PLAN 492 Urbanization and Planning
This course deepens students’ knowledge of the context of urban planning, which is the historical process of urbanization. Urban planners seek to exert influence over a world not of their own making. Cities, regions, neighborhoods and sites exist prior to planning interventions, and are shaped by ideas, laws, and natural, social and economic processes. Planners’ role is to creatively, skillfully and ethically navigate context to achieve specific goals. Students will engage in research to examine ideas, social or political movements, or economic factors that have shaped the spatial arrangements of human settlement and/or the practice of planning. Open to all students interested in the built, social and natural environment, U.S. history, urban history, and contemporary ideas for addressing public problems.
Only open to juniors and seniors.