Spring 2021 Chicago Studies Quarters

Dive deep into Chicago's waterways, politics, theatre scene, and sustainable architecture with these four immersive course bundles -- new for Spring 2021!  Applications open now through February 17 - accepted applicants bypass the bidding process!

Faculty & Course Instructors

Information about virtual and in-person experiential learning in the city, ways to introduce Chicago-focused content within your discipline, pedagogy, funding, and more. One-on-one consultation also available.

Chicago Futures Events

Chicago Futures explores the effects of the pandemic, the climate crisis, and more in the Windy City. How will Chicago react to recent struggles? Have we lost aspects of life that can't be recovered? Join us for our next event, where we explore the future of Chicago nightlife.

Until recently, dive bars, dance clubs, drag shows, and other late-night entertainment was put on hold due to social distancing measures taken by the City of Chicago. How has this affected bartenders, servers, artist-performers and others who work in nightlife? In the wake of the pandemic, how have these industries adapted to meet the demands of the moment and which of these changes are here to stay?

The Future of Chicago Nightlife
Friday, February 26th from 12:30-1:30 CST
Register via Zoom

Check out our full events list here.

Painting of the Great Chicago Fire

Get Outside and Learn a Bit More About Chicago!

Feel like learning on the go? Whether you want to trace the path of the Great Chicago Fire, discover a spine-chilling new ghost story, or just get a personal history lesson from Dean Boyer, there's a tour for you! Check out our Tours page now!

Learn more about our newest tour, The Great Chicago Fire Tour, coinciding with our Chicago Futures event The Resurrected City.

A group of native americans

Learn a Little Every Day with This Day in Chicago History

Check out our daily "This Day in Chicago History" column, curated by Chloe Zheng. Every weekday, a vignette from Chicago's history is detailed in bite-size chunks. Check it out on our Instagram page!

Each week, leading up to Chicago Studies events, our column will focus on relevant information.

Distinguished Lecturers Series

Distinguished Lecturers Series

Our Winter and Spring Chicago Futures Distinguished Lectures explore historical parallels to our present challenges, attempt to cool the temperature of our political discourse, and re-evaluate Chicago's role in the region's ecologies. Speculate on the future of the Windy City with some of the brightest minds in Chicago. Register now!

View PDF version

Winter Lectures

Chicago's flag flying in front of the Wrigley Building

Learn more about Chicago Studies

About Us

Whether you think of it as the Windy City, the Second City, the City of Big Shoulders, the City in a Garden, or the City that Works, we're glad you're here.

Chicago Studies is here to make sure you don't stay an outsider while you're here as a student. Think of us as a sort-of-minor that can help you forge a genuine bond with Chi-town and its many communities. And if you're an instructor, think of us as your partner in constructing meaningful, impactful learning experiences throughout the Great American City.

Engage Chicago with Us

Follow @ChicagoStudies on Social Media