Urban Studies and Planning

• Chair: Peter O. Nwosu
• Sierra Hall (SH) 208
• (818) 677-2904
• www.csun.edu/csbs/departments/urban_studies_and_planning

Faculty

• Kenya Covington
• Euripedes De Oliveira
• Ward Thomas
• Zeynep Toker
• Phyl Van Ammers
• Ashwani Vasishth
• Teresa Vazquez-Castillo

Programs

Undergraduate

• B.A., Urban Studies and Planning

Graduate

• Graduate Certificate in Urban Studies and Planning

Department Programs

Urban Studies and Planning is an interdisciplinary program providing an undergraduate course of study which focuses on solutions to the major problems stemming from the complexities of contemporary urban life. The Urban Studies and Planning curriculum is designed for students who:

1. Wish to enter professional graduate schools in such fields as urban planning, urban design, environmental planning, social welfare, law and public administration;
2. Intend to begin their professional careers at the end of their baccalaureate education through employment in various governmental agencies and private firms concerned with urban problems, urban development, and community services; and
3. Desire a social science degree which emphasizes the study of the modern American city.

The Urban Studies and Planning curriculum is composed of three closely integrated parts: lower division basic courses; an upper division core; and a related specialization. The lower division requirements include courses in Urban Studies and Economics. Included in the upper division core courses are the Planning Idea, Planning for the Natural and Built Environment; Communities Neighborhoods and Planning; Planning for the Public Sector, Growth and Development of Cities, Urban Design, and Urban Problems.

These core courses are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the urban environment and training in the appropriate principles and methods of urban analysis. Complementing class study and lectures is a choice of supervised field research or internship experience with public agencies or private sponsors. These experiences, for academic credit, provide students with the opportunity to participate directly in providing solutions to community-based urban problems. Depending on their goals, students are required to take at least 6 units of upper division work in a specialization consisting of:

1. Urban Planning and Environmental Analysis or:
2. Community Services and Administration.

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning supports the concept of international education and encourages students to investigate opportunities of overseas study. Certain courses taken at CSU International Program Study Centers in foreign countries are equivalent to courses in Urban Studies and Planning and may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for the degree and/or General Education requirements. Students should consult the International Programs Bulletin available in the Office of International and Exchange Programs, a program advisor, or the campus International Programs Advisor for information.

The Urban Studies and Planning curriculum is composed of three closely integrated parts: lower division basic courses; an upper division core; and a related specialization. The lower division requirements include courses in Urban Studies and Economics. Included in the upper division core courses are the Planning Idea, Planning for the Natural and Built Environment; Communities Neighborhoods and Planning; Planning for the Public Sector, Growth and Development of Cities, Urban Design, and Urban Problems.

These core courses are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the urban environment and training in the appropriate principles and methods of urban analysis. Complementing class study and lectures is a choice of supervised field research or internship experience with public agencies or private sponsors. These experiences, for academic credit, provide students with the opportunity to participate directly in providing solutions to community-based urban problems. Depending on their goals, students are required to take at least 6 units of upper division work in a specialization consisting of

• Urban Planning and Environmental Analysis or:
• Community Services and Administration.

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning supports the concept of international education and encourages students to investigate opportunities of overseas study. Certain courses taken at CSU International Program Study Centers in foreign countries are equivalent to courses in Urban Studies and Planning and may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for the degree and/or General Education requirements. Students should consult the International Programs Bulletin available in the Office of International and Exchange Programs, a program advisor, or the campus International Programs Advisor for information.

Careers

Urban Studies and Planning provides professional training which prepares majors for careers in such fields as urban planning, community development, environmental analysis, public administration and resource management.

Academic Advisement

Students should seek advisement as early in their academic careers as possible. This is especially necessary if a student wishes to pursue a double major or prepare for specific job opportunities. Call the Department office at (818) 677-2904 an advisement appointment.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Undergraduate Program

At the completion of the degree program in Urban Studies and Planning;

1. Students are expected to know the key forces responsible for urban development in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
2. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of current principles and practices of urban planning relevant at multiple levels of government from local to global.
3. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to work with diverse communities to advance social justice.
4. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of appropriate methods and techniques to accomplish urban-related research.
5. Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to apply principles of sustainable development using a participatory approach to decision making.
6. Students are expected to participate in various forms of civic engagement.

Graduate Certificate in Urban Studies and Planning

The department offers a graduate certificate in Urban Studies and Planning in collaboration with the Tseng College of Extended Learning. More more information, see the Certificates section in this Catalog.

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree

1. Lower Division Required Courses (6 Units)

Select two courses from the following:

• URBS 150 The Urban Scene (3)
• URBS 250 Planning the Multiethnic City (3)
• ECON 160 Principles of Microeconomics (3) or ECON 161 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

2. Upper Division Required Courses (31 Units)

• URBS 300 The Planning Idea (3)
• URBS 310 Growth and Development of Cities (3)
• URBS 340AB Urban Research Methods (2-2)
• URBS 340AL, 340BL Laboratory in Urban Research (1-1)
• URBS 345 The General Plan and Zoning (3)
• URBS 415 The California Environmental Quality Act for Urban Planners (3)
• URBS 440 Community-Based Urban Design (3)
• URBS 450 Urban Problems Seminar (4)
• URBS 490ABC Field Work (1-2-3)
• URBS 494ABC Internship (1-2-3)

Note that the Urban Studies and Planning normally requires 3 units of Field Work [490C] and 3 units of Internship [494C]. However, as an alternative, a student may wish to fulfill this 6 unit requirement by taking an internship only [494ABC].

Select two courses from the following:

• URBS 400 Planning for the Natural and Built Environment (3)
• URBS 412 Grant Writing (3)
• URBS 420 Communities, Neighborhoods and Planning (3)
• URBS 430 Planning for the Public Sector (3)

Plus six Upper Division units comprising a specialization in Urban Planning and Environmental Analysis or Community Services and Administration. Courses taken to satisfy this requirement must be approved by the Urban Studies and Planning Chair.

3. Urban Planning and Environmental Analysis

• BIOL 323 Plants and Animals of Southern CA
• BIOL 392E Field Studies: Plants and Animals of Southern California (2/1)
• BIOL 327 Ecology and People (3)
• ECON 350 Urban Economics (3)
• ECON 360 Environmental Economics (3)
• ENG 306 Report Writing (3)
• FCS 315 Issues in Housing (3)
• GEOG 206/L Intro. to Geographic Information Science and Lab (2/1)
• GEOG 305/L Maps and Graphics and Lab (3)
• GEOG 311 Atmosphere (3)
• GEOL 300 Environmental Geology (3)
• HSCI 314 Organization and Delivery of Health Services (3)
• RTM 300 Recreation and Community Development (3)
• POLS 405 The Process of Public Policy (3)
• POLS 449 The Politics of Community Action (3)
• POLS 461 Environmental Policy (3)
• POLS 469 City Planning (3)
• URBS 350 Cities of the Third World (3)
• URBS 380 Los Angeles: Past, Present and Future (3)
• URBS 405 Advanced Research Methods for Urban Planners (3)
• URBS 408 Policy Making for Planners (3)
• URBS 416 Urban Housing (3)
• URBS 435 Planning for Community Development (3)
• URBS 441 Advanced Urban Design (3)
• URBS 460 Legal Foundations of Planning (3)
• URBS 480 Transportation Planning (3)
• URBS 495(A-Z) Selected Topics in Urban Planning (3)
• GWS 320 Women and Urban Life (3)

4. Community Services and Administration

• AIS 401 Contemporary Issues of Native Americans (3)
• ANTH 308 Women, Sex Roles and Culture (3)
• ANTH 345 Ethnicity in the U.S. (3)
• AAS 340 Asian American Women (3)
• AAS 345 Contemporary Issues in Asian American Society (3)
• CHS 361 Urbanization and the Chicano (3)
• ENG 306 Report Writing (3)
• FCS 424 Resource Management for the Elderly (3)
• RTM 330 Women, Leisure and Ethnicity in the U.S. (3)
• RTM 415 Leisure and Aging (3)
• PAS 300 Contemporary Issues in the African-American Community (3)
• PAS 361 African American Politics (3)
• SOC 307 Ethnic Diversity in America (3)
• SOC 390 Race Relations (3)
• SOC 401 Class, Status and Power (3)
• HSCI 314 Organization and Function of Community Health Services (3)
• POLS 360 Public Administration (3)
• POLS 449 The Politics of Community Action (3)
• POLS 466 The Politics of Public Spending (3)
• POLS 467 Urban Administration (3)
• SOC 400 Organizational Analysis (3)
• SOC 426 Social Legislation and Social Policy (4)
• URBS 350 Cities of the Third World (3)
• URBS 380 Los Angeles: Past, Present and Future (3)
• URBS 408 Policy Making for Planners (3)
• URBS 416 Urban Housing (3)
• URBS 425 Social Policy, Environmental Justice and the City (3)
• URBS 460 Legal Foundations of Planning (3)
• URBS 495(A-Z) Selected Topics in Urban Planning (3)

• Total Units in the Major: 49-52
• General Education Units: 48
• Additional Units: 10-13
• Total Units Required for the Degree: 120

Requirements for the Minor in Urban Studies and Planning

1. Required Courses (13 Units)

• URBS 150 The Urban Scene (3)
• URBS 310 Growth and Development of Cities (3)
• or URBS 350 Cities of the Third World (3)
• URBS 450 Urban Problems Seminar (4)
• URBS 490C Field Work (3)

2. Electives (9 Units )

Choose three of the following. (No more than one course can be taken outside the Program.)

• URBS 340A/L Urban Research Methods and Lab (3)
• URBS 340B/L Urban Research Methods and Lab (3)
• URBS 400 Urban Environmental Systems (3)
• URBS 420 Urban Behavioral Systems (3)
• URBS 430 Urban Administrative Systems (3)
• URBS 440 Community-Based Urban Design (3)
• URBS 494C Internship (3)
• AAS 440 Urbanization and Asian American Communities (3)
• CHS 360 Political Organization of the Barrio (3)
• CHS 361 Urbanization and the Chicana/o (3)
• PAS 300 Contemporary Issues in the African-American Community (3)

Total Units Required for the Minor: 22

Course List

URBS 150. The Urban Scene (3)

Lecture-discussion on the problems of the modern city and its environment. Subjects discussed include economics, culture, architecture, politics, crime, pollution, planning, history, etc. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences)

URBS 250. Planning the Multiethnic City (3)

Comprehensive analysis of the social, cultural and land use structure of cities in the US during the 20th century. Major focus on the significant demographic changes that have influenced urban and public policy since 1975. Explores issues related to multi-ethnic constituencies in American cities.

Upper Division

URBS 300. The Planning Idea (3)

Prerequisite: URBS 150.Detailed examination of the foundational ideas and issues of the urban planning profession drawn from planning history, alternative models of planning, and planning ethics. Planning principles are examined in the context of case studies drawn from the Los Angeles region, the U.S. and world cities.

URBS 310. Growth and Development of Cities (3)

Examination of the forces contributing to the form, development, and structure of cities. Emphasis on urban areas of the U.S. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences)

URBS 340A/L. Urban Research Methods and Lab (2/1)

Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Corequisite: URBS 340AL. Introduction to research methods in the field.Identification and examination of information sources used by public and private clients in urban research; introduction to appropriate research designs and methodologies; collection and analysis of data. Emphasis on student generated research design, field work and final project. Two hours lecture; two hours methods activity.

URBS 340B/L. Urban Research Methods and Lab (2/1)

Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Corequisite: URBS 340BL.Capstone research courses where students finalize their projects in presentation format. Identification and examination of information sources used by public and private clients in urban research; introduction to appropriate research designs and methodologies; collection and analysis of data. Emphasis on student generated research design, field work and final project. Two hours lecture; two hours methods activity.

URBS 345. The General Plan and Zoning (3)

This course deals with the requirements for comprehensive planning and zoning in the State of California. Emphasis will be placed on the mandated general plan elements of Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Open Space, Conservation, Safety, and Noise. Special attention will be paid to formulating a framework for a general plan, preparation, adoption, and amendment of the general plan. As the major tool for the implementation of the general plan, zoning will be addressed in terms of the enactment process and administration through the use of the variance, conditional use permits, and zone changes. Students will be required to participate in a series of field-based and studio-based exercises focusing on general plan formulation and current zoning problems.

URBS 350. Cities of the Third World (3)

Prerequisite: Upper Division standing; completion of lower division writing requirement.Cultural analysis of Third World urbanization and counter-urbanization with emphasis on particular aspects of urban life and social change in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeastern Asia. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies)

URBS 380. Los Angeles: Past, Present, Future (3)

Multidisciplinary investigation of the Los Angeles urban area, its patterns of population and resources distribution; its historical, economic, social and cultural developments; and policies models designed to cope with its problems and to develop its potential as an ethnically diverse metropolis on the Pacific Rim. Application of social science methodology. Series of faculty and guest speakers, weakly discussion sessions, field trips. (Crosslisted with HIST and POLS 380) (Available for General Education, Social Sciences)

URBS 400. Planning for the Natural and Built Environment (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of the lower division writing requirement and ECON 160 or 161 or 300. Relationships between people and technology in the city; the application of resources to supply such urban needs as transportation, waste disposal, water and communication. Technological change and forecasting.

URBS 405. Advanced Research Methods for Planning (3)

Prerequisites: URBS 340A/L; 340B/L. Focuses on key urban planning concepts, theories, and research methods.Emphasis placed on the application of research methods to tasks normally assigned to professional planners and the completion of a class project that focuses on a specific urban planning problem defined by a local, community-based organization (CBO). Working with a CBO, students prepare a proposal consisting of a problem statement, a research protocol, gather quantitative and qualitative data, perform analysis, and write a final report that includes recommendations to the community-based organization.

URBS 408. Policy Making for Urban Planners (3)

The course will comprehensively address the complex arena of public policy in relation to city planning, land use issues and urban policy. This will incorporate how a society based on pluralist democracy balances the demands of a range of interest groups including planners, city bureaucracies, politicians, community groups, private sector economic interests, the non-profit sector, state and federal agencies, and the general public. The focus will be on issues related to the built environment and the controversial nature of constant transformation of land uses in cities. In addition, the course will address the interrelationship between local government implementation strategies, and federal urban program laws and regulations. The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the linkages between urban social policy, distributional equity in local and federal programs, and environmental considerations within the arena of governmental decision making systems.

URBS 412. Grant Writing (3)

Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. URBS 340 A, A1, and B, B1.This course is intended to provide students with basic knowledge in the research, writing, and planning skills involved in preparing grant proposals. Presumption is that students possess no substantive prior knowledge of grant writing. Students will learn the basic phases of writing a grant proposal, how to search for sources of grant funding, and the process of submitting grants proposals to public and private agencies and foundations. Students will also learn how to use the internet to search for grant opportunities. Emphasis will be placed on nonprofit organizations that deal with human service needs. The course will address how to manage the implementation of a grant proposal and how to measure the impact a particular service has on a community.

URBS 415. The California Environmental Quality Act for Urban Planners (3)

This course deals with California’s statutory requirements for environmental planning and policy. The focus of the course will be on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process which addresses with the preparation of Initial Studies, issuance of Negative Declarations, preparation of draft and final environmental impact reports (EIRs), litigation, decision-making, and the requirements of professional consulting. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding the environmental implications of typical projects that occur in an urban setting.

URBS 416. Urban Housing (3)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing and completion of lower division writing requirements.This course is designed to help students explore the complexity of housing and housing-related issues from a planning perspective. Students will develop a basic understanding of the housing market, its relationship to community development, and its importance to communities and the U.S. economy. A wide variety of topics will be discussed, including the use and meaning of housing, the development of Federal, State, and local housing policy, the changing dynamics of housing policy, the housing market, housing finance, the challenge of providing affordable housing, and the relationship of housing to community development/neighborhood transformation. Considerable emphasis will be placed on housing issues in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Class time will be devoted to lectures, guest lectures, class discussions, and group discussions.

URBS 420. Communities, Neighborhoods and Planning (3)

Prerequisites: Upper Division standing and completion of the lower division writing requirement.Study of human behavior as it is affected by basic human needs and urban environmental conditions, and an examination of alternative strategies for restructuring social institutions and social behavior.

URBS 425. Social Policy, Environmental Justice and the City (3)

Addresses the linkages between urban social policy, distributional equity in local and federal programs, and environmental movements initiated as a response to regressive land use and/or planning strategies. Specific areas of social policy that are analyzed in this course are housing policies and programs, economic development and revitalization, transportation, urban recreation and cultural projects, and local governmental implementation strategies.

URBS 430. Planning in the Public Sector (3)

Prerequisites: Upper Division standing and completion of the lower division writing requirement.Analysis of public and private institutions through which modern urban society functions, with emphasis on the structure and functions of cities from the perspective of their organizational life.

URBS 435. Planning for Community Development (3)

Prerequisite: URBS 310.Examination of the theories of local economic development and how each theory informs real-world policy and practice. Implementation and implications of alternative strategies are illustrated by specific case studies.

URBS 440. Community-Based Urban Design (3)

Prerequisite: URBS 340 A/L, 340B/L, or other equivalent research methods courses.Study of current urban design techniques and policies and their application to local communities and neighborhoods.

URBS 441. Advanced Urban Design (3)

Prerequisites: URBS 440 or consent of the instructor.This second, advanced course in the Urban Design series (URBS 440 and URBS 441) examines selected aspects of urban design and development in further depth, typically involving sites in Southern California through a practice-oriented studio experience that requires civic engagement and community partnership. The design project selected will vary by semester as well as the urban design topics selected for emphasis, which might include advanced problem-solving methodologies; the utilization of computer simulation techniques; methods for community participation; research in planning, environment and behavior, or environmental sustainability; or real estate development practices. Emphasis will be placed on developing physical designs and/or implementation strategies to create livable, sustainable, and “smart” communities that balance economic prosperity and social equity with environmental protection.

URBS 450. Urban Problems Seminar (4)

Prerequisites: Senior standing and completion of the lower division writing requirement. Advanced seminar on problems and issues in urban and environmental studies. Interdisciplinary symposia and opportunities for critical appraisal and exchange of ideas on special studies developed in or stemming from field work. Emphasis on case studies and other problem approaches.

URBS 460. Legal Foundations of Planning (3)

Prerequisites: Upper Division Standing and completion of the lower division writing requirement.This course is a general introduction to land use planning law in the United States. It looks primarily at the state, regional, and municipal levels with an emphasis on practices and procedures to manage land use and growth in California. The course covers four broad areas: Introduction to Law and the US Legal System, State and Local Planning Law, Managing Urban Land Use: Conflicts and Quality of Life, and Managing Growth.

URBS 480. Urban Transportation Planning (3)

Prerequisites: URBS 150 or URBS 250; or consent of the instructor.This course is a general introduction to the interrelated systems of urban transportation and urban land use and its effect on the growth, development, and future of human settlements. The course will provide entry-level competence for students seeking employment in transportation planning in the public or private sectors. Four broad areas are covered: transportation planning history, transportation and land use theory, transportation planning process and techniques, and urban transportation policy.

URBS 490A-C. Field Work (1-3)

Prerequisites: URBS 340A/L; 340B/L.Introduction to urban field analysis and interview techniques through supervised field work and individual projects.

URBS 494A-C. Internship (1-3)

Prerequisite: Senior standing.Upon prior approval by the Internship Coordinator, students may earn up to six units for professional experience in a planning department, social service agency, or other public or private organization dealing with urban problems.

URBS 495A-Z. Selected Topics in Urban Planning (3)

Prerequisite: URBS 340A/L, 340B/L.Deals with a wide range of topics and specializations that are customarily dealt with by professional urban planners.

URBS 496A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses in Urban Studies and Planning (1-3)

Prerequisite: Upper Division standing.Selected topics in Urban Studies and Planning with course content to be determined.

URBS 499. Independent Study (1-3)

Graduate

URBS 610. Contemporary Urban Planning in the United States and California (3)

Provides an overview of urban planning as practiced in the U.S. The course assumes some familiarity with urban planing and builds on common issues and problems in the field, utilizing a topical approach. Critical issues such as transportation, housing, social and environmental justice, citizen participation, urban design, urban sprawl, sustainable development, and New Urbanism will be examined in detail.

URBS 630. Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Analysis (3)

This course deals with approaches to planning for sustainable development and the requirements for environmental planning and policy associated with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This act and the regulatory guidelines can serve as a model for impact analysis in any global setting. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding the implications of sustainable development for typical projects that occur in urban settings and the techniques used to assess impacts. Supporting field trips and discussions with planners and project managers are planned.

URBS 640. Seminar in Planning for Communities and Local Economic Development (3)

The study of human behavior as it is affected by basic human needs and urban conditions. Special attention will be given to: 1) the manner in which local neighborhoods and communities are integrated into the planning process and how needs are articulated; and 2) the manner in which local economic development can be effected by the planning process and the integration of community participation. Supporting field trips and discussions with planners and project managers are planned.

URBS 690. Field Project in Urban Planning (3)

This course will serve as the capstone course for the certificate program. Field projects will be defined and approved prior to the student’s completion of the four preceding courses. The course will focus on application of certificate course content to a specific urban-environmental planning problem at the local level in a local city. Students will be required to be in contact with the professor as the project evolves.