Urban Studies and Planning
[ Major] [ Minor] [ Faculty] [ Courses]
OFFICE: Social Science Building, Room 315
http://www.usp.ucsd.edu
The Urban Studies and Planning Program
The great majority of U.S. 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 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 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 advisor 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 towards the major.
Lower-Division Requirements
Students majoring in urban studies and planning must complete the introductory sequence:
USP 1. History of U.S. 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 L60, 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:
- three foundation courses
- one research methods course to be taken junior year
- two senior sequence courses
- six upper-division elective courses
Foundation Courses
Foundation courses provide the conceptual tools for the major. Students are to choose three of:
USP 102. Urban Economics (Economics 135) (4)
USP 103. U.S. Cities in the Twentieth Century (HIUS 148) (4)
(USP 165/HIUS 147, History of the American Suburb may be substituted for
USP103.)
USP 104. Ethnic Diversity and the City (Ethnic Studies 105) (4)
USP 105. Urban Sociology (Sociology C/153) (4)
USP 107. Urban Politics (Political Science 102E) (4)
USP 124. Land Use Planning (4)
(USP 173, History of Urban Planning and Design may be substituted for USP 124.)
research methods courses
Students are to choose one course of:
USP 125. The Design of Social Research (4)
USP 129. Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities (Ethnic Studies 190) (4)
USP 130. Field Work in Racial and Ethnic Communities (Ethnic Studies 107) (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 students ability to: (1) critically review others 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 towards 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/no 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 124. Land Use Planning
USP 133/Sociology C/152. Social Inequality and Public Policy
USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice
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 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 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. Economics of Voting and Public Choice
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 B/146. Law Enforcement in America
Sociology C/121. Economy and Society
Sociology C/155. The City of San Diego
Sociology C/180. Social Movements and Social Protest
Sociology D/169. Citizenship, Community, and Culture
Sociology D/179. Social Change
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 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 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
Envi 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies
Envi 110. Environmental Law
Envi 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
History (HIUS) 137. The Built Environment in the Twentieth Century
Political Science 125A. Communities and the Environment
Political Science 162. Environmental Policy
Health, Social Services and Education
USP 101/Political Science 160AA. Introduction to Policy Analysis
USP 133/Sociology C/152. Social Inequality and Public Policy
USP 143. The U.S. 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
Economics 130. Public Policy
Economics 138A-B. Economics of Health
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
Ethnic Studies 163. Leisure in Urban America
Philosophy 163. Biomedical Ethics
Political Science 117. Violence and Social Order
Political Science 168. Policy Assessment
Psychology 104. Introduction in Social Psychology
Psychology 186. Psychology and Social Policy
Sociology B/112. Social Psychology
Sociology B117/EDS 117. Language, Culture, and Education
Sociology C/123. Sociology of Work
Sociology C126/EDS 126. Social Organization of Education
Sociology C/132. Gender and Work
Sociology C/135. Medical Sociology
Sociology C/136A. Sociology of Mental Illness: An Historical Approach
Sociology C/136B. Sociology of Mental Illness in Contemporary Society
Sociology C/141. Crime and Society
Sociology C/159. Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions
Urban Diversity
USP 104/Ethnic Studies 105. Ethnic Diversity and the City
USP 129/Ethnic Studies 190. Research Methods: Studying
Racial and Ethnic Communities
USP 130/Ethnic Studies 107. Field Work 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
Anthropology (ANRG) 114. 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 160. Black Politics and Protest 1885–1941
Ethnic Studies 161. Black Politics and Protest Since 1941
Ethnic Studies 182/History (HIUS) 165. Segregation, Freedom Movements, Crisis 20th Century
Ethnic Studies 184. Black Intellectuals in the 20th Century
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) 180/Ethnic Studies 134. Immigration and Ethnicity in Modern American Society
Political Science 100H. Race and Ethnicity in American Politics
Political Science 100J. Race in American Political Development
Political Science 150A. Politics of Immigration
Sociology A/100. Classical Sociological Theory
Sociology B/125. Sociology of Immigration
Sociology C/139. Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender
Sociology C/144. Forms of Social Control
Sociology C/148. Political Sociology
Sociology C/148L. Inequality and Jobs
Sociology D/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 C/153. Urban Sociology
USP 107/Political Science 102E. Urban Politics
USP 165/History (HIUS) 147. History of the American Suburb
USP 166. History of San Diego
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design
Anthropology (ANRG) 114. 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 (HISC) 105. History of Environmentalism
History (HITO) 121. Geographic Information Systems for Historians and Social Scientists
History (HIUS) 114. California History
History (HIUS) 117. History of Los Angeles
History (HIUS) 124/ETHN 125. Asian American History
History (HIUS) 137. The Built Environment in the Twentieth Century
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
History (HIUS) 184. Special Topics in American Urban 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 advisor. 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 and students must earn at least C in each course used for the minor.
Education Abroad Program
Students are encouraged to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) or Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making progress towards 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 advisor before going abroad.