"My internship enabled me to fully involve myself within my chosen career area and to apply my previous studies."

"I'm able to see connections now between complex issues such as economic development, housing, environment and education."

"We met fabulous people working hard for justice in the world."

Metro Urban Studies Term

Fall Semester (September - December)

The Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST) is an exciting semester of experience-based study in the Twin Cities. The program focuses on issues of poverty and inequality and ways to address these critical issues.

An internship placement is a central part of the program. HECUA works with you to design an internship that meets your own learning goals and connects with program themes. Theory and field seminars augment the internship to help you analyze current realities in urban America and how you can make a difference.

Students explore key institutions that impact urban poverty and inequality, namely the economy, education and welfare. Students also analyze the role that urban sprawl, segregation and racial, class and gender discrimination play. Finally students examine an array of strategies to address inequality and rebuild the city more equitably. You learn through readings and through dialogue with a wide variety of community leaders, including political activists, economic development organizers and executives of multinational corporations.

An agency network developed over 30 years provides countless opportunities for a wide range of student internships. Students work in housing, community development, youth outreach, socials services, education, legislative advocacy, neighborhood gardening and many other civic projects. They contribute to the ongoing work of the agency and learn from extraordinary mentors on site.

MUST is for students from all majors concerned about poverty and inequality and eager for practical experiences and connections with those who make social change in our communities.

City Arts

Spring Semester (February - May)

City Arts is a challenging semester of study and experience in the Twin Cities with a focus on the arts, popular culture and social change. The Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, with its vibrant arts communities and diverse cultural traditions, is an ideal place to delve into artistic expression that seeks to reflect or change the existing social order.

An internship placement is a central part of the program. HECUA works with you to design an internship that meets your own learning goals and connects with program themes. Theory and field seminars augment the internship to help you understand the relationships among ideology, art and popular culture.

Seminar themes include art and public opinion formation, the social construction of ideology, ideological functions of museums, and the politics of arts philanthropy. Students explore these themes through theoretical readings and through dialogue with a wide variety of local artists, community organizers, and arts advocates. The group also attends plays, films and visual installations as a dynamic part of the learning process.

Internships are chosen that connect with the program themes. An agency network developed over many years provides countless opportunities for a wide range of student interests: theaters, museums, galleries, schools, arts advocacy organizations, youth outreach projects and many others. Students have incredible opportunities including program development, community outreach, stage design, research and analysis.

City Arts is for students from all majors interested in the arts, cultural expression, and their link to political and ideological issues and quality of life. You will gain valuable practical experiences and vital connections in the arts community.

Minneapolis and St. Paul share a history as a hub of economic activity and progressive social values. The region's vibrancy and emerging diversity make it an ideal laboratory for the study of issues facing the world's urban centers. The area is home to some of the world's most powerful corporations and one of the liveliest non-profit communities in the nation. Yet it faces increasing problems stemming from the growing gap between rich and poor.

Growing Diversity

The Twin Cities' early European heritage, with its strong Scandinavian influence, has been further enriched with an ethnic mix of peoples from all over the globe. Hispanic, African American and Hmong families, as well as Somalian and eastern European communities, among others, have brought the richness and promise of their diverse cultures. But growing diversity also brings change and challenge for neighborhoods and communities.

Vibrant Corporate and Arts Communities

The Twin Cities has long been home to many multinational corporations: 3M, General Mills, Dayton Hudson, Pillsbury, Cargill and others. This strong backbone of corporations has helped to create one of the most generous philanthropic environments in the nation. It has also helped a vibrant arts community to flourish, including such nationally and internationally acclaimed institutions as The Guthrie Theater and Walker Art Center, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra.

Socio-Economic Challenges

Minneapolis/St. Paul is an economic powerhouse with one of the lowest jobless rates in the nation. Yet 45 percent of its children in the "core" live at or below the poverty line, with an education learning gap that troubles policymakers. These factors have spurred activists throughout the metro area to work toward building economic equity and stability in their communities.

"I learned so much about why inequality and poverty exist in an urban setting, by really listening and learning from people." -MUST student

Dr. Philip Sandro, program director and primary faculty, holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the New School for Social Research in New York City, with a B.A. from Macalester College. He has taught experiential urban studies programs for the past decade. Dr. Sandro has an impressive record of involvement in urban public policy and social issues. He has held a policy-making position in the Harold Washington administration in Chicago, contributing to the city's efforts to create jobs and train economically disadvantaged citizens. He has also been active in public school system reform and has worked with abused adolescents and their families.

Dr. Sandro is complemented by guest lecturers and leaders from the region's community building organizations.

Credits

The program provides 4 course credits (equivalent to 16 semester hours or 24 quarter credits). All students take the same set of courses. For the purpose of credit distribution, the courses are as follows:

* Reading seminar: 1 course credit

* Field seminar: 1 course credit

 

* Internship placement and seminar: 2 course credits

Prerequisites

* Completion of freshman year

* Open to all majors

Housing

HECUA assists students in making housing arrangements. Options include individual apartment, living on a local campus, an arranged family homestay, or rooming with family, friends or another HECUA student. Meals are on your own.

Schedule

The programs are full-time and students are required to attend all class sessions. Seminars are held all day Tuesday and Thursday, with occasional special activities on Thursday evenings. Internship placements are 20-24 hours per week, usually Monday-Wednesday-Friday.

Class locations

Students convene on the Hamline University campus for reading and field seminars and on location around the metro community for field seminars. Internship sites are located across the Minneapolis/St. Paul urban area and can be arranged on bus lines if necessary.

Transportation

Transportation to and from class sessions is by mass transit, personal automobile or carpooling with other students.

Cost

Students from member schools pay the equivalent of their regular semester tuition; separate rate for University of Minnesota and non-member students (inquire about these rates at HECUA). The program fee includes tuition, internship placement and supervision and all course-related field visits. Excluded are room and board, books and personal expenses. Financial aid may be used for the programs.

To apply

Request an application form from HECUA or your campus representative.

Application deadlines:

MUST (fall) - April 15

City Arts (spring) - December 1

Late applications accepted on a space-available basis.

HECUA reserves the right to make any necessary program or location changes.