What is the term for the study of communities, their structure, and their interactions?

The term for the study of communities, their structure, and their interactions is sociology. Sociology explores how individuals and groups interact within society and how various social structures are formed and maintained. It delves into aspects such as social relationships, social institutions, and the social patterns that influence community living and behavior.

In this context, ecology focuses on the relationships between living organisms and their environment, while urban studies concentrate specifically on urban areas, their development, and the social, economic, and environmental issues related to them. Environmental science encompasses a broader understanding of the natural world and the effects of human activity on it, but it does not focus specifically on social interactions and community structures like sociology does.

Thus, sociology provides the comprehensive framework necessary for studying the complexities of communities and their dynamics effectively.