The Urban Studies Department is excited for spring semester! Some wonderful courses still have room. Consider registering for one to build an area of expertise, explore a new topic, or gain a marketable skill. If possible, sign-up by Friday, January 12th. Methods *GIS: Introduction to Mapping (URBST 265)*, Th 6:30-8:30 pm Learn the basics of GIS with Professor Adikesava and begin building a skill that employers in both the private and public sectors want to see on resumes. Public Health *Cities and Social Medicine* (URBST 231), F 9:10 am to 12 PM Professor Sardell will guide students in examining the consequences of social inequality for the health of individuals and communities. Students will also learn about public programs aimed to improve health disparities. Environmental Studies *Climate Change & Public Policy* (URBST 358), M 3:10-6:00 pm From San Juan to New York, city dwellers continue to reckon with climate change and its devastating effects. Student will examine the urban politics governing climate change science and economics under the direction of Professor Checker, an expert on grassroots environmental justice activism as well as voluntary relocation after environmental disasters. *The Changing Urban Environment *(URBST 252), T, Th 1:40-2:55 pm Professor Vena, who is a lawyer and an anthropologist, will assist students in building a comprehensive understanding of the most pressing environmental issues in American cities, including: waste management, climate change adaptation, and the unequal distribution of environmental hazards. Politics and Public Policy *New York City Politics* (URBST 108), F 1:40-4:30 PM Professor Jimmy Vacca, a New York City Councilmember (D, 13th District) and former District Manager of Bronx Community Board 10, will offer an insider's perspective on policy-making in the Big Apple. *The Urban Economy *(URBST 245W), S 9:00-12:00 pm Join Professor Bourinaris, of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, in exploring trends in urban economic growth as well as attendant consequences for employment and inequality. *Making The City Work: Public Service* (URBST 102), Professor Seley, M 3:05-5:55 Learn about and analyze urban public initiatives in sectors ranging from housing to healthcare, with the guidance of Professor Seley, a geographer and urban planner. Labor Studies *Urban Labor Movements *(URBST 239W), M 6:30-9:20 pm Explore the nature of work and labor organizing, from the industrial revolution to the service industry, with Professor Biddle. *Employment and Labor Law* (URBST 229), Th 6:30-9:20 pm Professor Chris Michael, a lawyer and an expert on worker-owned businesses, will lead students in examining a variety of sources to build a comprehensive understanding of employment and labor law, including collective bargaining and union organization. Migration *Immigration in Metropolitan New York* (URBST 216), M, W 6:30-7:45 pm Professor Khandelwal, Director of the Asian/American Center at Queens College, will lead students in carrying out an immigrant enclave analysis as well as in examining the history of migration to NYC, beginning in the nineteenth century. *The Greek-American Community in New York* (URBST 340W), T, Th 10:45-12 pm Students will learn about the social, political and economic lives of Greek-Americans in NYC, particularly in Astoria, under the guidance of Professor Ioannides who directs the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at Queens College. -- Natalie B. Vena, J.D., Ph.D. Phone (773) 401-1496