Chicago Studies makes it easier for students and instructors in the College to study, teach, and collaboratively learn about our amazing city. Part of the Office of Research and Teaching Innovations in the College Dean’s Office, we support faculty and course instructors in developing and executing innovative, hands-on curricular and research experiences, especially those that directly engage the diverse communities of Chicagoland. We also provide specialized, direct support to students as they develop questions about and then focus their studies on Chicago.

Although a very small team, we multiply the impacts of our work by cooperating with a wide range of departmental, on-campus, and civic/institutional partners.  These inform the themes and methods of the classes and research we support and help us promote core principles of epistemic justice, respectful place-based engagement throughout the Chicago region, and high-impact teaching and learning wherever these may take place.