Social Sciences, Sustainable Urban Development

Are you interested in helping to create the sustainable cities of the future?  

The world faces key challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, social justice, and poverty, and cities are key arenas for addressing them. Tampere University’s Sustainable Urban Development Bachelor’s degree programme teaches the new generation of experts to apply multidisciplinary expertise and practical skills to contribute to more sustainable and socially just urban futures. 

About the Social Sciences specialisation  

The Sustainable Urban Development programme provides integrated, multidisciplinary teaching focused on urban development and sustainability. It consists of three specialisations: Administrative Sciences, Social Sciences and Technology, which students select when applying.   

Students in the Social Sciences specialisation complete basic and intermediate studies in social sciences, developing a broad theoretical understanding of societal change and applying this understanding to address challenges related to wellbeing, equity, participation, and environmental sustainability. Alongside your social sciences specific studies, selected multidisciplinary courses bring you together with students in administrative sciences and technology specialisations. This helps you understand urban development from several perspectives, develop interdisciplinary thinking skills, and identify novel and constructive ways of solving complex problems.  

Urban Lab  

Through a challenge-based Urban Lab course, students are engaged in real-life urban development projects in collaboration with organisations such as the City of Tampere. The course provides students the opportunity to engage with local urban planners, citizens, and organisations to help identify and understand real-world development challenges, and work in interdisciplinary teams to co-create solutions. You can find out more about the Urban Lab in the Tampere University Urban Lab Blog.

Opportunities  

This programme responds to growing societal and industry demand for professionals capable of addressing complex social and environmental challenges. Graduates of the Social Sciences specialisation of the Bachelor's programme have found employment across the public sector, including in city and regional organisations working on urban development, planning, and international affairs, as well as in research projects within academia and companies focusing on urban planning and public participation.

Graduates are particularly valued for their interdisciplinary perspective, as well as the interpersonal and teamwork skills developed during their studies. All students in the social sciences specialisation have a study right to continue their studies in the Master’s Programme in Social Science Research.  

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