Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to the most common questions prospective students have about the Urban program. Please contact us at (800) 61-URBAN or urban@westmont.edu for more information.
What does a regular week look like at Urban?
| Monday: | Internship | |
| Tuesday: | 9:00a.m.-12pm | Urban Studies Seminar |
| 2:00-5 p.m. | Conferences and Tutorials | |
| Wednesday: | Internship | |
| Thursday: | 9:00-10:00 a.m. | Community Sharing* |
| 10:30a.m.-noon | Practicum Seminar | |
| 1:00-4:00 p.m. | Electives | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Community Dinner | |
| Friday: | Internship |
*Community Sharing: Our time together on Thursday mornings from 9:00-10:00am is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to attend more fully to God’s presence in our daily experiences during this exciting and challenging semester. This time includes worship, prayer, reflection and sharing our life journeys with each other.
Where can I intern?
Internship opportunities are virtually limitless. The SF Urban Program has connections with many San Francisco businesses, media outlets, agencies, and non-profit organizations in which students can gain professional experience. Each semester, the Internships professor helps students find an internship customized to their areas of interest. Internships can be obtained in virtually every area of study, and approximately 250 different internships have been offered over the course of the Urban program’s history. Visit the Student Internships page to view some of the internships that students have done in the past. Through the IS 190 Urban Practicum class, students receive 8 units of credit and work at their internship for a total of 24 hours a week.
Where do I eat?
We have a newly refurbished kitchen which contains state-of-the-art appliances. As a student on the Urban program, you will have the unique opportunity make your own meals, along with your classmates. A large variety of food is purchased for students on a weekly basis and we are responsive to personal requests and dietary needs/restrictions. On Thursday evenings we have Community Dinner, where a group of students creates a themed meal for all members of the community. Students and staff alike enjoy this tradition because of the connection it provides for the group. In addition to food provided in the house, students receive a $40 cash stipend to enjoy the many remarkable restaurants in San Francisco on the weekends.
Can I bring my car?
We strongly discourage you from bringing a car into the city. Only street parking is available near the house and that is extremely limited. Public transportation is a great part of the Urban experience, and it is very reasonable and accessible in San Francisco.
How much is it to ride the bus?
At the beginning of each semester, the Urban program provides each student with a map of the city, including all MUNI bus and metro routes. An individual bus ticket costs $1.50, but students are encouraged to purchase monthly bus passes which cost $45 and include access to all components of the SF MUNI bus and metro system, including the BART light rail within city limits. Please note that bus expenses are not included in program costs.
Will I be able to work out at a gym?
Students on the Urban program can have access to the University of San Francisco's Koret Health and Recreation Center for a discounted rate of $20/month. The Koret Center has a large pool, weight room, multiple workout machines (treadmills, ellipticals, etc), and offers many fitness classes such as spinning, cardio-kickboxing, step aerobics, yoga and pilates. It is located within walking distance, less than a mile away.
What additional expenses are there at Urban?
It is very easy to spend more in San Francisco than you do while on your home campus because there are many unique cultural and recreational opportunities available. We recommend that you budget more money for this semester than you normally would, although there are many free or reasonably priced cultural and recreational opportunities here as well. To offset these costs, students also receive a $40 cash stipend each week for weekend food money as well as other activities in San Francisco.
Can I work part-time while on Urban?
In the past, some students on the Urban Program have taken part-time jobs to provide themselves with additional income. While this may be a necessity for some of you, we strongly urge you to work as few hours as possible and no more than 15 hours a week. The demands of working at an internship for 24 hours each week, meeting your academic responsibilities for your other courses, doing field research, attending films and lectures, and having the time to become familiar with the city, all make it important that you have as much energy and time as possible to devote to these activities.
An alternative to finding a part-time job is to work a student job within the Urban house for $10/hr. Jobs available include grocery shopping assistant, trash bin duty, sweeping, laundering dish towels, watering plants, etc. Student jobs range from 1-3 hours of work a week.
Where do I do my laundry?
Like most San Francisco residents, you will not have access to a washer/dryer through the Urban Program, but there are numerous Laundromats in the area where you will be able to do your laundry. The closest one is only a block away. Bring any extra quarters that you might have so you don’t have to get change for larger bills.
Does every room have an internet connection?
We have Internet connections to every desk in every room. Additionally, there is a computer on the third floor and two computers on the second floor. There is a printer available on each of these two floors (students must provide their own paper). However, you will need to bring your own ethernet cord to connect to the internet on our network.
Can I have visitors?
An important part of your learning on the Urban Program will depend upon immersing yourself in the life of the city, and for this reason we ask that you do not plan to leave the city for your first month here. After that, we encourage you to limit your travels out of San Francisco. Forming a living and learning community with your fellow students is also an important part of the urban experience. With this in mind, we request that for the first month you have no visitors, and that those you invite after that make their stays brief. While on the Urban program, you must request approval from the Resident Assistant for any visitors staying overnight.
What are some fun things to do in San Francisco?
There is no shortage of interesting things to do and see in San Francisco. There is always something going on, and there are many free and low-cost activities for students to participate in. Here are some of our favorites:
- Go running or bike riding in Golden Gate Park, just outside the Urban house (the park is closed to cars on Sundays!)
- Have a bonfire on Ocean Beach
- Visit Twin Peaks, which has one of the best views of the city
- Pick up some fresh food at the Ferry Building Farmers Market on Saturday mornings
- Attend a Giants game at AT&T Park
- For a spectacular view of San Francisco, ride the cable cars to Nob Hill, then have a cup of coffee or tea, or enjoy dessert, at the top of the Fairmont Hotel or the Mark Hopkins hotel
- Hang out at Baker Beach (ranked Best Beach by SF residents) or China Beach
- Catch an Independent Film at the Embarcadero Movie Theater
- See a musical at one of the many downtown theaters
- Strictly Bluegrass Festival (one of many festivals in Golden Gate Park)
- Visit Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
- Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Attend a concert at The Fillmore
- Take a Ferry to Sausalito, Angel Island or Alcatraz
- Roam through many used and new bookstores (City Lights, Green Apple)
- Sit outside at the many coffee shops
- Attend Taize services at the Mercy Center in Burlingame
- Try the best ice cream in San Francisco at Mitchell’s Ice Cream
- Go out to eat at many of the ethnic restaurants in San Francisco
For more information on current events in San Francisco, please visit these links:
Only in San Francisco: The official visitor’s guide to San Francisco. http://onlysf.sfvisitor.org/
Citysearch: A comprehensive guide to restaurants, hotels, shops, events and attractions in San Francisco. http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/
7x7 San Francisco: The latest on where to go and what to do in San Francisco. www.7x7sf.com
Westmont Urban Program - 301 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94117 - (415) 931-2460 - (800) 61-URBAN