Undergraduate courses in Urban Studies

The study of cities and urban civilization. History of urbanization and current issues such as suburbanization, racial discrimination, globalization, terrorism, and the environment. Public policies designed to address these issues. GER:DB-SocSci, EC-AmerCul

4 units, Aut (Stout, F), Win (Stout, F)

URBANST 111. Urban Politics

(Same as POLISCI 121, SOC 149X, SOC 249X.) The major actors, institutions, processes, and policies of sub-state government in the U.S., emphasizing city general-purpose governments through a comparative examination of historical and contemporary politics. Issues related to federalism, representation, voting, race, poverty, housing, and finances. Prerequisite: POLISCI 2 or consent of instructor. GER:DB-SocSci

5 units, not given this year

URBANST 112. The Urban Underclass

(Same as SOC 149, SOC 249.) (Graduate students register for 249.) Recent research and theory on the urban underclass, including evidence on the concentration of African Americans in urban ghettos, and the debate surrounding the causes of poverty in urban settings. Ethnic/racial conflict, residential segregation, and changes in the family structure of the urban poor. GER:DB-SocSci, EC-AmerCul

5 units, Spr (Rosenfeld, M)

URBANST 113. Introduction to Urban Design: Contemporary Urban Design in Theory and Practice

Comparative studies in N. America and abroad of neighborhood conservation, central city regeneration, and growth policies for metropolitan regions. Case studies, team projects, and class workshops in San Francisco. GER:DB-SocSci

5 units, Win (Gast, G)

URBANST 114. Cities in Comparative Perspective

(Same as ANTHRO 126.) Core course for Urban Studies majors. The city as interdisciplinary object. Discourses about cities such as the projects, practices, plans, representations, and sensibilities that combine to create what people know about urban spaces. Local, national, and transnational spatial scales. Conversations across regional boundaries; geographies of difference. Case studies. GER:DB-SocSci

5 units, Aut (Inoue, M)

URBANST 115. Urban Sustainabilty: Long-Term Archaeological Perspectives

(Same as CLASSGEN 123, CLASSGEN 223.) Comparative and archaeological view of urban design and sustainability. How fast changing cities challenge human relationships with nature. Innovation and change, growth, industrial development, the consumption of goods and materials. Five millennia of city life including Near Eastern city states, Graeco-Roman antiquity, the Indus Valley, and the Americas.

3-5 units, Spr (Shanks, M)

URBANST 123. Approaching Research and the Community

How experience with community organizations provides a starting point for developing community-based senior theses or independent research projects. Principles and practice of doing community-based research as a collaborative enterprise between academic researchers and community members; how academic scholarship can be made useful to community organizations. Guest speakers from community organizations, faculty, and alumni of the Public Service Scholars Program.

2 units, Aut (Cotterman, K)

URBANST 126. Spirituality and Nonviolent Urban and Social Transformation

A life of engagement in social transformation is often built on a foundation of spiritual and religious commitments. Case studies of nonviolent social change agents including Rosa Parks in the civil rights movement, CÃ©sar ChÃ¡vez in the labor movement, and WIlliam Sloane Coffin in the peace movement; the religious and spiritual underpinnings of their commitments. Theory and principles of nonviolence. Films and readings. Service learning component includes placements in organizations engaged in social transformation. GER:DB-Hum

5 units, not given this year

URBANST 131. Social Innovation and the Social Entrepreneur

Invited lecture series. Perspectives and endeavors of thought leaders and entrepreneurs who address social needs in the U.S. and internationally through private for-profit and nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations, or public institutions.

1 unit, Aut (Edwards, M)

URBANST 132. Concepts and Analytic Skills for the Social Sector

Analytical methods, marketing, language, organizational mission, strategy, and finance in the for-profit and nonprofit social sectors. Focus is on the integration of theory and application. Opportunities and limits of methods from the profit sector to meet social goals. Enrollment limited to 20. GER:DB-SocSci

4 units, Win (Kieschnick, M)

URBANST 133. Social Entrepreneurship Collaboratory

Interdisciplinary student teams create and develop U.S. and international social entrepreneurship initiatives. Proposed initiatives may be new entities, or innovative projects, partnerships, and/or strategies impacting existing organizations and social issues in the U.S. and internationally. Focus is on each team's research and on planning documents to further project development. Project development varies with the quarter and the skill set of each team, but should include: issue and needs identification; market research; design and development of an innovative and feasible solution; and drafting of planning documents. In advanced cases, solicitation of funding and implementation of a pilot project. Enrollment limited to 30. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: 131 and 132, or consent of instructor.

4 units, Aut (Edwards, M), Spr (Scher, L)

URBANST 161. U.S. Urban History since 1920

The end of European immigration and its impact on cities; the Depression and cities; WW II and the martial metropolis; de-industrialization; suburbanization; African American migration; urban renewal; riots, race, and the narrative of urban crisis; the impact of immigration from Asia, Latin America, and Africa; homelessness; the rise of the Sunbelt cities; gentrification; globalization and cities. Final project is history of a San Francisco neighborhood, based on primary sources and site visit. GER:DB-SocSci, EC-AmerCul

5 units, Spr (Staff)

URBANST 162. Managing Local Governments

In-the-trenches approach. Issues in leading and managing local governments in an era of accelerating and discontinuous change. Focus is on practical strategies related to financing, public services impacted by increasing demand and revenue constraints, the politics of urban planning, private-public partnerships, public sector marketing, entrepreneurial problem solving, promoting a learning and risk-taking organizational culture, and developing careers in local government. Enrollment limited to 25; preference to Urban Studies majors. GER:DB-SocSci

3-4 units, Win (Boesch, D)

URBANST 163. Land Use Control

Methods of land use control related to the pattern and scale of development and the protection of land and water resources. Emphasis is on the relationship between the desired land use goal and geographical landscape, physical externalities, land use law, and regulatory agencies. Topics include the historical roots of modern land use controls; urban reforms of the 19th century; private ownership of land; zoning; local, state, and federal land use regulation; and land trusts preservation. Smart growth, environmental impact consideration, private property rights, and special purpose agencies are related to current issues. GER:DB-SocSci

4 units, Spr (Hall, R)

URBANST 164. Utopia and Reality in Modern Urban Planning

(Same as ARTHIST 254.) Primarily for Urban Studies and Art majors. Utopian urbanist thinkers such as Ebenezer Howard, Le Corbusier, and Frank Lloyd Wright who established the conceptual groundwork of contemporary urban planning practice. Research paper. GER:DB-Hum

5 units, not given this year

URBANST 165. Sustainable Urban and Regional Transportation Planning

Environmental, economic, and equity aspects of urban transportation in 21st-century U.S. Expanded choices in urban and regional mobility that do not diminish resources for future generations. Implications for the global environment and the livability of communities. GER:DB-SocSci

4-5 units, not given this year

URBANST 171. Urban Design Studio

The practical application of urban design theory. Projects focus on designing neighborhood and downtown regions to balance livability, revitalization, population growth, and historic preservation.

5 units, not given this year

URBANST 173. Urban Economics

(Same as PUBLPOL 176.) Application of the principles of economic analysis to urban issues and policy, including urban land use, housing, transportation, economic development, and the financing of public services. Fundamentals of microeconomic theory.

4-5 units, Aut (Reilly, M)

URBANST 190. Urban Professions Seminar

Workshop. Contemporary practice of urban design and planning, community development, urban education, public service law, and related fields. Topics depend partly on student interests. Bay Area professionals lecture and respond to questions concerning their day-to-day work, impressions of their field, and the academic background recommended for their work.

1 unit, Spr (Kahan, M)

URBANST 194. Internship in Urban Studies

For Urban Studies majors only. Students organize an internship in an office of a government agency, a community organization, or a private firm directly relevant to the major. Reading supplements internship. Paper summarizes internship experience and related readings.

2-4 units, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff)

URBANST 195. Special Projects in Urban Studies

1-5 units, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff)

URBANST 197. Directed Reading

1-5 units, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff)

URBANST 198. Senior Research in Public Service

Limited to seniors approved by their departments for honors thesis, and admitted to the year-round Public Service Scholars Program sponsored by the Haas Center for Public Service. What standards in addition to those expected by the academy apply to research conducted as a form of public and community service? How can communities benefit from research? Theory and practice of research as a form of public service. Readings in research theory and methods of participatory action research; presentations on research as service; workshops on each participant's thesis work-in-progress; public presentation of completed research; and thesis evaluation by a community-based reader. May be repeated for credit. Corequisite: 199.

1-3 units, Aut (Schmidt-Posner, J), Win (Schmidt-Posner, J), Spr (Schmidt-Posner, J)

URBANST 199. Senior Honors Thesis

1-10 units, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff)

URBANST 201. Preparation for Senior Project

(Same as SOC 201.) First part of capstone experience for Urban Studies majors pursuing an internship-based research project or honors thesis. Individually arranged internship beginning in Winter Quarter, 8 hours per week. Prospective students must consult with internship coordinator early in Autumn Quarter to plan placement. Reflections and assignments culminate in a research proposal, which may submitted for funding. Internship normally continues in Spring Quarter; research proposed in the final assignment may be carried out in Spring or Summer Quarter; consent required for Autumn Quarter research. Corequisite: URBANST 201A.

5 units, Win (Kahan, M)

URBANST 201A. Capstone Internship in Urban Studies

Restricted to Urban Studies majors. Students work at least 80 hours with a supervisor, establish learning goals, and create products demonstrating progress. Reflection on service and integration of internship with senior research plans. Must be completed by start of Winter Quarter senior year. May continue for additional quarter as 194. Corequisite: 201 or consent of instructor.

3 units, Aut (Staff), Spr (Staff)

URBANST 202. Preparation for Honors Thesis

(Same as SOC 202.) Primarily for juniors in Sociology; sophomores who plan to be off-campus Winter Quarter of their junior year may register with consent of instructor. Students write a research prospectus and grant proposal, which may be submitted for funding. Research proposal in final assignment may be carried out in Spring or Summer Quarter; consent required for Autumn Quarter research.

5 units, Win (McAdam, D)

URBANST 203. Senior Seminar

Conclusion of capstone sequence. Students write a substantial paper based on the research project developed in 201 or 202. Students in the honors program may incorporate paper into their thesis. Guest scholar chosen by students. WIM

5 units, Aut (Beck, C)

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Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09

Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09

Alphabetical Index

Bulletin Archive

Undergraduate courses in Urban Studies