Urban Studies and Planning
Courses
For course descriptions not found in the 2006-2007 General
Catalog, please contact the department for more information.
Lower-Division
1. History of US Urban Communities (4) This
course charts the development of urban communities across the United
States both temporally and geographically. It examines the patterns
of cleavage, conflict, convergence of interest, and consensus that
have structured urban life. Social, cultural, and economic forces
will be analyzed for the roles they have played in shaping the diverse
communities of Americas cities.
2. Urban World System (4) Examines
cities and the environment in a global context. Emphasizes how the
worlds economy and the earths ecology are increasingly
interdependent. Focuses on biophysical and ethicosocial concerns
rooted in the contemporary division of labor among cities, Third
World industrialization, and the post-industrial transformation
of U.S. cities.
3. The City and Social Theory (4) An
introduction to the sociological study of cities, focusing on urban
society in the United States. Students in the course will examine
theoretical approaches to the study of urban life; social stratification
in the city; urban social and cultural systemsethnic communities,
suburbia, family life in the city, religion, art, and leisure.
87. Freshman Seminar (1) The Freshman Seminar
Program is designed to provide new students with the opportunity
to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small
seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments
and undergraduate colleges, and topics vary from quarter to quarter.
Enrollment is limited to 15 to 20 students, with preference given
to entering freshmen.
Upper-Division
100. Introduction to Urban Planning (4)
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the fundamentals
of urban planning. It surveys important topics in urban planning,
including economic development, urban design, transportation,
environmental planning, housing, and the history of urban planning.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.
101. Introduction to Policy Analysis (4) (Same
as Political Science 160AA.) This course will explore the process
by which the preferences of individuals are converted into public
policy. Also included will be an examination of the complexity of
policy problems, methods for designing better policies, and a review
of tools used by analysts and policy makers. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor.
102. Urban Economics (4) (Same
as Economics 135.) Economic analysis of why and where cities develop,
problems they cause, and public policies to deal with these problems.
Determination of urban land rent/use, reasons for suburbanization.
Transportation and congestion in cities, zoning, poverty and housing,
urban local government. Prerequisites:Economics 1A-B or 1-2
and Mathematics 10A or 20A.
103. American Cities in the Twentieth Century (4) (Same
as HIUS 148.)This course surveys changes in U.S. cities since about
1900. Case studies of individual cities illustrate the social, political,
and environmental consequences of rapid urban expansion, as well
as the ways in which urban problems have been understood
historically. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent
of instructor.
104. Ethnic Diversity and the City (4) (Same
as Ethnic Studies 105.) This course will examine the city as a crucible
of ethnic identity exploring both the racial and ethnic dimensions
of urban life in the U.S. from the Civil War to the present. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
105. Urban Sociology (4) (Same as
Sociology C/153.) Introduces students to the major approaches in
the sociological study of cities and to what a sociological analysis
can add to our understanding of urban processes. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing or consent of instructor.
107. Urban Politics (4) (Same as
Political Science 102E.) This survey course focuses upon the following
six topics: the evolution of urban politics since the mid-nineteenth
century; the urban fiscal crisis; federal/urban relationships; the
new politics; urban power structure and leadership;
and selected contemporary policy issues such as downtown redevelopment,
poverty, and race.
109. California Government and Politics (4) (Same
as Political Science 103A.) This survey course explores six topics:
1) the states political history; 2) campaigning, the mass
media, and elections; 3) actors and institutions in the making of
state policy; 4) local government; 5) contemporary policy issues;
e.g., Proposition 13, school desegration, crime, housing and land
use, transportation, water; 6) Californias role in national
politics. Prerequisite: upper division standing
110. Advanced Topics in Urban Politics (4) (Same
as Political Science 102J.) Building upon the introductory urban
politics course, the advanced topics course explores issues such
as community power, minority empowerment, and the politics of growth.
A research paper is required. Students wishing to fulfill the paper
requirement with field research should enroll in the subsequent
Political Science 102JJ course offered Summer Session II. Prerequisites:
upper division standing, consent of instructor.
111. Field Research in Urban Politics (4) (Same
as Political Science 102JJ.) To be taken with the approval of the
Political Science 102J instructor, this course allows students to
do original field research on topics in urban politics. This course
is offered in Summer Session II subsequent to a spring 102J course.
May not be used to fulfill any major or minor requirements in politics
science or urban studies and planning. Prerequisites: USP 110/Political
Science 102J and consent of instructor.
112. The Amereican Welfare State (4) (Same
as Political Science 166F.) This course examines the transformation
of the American welfare state in the twentieth century. Topics
include Progressivism, the New Deal and Great Society; Reagan-era
retrenchment;
race, gender and social policy, and policy devolution to state
and local governments. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
(Not offered in 2006-07.)
113. Politics and Policymaking in Los Angeles (4) (Same
as Political Science 103B.) This course examines politics and policymaking
in the five-county Los Angeles region. It explores the historical
development of the city, suburbs, and region; politics, power, and
governance; and major policy challenges facing the city and metropolitan
area. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
115. Politics and Policymaking in San Diego (4) (Same
as Political Science 103C.) This course examines how major policy
decisions are made in San Diego. In analyses the regions power
structure (including the roles of non-governmental organizations
and the media), governance systems and reform efforts, and the politics
of major infrastructure projects. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor.
124. Land Use Planning (4) Introduction
to land use planning in the United States: zoning and subdivision,
regulation, growth management, farmland preservation, environmental
protection, and comprehensive planning. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor.
125. The Design of Social Research (4) Research
methods are tools for improving knowledge. Beginning with a research
question, students will learn to select appropriate methods for
sampling, collecting, and analyzing data to improve their research
activities and research results. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor.
129. Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities
(4) (Same as ETHN 190.) The course offers
students the basic research methods with which to study ethnic and
racial communities. The various topics to be explored include human
and physical geography, transportation, employment, economic structure,
cultural values, housing, health, education, and intergroup relations.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.
130. Field Work in Racial and Ethnic Communities (4) (Same
as ETHN 107.) This is a research course examining social, economic,
and political issues in ethnic and racial communities through field
work. Topics are examined through a variety of research methods
which may include interviews and archival, library, and historical
research. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
132. African Americans, Religion, and the City (4) (Same
as Ethnic Studies 188.) This course details the history of African-American
migration to urban areas after World War I and World War II and
explore the role of religion in their lives as well as the impact
that their religious experiences had upon the cities in which they
lived. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
133. Social Inequality and Public Policy (4) (Same
as SOC C/152.) Primary focus on understanding and analyzing poverty
and public policy. Analysis of how current debates and public policy
initiatives mesh with alternative social scientific explanations
of poverty. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
135. Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
(4) (Same as ETHN 129.) This course will
explore the social, political, and economic implications of global
economic restructuring, immigration policies, and welfare reform
on Asian and Latina immigrant women in the United States. We will
critically examine these larger social forces from the perspectives
of Latina and Asian immigrant women workers, incorporating theories
of race, class, and gender to provide a careful reading of the experiences
of immigrant women on the global assembly line. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice
(4) History, theory, and practice of
U.S. housing and community development. Public, private, and nonprofit
sectors shape and implement planning and policy decisions at the
federal, state, local and neighborhood levels. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
139. Race, Gender, and Urban Planning (4) The
nexus between race, gender, and urban planning. Lectures and in-class
discussion address how women and people of color shape the city
through design, policy, and advocacy. The course also considers
the impact of traditional planning on these two groups. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
143. The U.S. Health Care System (4) This
course will provide an overview of the organization of health care
within the context of the community with emphasis on the political,
social, and cultural influences. It is concerned with the structure,
objectives, and trends of major health and health-related programs
in the United States to include sponsorship, financing, training
and utilization of health personnel. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor. (Offered winter quarter.)
144. Environmental and Preventive Health Issues (4) This
course will analyze needs of populations, highlighting current major
public health problems such as chronic and communicable diseases,
environmental hazards of diseases, psychiatric problems and additional
diseases, new social mores affecting health maintenance, consumer
health awareness and health practices, special needs of economically
and socially disadvantaged populations. The focus is on selected
areas of public and environmental health, namely: epidemiology,
preventive services in family health, communicable and chronic disease
control, and occupational health. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor. (Offered fall quarter.)
145. AgingSocial and Health Policy
Issues (4) This
course will provide a brief introduction to the nature and problems
of aging, with emphasis on socioeconomic and health status;
determinants
of priorities of social and health policies will be examined through
analysis of the structure and organization of selected programs
for the elderly. Field visits will constitute part of the course.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing. (Not offered in 2006-07.)
147. Case Studies in Health Care Programs/Poor and Underserved
Population (4) The purpose of this course
is to identify the special health needs of low income and underserved
populations and to review their status of care, factors influencing
the incidence of disease and health problems, and political and
legislative measures related to access and the provision of care.
Selected current programs and policies that address the health care
needs of selected underserved populations such as working poor,
inner city populations, recent immigrants, and persons with severe
disabling mental illnesses will be studied. Offered in alternate
years. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.
(Offered spring quarter.)
165. History of the American Suburb (4) (Same
as HIUS 147.) This lecture course explores the development of
suburbs in
America, from the early nineteenth-century to the contemporary
era. Topics include suburban formation, class, ethnic and racial
dimensions,
government influences, social life, and cultural responses to suburbia.
The class will explore competing theories of suburbanization as
it surveys the major literature. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing.
166. History of San Diego (4) Course
surveys the social, political, economic, cultural and environmental
history of the San Diego region from
pre-colonial times to the present, with an emphasis on the urban
development that has occurred since 1900. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing.
170. Sustainable Planning (4)
This course will explore the different factors and processes that
shape a sustainable city. Contemporary green planning techniques
and values will be evaluated. The course will also discuss planning,
designing, and implementation of sustainable facilities that
will reduce sprawl. Prerequisite: upper-division standing
or consent of instructor.
171. Sustainable Development (4) Sustainable
development is a concept invoked by an increasingly wide range of
scholars, activists, and organizations dedicated to promoting environmentally
sound approaches to economic development. This course critically
examines the diverse, often contradictory, interests in sustainability.
It provides a transdisciplinary overview of emergent theories and
practices. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
173. History of Urban Planning and Design (4) The
analysis of the evolution of city designs over time; study of the
forces that influence the form and content of a city: why cities
change; comparison of urban planning and architecture in Europe
and the United States. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
174. Regional Governance and Planning Reconsidered (4) Regional
planning and local governance in California, focusing upon San Diego.
Current system, the state/local relationship, and the incentives
and disincentives for restructuring regional and local governance
and planning. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
178. Urban Design for Redevelopment (4)
This course addresses inner-city and suburban redevelopment focusing
on urban design, ecological, and ethnic issues using advanced
physical planning and urban design methods. Also included will
be the environmental-impact assessments of redevelopment projects. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
179. Urban Design, Theory, and Practice (4) Roles
of the urban designer, preparing schematic proposals and performance
statements, identifying opportunities for and constraints on designers.
Each student will prepare a practical exercise in urban design using
various urban design methods. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
180.Transportation Planning (4) Introduction
to the history and current state of urban transportation planning,
including the relationship between transportation and urban form;
role of automotive, mass transit, and alternative modes; methods
for transportation systems analysis; decision-making, regulatory,
and financing mechanisms; and public attitudes. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
181. Public Transportation (4)
Livable cities rely on balanced transportation systems that can
mitigate the negative impacts of a car-oriented environment and
society. This course will explore the role of public transit
in creating a balanced transportation system. A variety of public
transportation systems will be analyzed. Prerequisite: upper-division
standing or consent of instructor.
186. Senior Sequence Research Proposal (6) Introduces
students to the theory and practice of social research including
the challenges of writing a scholarly proposal. Students are required
to complete 100 hours of an internship experience while critically
examining the relations between social science and society. Prerequisites:
upper-division standing, USP major.
187. Senior Sequence Research Project (6) An
intensive research, internship, and writing experience that culminates
in an original senior research project. Students learn about the
theoretical, ethical, and technical challenges of scholarly research
and publication. Prerequisites: USP 186.
190. Senior Honors Seminar (4) Each
student enrolled will be required to write an honors essay, a substantial
research paper on a current urban policy issue, under the supervision
of a member of the faculty. Most often the essay will be based on
their previous fieldwork courses and internship. This essay and
other written exercises, as well as class participation, will be
the basis of the final grade for the course. The seminar will rotate
from year to year among the faculty in urban studies and planning.
Prerequisites: USP 186, USP 187, major GPA 3.5, and permission
of instructor.
192. GIS for Urban and Community Planning
(4) Introduction
to Geographic Information Systems and using GIS to make decisions:
acquiring data and organizing data in useful formats; demographic
mapping; geocoding. Selected exercises examine crime data, political
campaigns, banking and environmental planning, patterns of bank
lending and finance. Prerequisites: upper-division standing,
USP major.
193. San Diego Community Research (4) Using
the San Diego region as a case study, students will be introduced
to the process of collecting, evaluating, and presenting urban and
regional data using a variety of methods including aggregate data
analysis, historical research, and ethnography. Prerequisite:
upper-division standing.
194. Research Seminar in Washington, D.C. (4) (Same
as Cognitive Science 194, Communication 194, Earth Science 194,
History 193, Political Science 194, Sociology E/194.) Course attached
to six-unit internship taken by students participating in the UCDC
program. Involves weekly seminar meetings with faculty and teaching
assistant and a substantial research paper. Prerequisite: department
approval. Participating in UCDC program.
195. Teaching ApprenticeUndergraduate (2-4) Introduction
to teaching activities associated with course. Responsibilities
include preparing reading materials assigned by the instructor,
attending course lectures, meeting at least one hour per week with
the instructor, assisting instructor in grading, and preparing a
summary report to the instructor. Prerequisites: consent of instructor
and an A in the course in which the student plans to assist.
198. Directed Group Study (2-4) Directed
group study on a topic or in a field not included in the regular
departmental curriculum by special arrangement with a faculty member.
Prerequisites: upper-division standing and consent of instructor.
199. Independent Study (2-4) Reading
and research programs and field-study projects to be arranged between
student and instructor, depending on the students needs and
the instructors advice in terms of these needs. Prerequisites:
upper- division standing and consent of instructor.
Urban Studies and Planning Courses
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