Calvin Planning Urban Studies Minor

May 18, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY

A new proposed minor in Urban Studies at Calvin College plays right into
recent pushes to make Grand Rapids a "cool city" say Calvin professors who are
part of the program.

According to Calvin professor of sociology Mark Mulder there is a renewed
interest in cities not just from government leaders, but also in college
students.

"A lot of Calvin students were born and raised in the suburbs," he says, "and
there is a dissatisfaction with that lifestyle. They're wondering what the
city has to offer."

In the last 10 years Calvin has seen a 250% increase in the number of students
who are taking the types of courses that will make up the new minor. Interest
on the part of students, Mulder says, is definitely there.

But, says Mulder, the new minor at Calvin, which needs to be ratified May
20-22 by the school's Board of Trustees, isn't necessarily intended to help
students decide whether or not to live in downtown Grand Rapids.

"We're not hoping to cultivate consumers," he says, "but rather citizens. I
think the idea of teaching students to be engaged citizens is of primary
importance."

In that regard, Mulder says, Grand Rapids is the perfect place for an Urban
Studies program.

"Grand Rapids is a pretty amazing place," says the Wisconsin native. "There
are all of the faith-based social service agencies for one. And now there are
a number of developers making an impact in the city too. There is an
impressive array of rich resources here. We have great access to a really nice
laboratory here in Grand Rapids."

The new minor - co-sponsored by Calvin's sociology and political science
departments - will help students understand how everything from new urbanism to
suburban sprawl impacts cities.

Mulder notes that a little over a century ago, only nine percent of the
world's population resided in cities. Today that figure is closer to 50
percent.

"It's incumbent upon Christians to think intentionally about our
responsibilities in light of that," he says. "The new minor will help students
understand how the built environment of a city impacts how people relate to
each other. And it will help students understand how they can make a
difference in the life of a city - how to be part of a city and how to renew a
city."

The new minor will have at its heart an urban sociology course which
introduces students to the "purposes, problems and prospects of cities in the
United States and in other parts of the world."

Says Mulder: "It teaches students basic concepts of urban ecology and urban
political economy. It also looks at the interaction of social factors that
produce change in cities and suburbs. As part of the new minor the course will
be part of a coherent structure and will really help equip students to get the
most out of the minor."

Mulder says too that an Urban Studies minor has very practical career
applications. Students at schools with Urban Studies programs go on to use
their knowledge in careers in business, community development, urban ministry,
government, planning, public administration, education, health, economic
development, housing, law and social services.

The new minor at Calvin will offer students three different tracks. One will
focus on "urban social development, one on "the built environment" and one on
"urban policy."

Mulder says students wishing to do graduate work would be advised to pursue
the first track, students interested in architecture, planning or development
would likely take the second track and students interested in governmental
work, social service or nonprofits would do the third track.

Contact Mark Mulder at 616-526-6755 or mtm3@calvin.edu

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Received on Tue May 18 12:22:06 2004