusetts legislature.

2011

Lisa Boehm becomes Interim Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences,

Steve Corey leaves WSU to take a position a position at Columbia College, Chicago.

2013

Lisa Boehm leaves university.

Timothy Murphy joins the faculty

First department study trip to Chicago

2015

Madeline Campbell becomes Director of the Center for Study of Human Rights

2016

Maureen Power and Fran Langille retire.

Adam Saltsman joins the faculty and becomes Director of the IUI; Joanne Jaber Gauvin joins the IUI.