Urban Studies and Planning

[ major | minor | courses | faculty ]

Social Science Building, Room 315
http://usp.ucsd.edu

The Urban Studies and Planning Program

The great majority of US citizens, and a growing proportion of people throughout the world, live in cities. Cities provide the environment in which people work, learn, play, and make decisions together. Local governments make critical interventions in the quality of life. At the same time, the cities of the world are increasingly linked in a global economic system, making diverse contributions to the international division of labor.

Urban studies and planning (USP) is an interdisciplinary program providing students with a variety of perspectives for understanding the development, growth, and culture of cities and the communities within them. Course work introduces students to the ways different disciplines understand cities and the societies of which they are a part. Upper-division requirements educate students about the parameters within which urban choices are made.

One of the outstanding features of the Urban Studies and Planning Program is the upper-division research requirement. During a two-quarter sequence designed to be taken in the fall and winter of the senior year, all USP majors are guided through a research internship and writing process. The upper-division field studies sequence allows students to work on specific policy projects in the San Diego region. Eligible students may choose to enroll in USP 190 in the spring to write an honors thesis. The honors option is an opportunity to do advanced research and writing that builds on work already completed in the senior sequence.

Urban studies and planning is an undergraduate community of students with diverse interests and goals. After graduation some majors pursue graduate work in social science disciplines. Others pursue graduate study in public policy, law, planning, or architecture. Urban Studies and Planning has always also attracted students interested in medicine and public-health issues, who continue to study in these areas at schools of medicine or public health. Urban studies and planning provides students with a solid liberal arts background for graduate study or for professional work in a number of fields. Many students find employment opportunities through their internship placement. More generally, graduates of urban studies and planning will have the analytic skills to think clearly and act creatively about the problems and prospects of the urban environment.

The Urban Studies and Planning Major

A bachelor of arts degree in urban studies and planning will be given to students who satisfactorily complete the general-education requirements of Muir, Revelle, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, or Sixth College in addition to the urban studies and planning courses described below. The undergraduate program in urban studies and planning requires a three-quarter lower-division sequence in urban studies (USP 1-2-3), Political Science 30, and twelve courses in upper-division urban studies and planning. Students are encouraged to complete the lower-division prerequisites before they enroll in the upper-division courses.

In accordance with campus academic regulations, courses used to satisfy the major cannot be applied toward a minor, although some overlap is allowed for double majors. All lower-division and upper-division requirements must be taken for a letter grade. A 2.0 grade point average is required in the major, and students must earn at least C– in each course used for the major. Transfer students should see the USP major affairs adviser to determine whether courses taken elsewhere satisfy USP major requirements. No more than one special studies course, USP 198 or USP 199, will be accepted to count toward the major.

Lower-Division Requirements

Students majoring in urban studies and planning must complete the introductory sequence:

USP 1. History of US Urban Communities (4)

USP 2. Urban World System (4)

USP 3. The City and Social Theory (4)

and

Political Science 30. Political Inquiry (4)

(Psychology 60, Introduction to Statistics or Sociology 60, The Practice of Social Research may be substituted for Political Science 30.)

Upper-Division Requirements

The upper-division requirements in urban studies and planning are

  1. two foundation courses
  2. one research methods course to be taken junior year
  3. two senior sequence courses
  4. seven upper-division elective courses

Foundation Courses

Foundation courses provide the conceptual tools for the major. Students are to choose two of

USP 100. Introduction to Urban Planning (4)

USP 102. Urban Economics (Economics 135) (4)

USP 103. US Cities in the Twentieth Century (HIUS 148) (4)

(USP 165/HIUS 147, History of the American Suburb may be substituted for USP 103.)

USP 104. Ethnic Diversity and the City (Ethnic Studies 105) (4)

USP 105. Urban Sociology (Sociology 153) (4)

USP 106/HIUS 129. The History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities (4)

USP 107. Urban Politics (Political Science 102E) (4)

USP 124. Land Use Planning (4)

USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design (4)

Research Methods Courses

Students are to choose one course of

USP 110/Political Science 102J. Advanced Topics in Urban Politics (4)

USP 125. The Design of Social Research (4)

USP 129. Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities (Ethnic Studies 190) (4)

USP 130. Fieldwork in Racial and Ethnic Communities (Ethnic Studies 107) (4)

USP 174. Regional Governance and Planning Reconsidered (4)

USP 191. GIS for Urban Community Planning (4)

USP 193. San Diego Community Research (4)

Senior Sequence Requirement

In their senior year, all students must complete the senior sequence: USP 186 in the fall, and USP 187 in the winter. These courses must be taken in order. The sequence develops each student’s ability to (1) critically review literature research; (2) formulate interesting research questions of their own; (3) design an original research project and investigative strategy; (4) conduct research; and (5) analyze, interpret, and write up findings. The final requirement of USP 186 is a research proposal. By the end of USP 187, each student must complete a Senior Research Project.

Because the senior sequence includes an internship, no other internship or field placement will be counted toward the major.

Honors in Urban Studies and Planning

Candidates for Honors in Urban Studies and Planning are required to take USP 190 Senior Honors Seminar, in which students write a senior thesis. Prerequisites for enrolling in USP 190 are a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major, senior standing, USP 186 and USP 187, and consent of instructor. Majors who plan to enroll in USP 190 must declare their intent fall quarter in USP 186.

USP 190. Senior Honors Seminar (4)

Upper-Division Elective Courses

Students are encouraged to pick an area of concentration, and choose upper-division electives listed under that cluster. Students may also define their own area of concentration and design an appropriate curriculum drawn from courses offered by USP and other related departments. USP 199, Independent Study taken for Pass/Not Pass counts for one USP upper-division elective course.

Urban/Regional Policy and Planning

USP 100. Introduction to Urban Planning

USP 101/Political Science 160AA. Introduction to Policy Analysis

USP 102/Economics 135. Urban Economics

USP 107/Political Science 102E. Urban Politics

USP 109/Political Science 103A. California Government and Politics

USP 110/Political Science 102J. Advanced Topics in Urban Politics

USP 111/Political Science 102JJ. Field Research in Urban Politics

USP 113/Political Science 103B. Politics and Policymaking in Los Angeles

USP 115/Political Science 103C. Politics and Policymaking in San Diego

USP 116. California Local Government: Finance and Administration

USP 120. Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Real Estate

USP 121. Real Estate Law and Regulation

USP 122. Redevelopment Planning, Policymaking, and Law

USP 124. Land Use Planning

USP 133/Sociology 152. Social Inequality and Public Policy

USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice

USP 138. Urban Economic Development

USP 170. Sustainable Planning

USP 171. Sustainable Development

USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design

USP 174. Regional Governance and Planning Reconsidered

USP 180. Transportation Planning

USP 181. Public Transportation

USP 189. Special Topics in Urban Planning

USP 191. GIS for Urban and Community Planning

USP 193. San Diego Community Research

Anthropology (ANBI) 132/Biology (BIEB) 176. Conservation and the Human Predicament

Economics 116. Economic Development

Economics 118. Law and Economics: Torts, Property, and Crime

Economics 130. Public Policy

Economics 131. Economics of the Environment

Economics 139. Labor Economics

Economics 150. Economics of the Public Sector: Taxation

Economics 151. Economics of the Public Sector: Expenditures

Economics 155. Political Economics

Envi 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies

Envi 130. Environmental Issues: Social Sciences

Political Science 160AB. Introduction to Policy Analysis

Political Science 162. Environmental Policy

Political Science 168. Policy Assessment

Sociology 121. Economy and Society

Sociology 146. Law Enforcement in America

Sociology 155. The City of San Diego

Sociology 169. Citizenship, Community, and Culture

Sociology 179. Social Change

Sociology 180. Social Movements and Social Protest

Urban Design/Built Environment

USP 103/History (HIUS) 148. American Cities in the Twentieth Century

USP 124. Land Use Planning

USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice

USP 139. Urban Design and Economic Development

USP 165/History (HIUS) 147. History of the American Suburb

USP 170. Sustainable Planning

USP 171. Sustainable Development

USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design

USP 174. Regional Governance and Planning Reconsidered

USP 177. Urban Design Practicum

USP 178. Urban Design for Redevelopment

USP 179. Urban Design, Theory, and Practice

USP 180. Transportation Planning

USP 191. GIS for Urban and Community Planning

USP 193. San Diego Community Research

ENVR 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies

ENVR 110. Environmental Law

ENVR 130. Environmental Issues: Social Sciences

Ethnic Studies 103. Environmental Racism

Ethnic Studies 104. Race, Space, and Segregation

History (HISC) 172/272. Building America: Technology, Culture, and the Built Environment in the United States

Political Science 125A. Communities and the Environment

Political Science 162. Environmental Policy

Visual Arts 110G. The Natural and Altered Environment

Visual Arts 111. Structure of Art

Health, Social Services, and Education

USP 101/Political Science 160AA. Introduction to Policy Analysis

USP 133/Sociology 152. Social Inequality and Public Policy

USP 143. The US Health-Care System

USP 144. Environmental and Preventive Health Issues

USP 145. Aging—Social and Health Policy Issues

USP 147. Case Studies in Health Care Programs/Poor and Underserved Populations

USP 154/Political Science 111B. Global Justice in Theory and Action

Economics 130. Public Policy

Economics 139. Labor Economics

Economics 150. Economics of the Public Sector: Taxation

Economics 151. Economics of the Public Sector: Expenditures

Economics 155. Political Economics

Education Studies 130. Introduction to Academic Mentoring of Elementary School Students

Ethnic Studies 142. Medicine, Race, and the Global Politics of Inequality

Philosophy 163. Biomedical Ethics

Political Science 168. Policy Assessment

Psychology 104. Introduction in Social Psychology

Sociology 112. Social Psychology

Sociology 117/EDS 117. Language, Culture, and Education

Sociology 123. Sociology of Work

Sociology 126/EDS 126. Social Organization of Education

Sociology 132. Gender and Work

Sociology 135. Medical Sociology

Sociology 136E. Sociology of Mental Illness: A Historical Approach

Sociology 136F. Sociology of Mental Illness in Contemporary Society

Sociology 141. Crime and Society

Sociology 159. Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions

Urban Diversity

USP 104/Ethnic Studies 105. Ethnic Diversity and the City

USP 106/History (HIUS) 129. History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities

USP 129/Ethnic Studies 190. Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities

USP 130/Ethnic Studies 107. Fieldwork in Racial and Ethnic Communities

USP 132/Ethnic Studies 188. African Americans, Religion, and the City

USP 135/Ethnic Studies 129. Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy

USP 154/Political Science111B. Global Justice in Theory and Action

Anthropology (ANSC) 131. Urban Cultures in Latin America

Ethnic Studies 118. Contemporary Immigration Issues

Ethnic Studies 121. Contemporary Asian American History

Ethnic Studies 123. Asian American Politics

Ethnic Studies 131/History (HIUS) 159. Social and Economic History of the Southwest II

Ethnic Studies 151. Ethnic Politics in America

Ethnic Studies 161. Black Politics and Protest Since 1941

Ethnic Studies 184. Black Intellectuals in the Twentieth Century

History (HILA) 115. The Latin American City, a History

History (HILA) 121. History of Brazil

History (HITO) 180. Housing in the Developing World

History (HIUS) 114. California History

History (HIUS) 117. History of Los Angeles

History (HIUS) 180/Ethnic Studies 134. Immigration and Ethnicity in Modern American Society

Political Science 100H. Race and Ethnicity in American Politics

Political Science 105A. Latino Politics in the U.S.

Political Science 100J. Race in American Political Development

Political Science 150A. Politics of Immigration

Sociology 100. Classical Sociological Theory

Sociology 125. Sociology of Immigration

Sociology 139. Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender

Sociology 144. Forms of Social Control

Sociology 148. Political Sociology

Sociology 148E. Inequality and Jobs

Sociology 151. Comparative Race and Ethnic Relations

Cities in Historical and Comparative Perspectives

USP 103/History (HIUS) 148. American Cities in the Twentieth Century

USP 105/Sociology 153. Urban Sociology

USP 106/History (HIUS) 129. The History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities

USP 107/Political Science 102E. Urban Politics

USP 165/History (HIUS) 147. History of the American Suburb

USP 166. History of San Diego

USP 167/History (HIUS) 123. History of New York City

USP 168. History of Los Angeles

USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design

Anthropology (ANSC) 131. Urban Cultures in Latin America

Economics 116. Economic Development

Ethnic Studies 121. Contemporary Asian American History

Ethnic Studies 131/History (HIUS) 159. Social and Economic History of the Southwest II

History (HIEU) 129. Paris, Past and Present

History (HILA) 115. The Latin American City, a History

History (HILA) 121. History of Brazil

History (HIUS) 114. California History

History (HIUS) 117. History of Los Angeles

History (HIUS) 124/ETHN 125. Asian American History

History (HIUS) 139. African American History in the Twentieth Century

History (HIUS) 140/Economics 158A. Economic History

History (HIUS) 141/Economics 158B. Economic History of the United States II

History (HIUS) 154. Western Environmental History

The Minor Program

The urban studies and planning minor consists of seven courses in urban studies and planning, selected with the prior approval of the USP student affairs adviser. Students who wish to minor in urban studies may do so by taking any two courses from among the lower-division sequence and the upper-division foundation courses, and five upper-division courses from among those that serve the USP major. All courses must be taken for a letter grade not lower than a C–. Courses selected need approval from the USP program adviser. Students can declare the minor online.

Education Abroad Program

Students are encouraged to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) or Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making progress toward completing their USP major. For more information on EAP, see the section of this catalog on the Education Abroad Program or visit http://programsabroad.ucsd.edu. Students considering this option are advised to discuss their plans with the USP student affairs adviser before going abroad.