Student Experience
Hands-on learning, real-world connections and community impact – discover what makes Urban and Public Affairs at UofL exceptional.
Urban and Public Affairs Student Life
Urban and Public Affairs is a small, close-knit department where your education plays out as much in the city as in the classroom. With a tight cohort and faculty who know your name, you'll move quickly from theory to practice, working on real planning, policy and sustainability challenges in Louisville's neighborhoods, agencies and nonprofits. The Urban and Public Affairs Student Association (UPASA) anchors the social and professional side of the experience, building a peer network through events and roundtables with city leaders. Whether you're mapping a neighborhood, sitting in on a design charrette at the Urban Design Studio or digging into Census data at the Kentucky State Data Center, you'll find a community that connects classroom learning to the work of building better communities.
Beyond the Classroom
Some of the most valuable learning in Urban and Public Affairs happens outside the classroom. The Urban and Public Affairs Student Association (UPASA) gives you a peer group for social and academic life and a way to build the relationships that launch careers, hosting events and roundtables with leaders from across the city. At the Urban Design Studio, students take part in design charrettes, workshops and community outreach aimed at moving the city and region toward a more sustainable future – the studio doubles as classroom, meeting point, resource base and exhibition space. You can work with real data through the Kentucky State Data Center, Kentucky's official clearinghouse for U.S. Census data, and contribute to applied research at the Center for Land Use and Environmental Responsibility (CLUER).
Discover Student Organizations
Research Opportunities
Research in Urban and Public Affairs is applied and community-facing, and students take part alongside faculty – much of it through the Center for Land Use and Environmental Responsibility (CLUER), an interdisciplinary center generating knowledge about governance at the intersection of land use, water resources and environmental conservation, with a focus on environmental responsibility and resilience justice. Student and faculty work spans organizational analysis, neighborhood planning, participatory planning and sustainable development – studying how organizations function, how communities grow and change, how to bring residents into planning decisions, and how to balance development with environmental and social well-being. Whatever your focus, you'll turn research into real-world impact.
Internship Opportunities
Internships are a core part of the undergraduate experience in Urban and Public Affairs – in fact, they're required, so every student graduates with real professional experience. You'll build skills, test career paths and grow a network across government, nonprofit and sustainability-focused organizations. Students have interned with Louisville Metro Advanced Planning, the Center for Neighborhoods, the Kentucky League of Cities, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation, the Louisville Urban League, Metro United Way and the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, among others, and many find opportunities through the Sustainability Council. The department doesn't place students directly, but faculty and deep local connections help you find a strong match.
Search Cardinal Careers for Available Internship Opportunities
Study Abroad
UofL offers study abroad programs in more than 70 countries worldwide. All programs are vetted and approved by the Office of Study Abroad and International Travel, with many run through trusted partner institutions.
Explore our comprehensive database of language-focused programs around the globe. If you're interested in studying abroad, contact the Office of Education Abroad at edabroad@louisville.edu to set up an appointment. Be sure to include:
- Your major
- When you're interested in studying abroad
- Any destinations you're interested in
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Build Tomorrow's Sustainable Communities Today
Ready to turn your commitment to sustainable cities, equitable policy, and community development into professional impact? Explore Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Louisville — where the Urban Studies bachelor's degree, NASPAA-accredited MPA, and Master of Urban Planning prepare graduates to lead the organizations, governments, and initiatives that shape how communities grow and thrive.