Program Requirements
We welcome your application to the Urban Studies Program (USP). Depending on your interests and career goals, you can choose from specialist, major, and minor options.
Because USP incorporates a wide-ranging, varied curriculum, it also complements many other disciplines, and can be easily combined with other programs.
Entry Requirements
- USP is a competitive-entry, (formerly “type 2”) program; apply on ACORN during the A&S program enrolment periods, of which there are two per year.
- You can apply once you have completed a minimum of 4.0 credits, generally after your first year. Those 4.0 credits should include the required courses needed for USP entry listed below. Please check the A&S Calendar for the most up-to-date course information. Other social sciences courses may also be acceptable; please contact programs.innis@utoronto.ca with any questions.
- Your admission is based on obtaining a minimum average in the list of required courses below. Admission averages may vary from year to year, depending on the applicant pool. Meeting the entry requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.
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You can choose from three program options:
- Urban Studies specialist – Total of 11.0 credits
- Urban Studies major – Total of 7.0 credits
- Urban Studies minor – Total of 4.0 credits
- Learn the difference between specialist, major, or minor options.
Required courses needed for USP entry
- For Urban Studies specialist degree (Option 1)
2.0 credits required from the courses below:*
- For Urban Studies major degree (Option 2)
2.0 credits required from the courses below:*
- For Urban Studies minor degree (Option 3)
1.0 credit required from the four courses below:*- 1.0 credit in Economics: [ECO101H1 and ECO102H1] or ECO105Y1
- 1.0 credit in Geography: GGR107H1 or GGR112H1 or GGR124H1
- 1.0 credit in Political Science: POL101H1 or POL106H1 or POL107H1 or POL109H1
- 1.0 credit in Sociology: SOC100H1 and SOC150H1
- 1.0 credit in Architectural/Visual Studies: JAV120H1 or JAV151H1 or JAV152H1 or ARC181H1
*Other social sciences courses may be accepted. Please email the program coordinator to inquire.
Next Steps
Explore complete course descriptions, what you’ll learn, and who your instructors will be in the USP Courses pages.
If you are interested in applying, go to the Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar for up-to-date program enrolment and completion requirements.
Thinking of applying after your second year, or later? The Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar lists the requirements you need if you have 9.0 or more credits.
Need more info about the Urban Studies Program?
Not sure which courses are right for you? Interested in combining USP with a major or minor in another program? We can help. Contact our program coordinator, Jannie Chien.
How to apply
To apply to the Urban Studies Program, go to U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar for up-to-date enrolment and completion requirements. (Note: USP is listed under Innis College in the listing of program/subject areas.)
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can only apply to our program after you have completed 4.0 credits (typically after your first year at U of T). There are also specific first-year courses you must complete before you are eligible to apply.
Consult the Urban Studies Program entry requirements in the Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar for the year you are applying. The Urban Studies Program can be found under the Innis College program area. You will be considered for entry based on your grades in the required courses. If you have more questions, contact the program coordinator.
Yes, we sometimes approve upper-year POL, SOC, ECO, or GGR courses or introductory courses from other social science disciplines; however, these are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Not all social science courses are accepted towards entry requirements.
The Urban Studies Program is a competitive-entry program. The grades required for entry to the program vary from year to year, depending on the applicant pool. To ensure that students admitted to the program will be successful, applicants with a combined grade average lower than 70% in the required courses will not be considered for admission. Please note that obtaining this minimum grade average does not guarantee admission to the program. Please contact the program coordinator for more information.
No, we do not accept first-year seminar courses.
Follow the instructions listed in the Sidney Smith Commons Program Toolkit for Limited (formerly Type 2 & 3) programs.
You can apply between March and September. Within this enrolment period, there are two request periods: the first (typically from early to late April), is for students who complete entry requirements by the end of April; the second (typically from early to late August) is for students who anticipate completing entry requirements by the end of August. For exact dates, please see the Sidney Smith Commons website.
icon, indicating an experiential component.Email the program coordinator with the syllabus or course description (only if the syllabus is not available), along with as much information as you can provide, including your student number. It is also helpful if you specify which requirement you would like your exchange course to fulfill.
Yes, Innis College offers three awards and scholarships specifically for Urban Studies Program students. If you are an Innis College student, there are also other Innis College scholarships available.
Nich Worby is the specialized USP liaison librarian who is available for research and resource help. The Innis College Library is another great place to learn about other resources available to you, and it’s also a quiet and cozy place to study. If you’re interested in improving your writing skills, or finding help with planning or writing an essay, research project or term paper, the Innis Writing Centre offers free, individual appointments. The Innis learning strategist provides support and instruction for any learning challenges, including note taking, time management, and preparing for exams.
If you are an Innis College student, our friendly financial advisor can help you access info about student loans, scholarships, budgeting, and managing your finances.
Contact:
daniela.pirraglia@utoronto.ca
416-978-2513
You can also contact the Innis Registrar’s Office.
Non-Innisians should contact their respective registrar’s offices for help with financial aid.
The Urban Studies Student Union (URSSU) is the voice of USP students. It’s a great place to meet people, attend events, and find your community.
Contact: programs.innis@utoronto.ca or call 416-946-7107 during business hours.