Urban Studies MA student Christina Sparrock worked in a corporate accounting job when she experienced her first mental health crisis. As she recovered, she grew into a new line of work: that of a mental health advocate. She founded a Person-Centered Intervention mental health program in Fort Greene Park, and pushed for statewide adoption of new language to be used by first responders. Read more.
CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studie has developed programs in collaboration with several unions, municipal agencies, and community groups. Many of our students can take advantage of employer, union, and other benefits to cover the cost of their tuition. With Bachelor’s, Master’s, and certificate programs in labor studies and urban studies, we prepares our students for impactful careers. Learn more.
The CUNY SLU welcomes new faculty members to its Urban Studies program. Assistant Professor Samantha Agarwal joins SLU after a Changemaker postdoctoral fellowship at American University and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University. Distinguished Lecturer Puya Gerami earned a Ph.D. in History from Yale University and brings over a decade of experience in union and community organizing. Read more.
A drivers’ advocate and former taxi driver, SLU student Mohammad “Tipu” Sultan has been named one of “The 2025 Unsung Heroes” by City & State New York. Sultan is a Labor Studies bachelor’s student and recent recipient of SLU’s Joseph S. Murphy Scholarship for Diversity in Labor. City & State said the New York Taxi Workers Alliance organizer “keeps one of New York City’s most vital labor movements connected.” Read more.
Apply now to join the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, where students learn from experienced scholars and practitioners in labor, public policy, and urban affairs. Explore flexible programs in Labor Studies and Urban Studies that connect classroom learning to real-world challenges in New York City and beyond, and take the next step in advancing your education and career. Learn more.
Gothamist/WNYC reporter Paige Oamek and Sanitation Department leader Joshua Goodman both earned professional credentials at SLU, and both are honored by CUNY’s 50 Under 50 Alumni Awards. The list spans alumni across fields, schools, and graduation years, forming a cohort that “highlights the depth of talent within the CUNY community, representing public servants, journalists, entrepreneurs, artists and more.” Read more.