Courses
Below, you’ll see our Urban Studies and Community Development courses. Our department partners across the university also host many interesting and innovative urban and community development themed courses, and we’ll be sure to share these with you as well.
Lower-Division
URBAN 101 CITIES AND SOCIETY (3-0-3)(F/S)(FS).
Survey the field of urban studies and community development and its application to the Intermountain West. Addresses questions: What is a city? How did cities develop? Why do people live in cities? What are the major issues facing contemporary cities nationally and globally? Classes involve presentations by a variety of public service professionals and field visits.
URBAN 200 INTRODUCTION TO URBAN STUDIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (3-0-3)(F/S).
Examines the evolution of cities, the process of urbanization, and the demographic trends in contemporary urban communities. Explores concepts about urban growth/decline and how metropolitan location are integrated into a global society. Includes field experience/service learning requirement.
URBAN 201 PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3-0-3)(F/S).
An urban frontier rises from cheatgrass and sagebrush to test the limits of sustainable growth. Explores the planning, policy, and environmental dynamics that sprawl cities into the desert, and profoundly transform the American west.
URBAN 221 THE CITY IN FILM (3-0-3)(F/S).
Explores contemporary films which depict life in urban America. Discusses multimedia presentations through the perspectives of urban studies, art, politics, architecture and other fields of study.
URBAN 260 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE (3-0-3)(F/S).
Provides an overview of the theory and practice of community development, including an historical review. Examines contemporary issues, theories of social change, principles of inclusivity, equitable development, and capacity building, and provides examples of current initiatives. PREREQ: URBAN 200.
Upper-Division
URBAN 300 URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE (3-0-3)(F/S).
Explores how cities and communities are built and revitalized. Introduces contemporary and historical policies and plans that shape the urban and regional environment. PREREQ: URBAN 200 or URBAN 201.
URBAN 301 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE (3-0-3)(F/S).
Provides an overview of the theory and practice of community development, including an historical review. Examines contemporary issues, theories of social change, principles of inclusivity, equitable development, and capacity building, and provides examples of current initiatives. PREREQ: sophomore standing.
URBAN 340 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (2-0-2)(F/S/SU).
Introduces the theories and models of public participation and the strengths and weaknesses of different strategies as well as how to facilitate large groups, conduct stakeholder analysis, and navigate community conflict from NIMBYs and BOBOs. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 341 GRANT AND PROPOSAL WRITING (1-0-1)(F/S/SU).
Examines the structure and content of proposals including the sources of funding, program evaluation, and foundation decision-making. Includes preparation of proposals and review by community experts. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 342 SURVEY RESEARCH AND DESIGN (2-0-2)(F/S).
Introduces students to the basic skills and resources needed to design, conduct, and analyze surveys focused on contemporary issues in urban policy and community development. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 343 PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (2-0-2)(F/S).
Enables students to examine, critique, and apply best practices for formal community partnerships to improve a region’s economic competitiveness. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 344 PUBLIC FINANCE AND BUDGETING (1-0-1)(F/S/SU).
Focuses on governmental fiscal challenges in urban areas including theories of public budgeting, the revenue, expenditure, and debt structures of American western cities, types of budgets and budget formats, and typical components of a budget document. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 345 DATA VISUALIZATION (1-0-1)(F/S/SU). Introduces students to cutting-edge data visualization tools and techniques and their usage in improving organizational decision making and civic engagement processes. Students develop knowledge and skills in the reading and critiquing data presentation strategies and consider the ethics of visual images in the urban policy and community development realm. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 346 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES (2-0-2)(F/S).
Applies theories and methods of data collection and analysis to relevant projects involving community-based organizations in the community development field. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 347 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT (1-0-1)(F/S/SU).
Provides insight into the development process and the culture of the real estate industry. Students learn how to read a pro form, a market analysis, and land valuation assessments with a particular focus on equitable development projects in downtown and neighborhood development. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 348 HISTORIC PRESERVATION (1-0-1)(F/S/SU).
Exposure to the different theories and conflicts of historic preservation and how they play out in contemporary settings. Examine and apply the methodology of documenting historic sites to local buildings and structures. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 349 LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (1-0-1)(F/S/SU).
Examines nonprofit organizations as community institutions and the nature of leadership and management in the nonprofit sector. Considers fundraising, financial management, and governance through the respective roles of board, staff and volunteers. Classes involve case studies and presentations by community development professionals. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 350 GREENING THE CITY (1-0-1)(F/S/SU).
Enables students to learn, apply, and evaluate different strategies that support urban sustainable development, including programs, plans, and policies adopted in different urban contexts. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 370 URBAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY (3-0-3)(F/S).
Covers the concepts, strategies, and techniques of economic analysis, planning, and development at different urban scales, including the neighborhood, city, and region. Includes public policy cases and employs practical decision-making exercises. PREREQ: SPS 240.
URBAN 390 URBAN INEQUALITY (3-0-3)(F/S).
Explores the role of urbanization and density in creating, maintaining, or diminishing various forms of inequality. Exposes students to theoretical debates and engages students in policy discussions and analyses. Focuses primarily on the American context but with an eye towards issues of equality globally. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 410 SUSTAINABLE CITIES (3-0-3)(F/S).
Architecture meets urbanism in this study of green innovation. Structured like a virtual tour of remarkable urban places, the course profiles creative responses to blight and catastrophic events. Topics include transportation, housing, pandemics, social welfare, famines, fires, and floods. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 420 PUBLIC SPACE AND PLACEMAKING (3-0-3)(F/S/SU).
Exposes students to arts economic and community development and the use of architecture and design to build and remake cities reflecting the political and cultural of values of place. Students gain insight into the practical application of theory. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 430 URBAN DESIGN AND THE CITY BEAUTIFUL (3-0-3)(F/S/SU). Explores the evolution of urban design and civic architecture in cities. Analyzes different theories, actors, strategies, and motivations for “beautifying” communities. PREREQ: Upper-division standing
URBAN 490 URBAN STUDIES FIELD SCHOOL (1-4 credits)(SU).
On-site field training in the techniques of applied research in cities across the American West. Focus will be placed on data collection, data analysis, and communication of data to public audiences. PREREQ: SPS 240, GEOG 360, and PERM/INST.
URBAN 492 CAPSTONE SEMINAR (3-0-3)(F/S/SU)(FF).
Applies theory and sharpens skills while addressing a real-world problem. Students identify a problem, gather data, consult with community members and experts, recommend solutions, and communicate their findings to stakeholders. PREREQ: SPS 240 and senior standing in urban studies.
URBAN 493 INTERNSHIP (2-3 credits)(F/S/SU).
Students work with industries, organizations and agencies that have an interest in urban affairs and community development to deepen their knowledge, increase their professional skills, and reflect critically on these experiences. Students must complete a minimum of 50 hours of work per credit of internship. PREREQ: Upper-division standing and PERM/INST.
URBAN 496 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-0-3)(F/S/SU).
Students who wish to design and complete individual study projects geared to their particular interests may register for this option with approval by an appropriate faculty. Applied research projects are strongly encouraged. PREREQ: Upper-division standing and PERM/INST.
URBAN 498 SEMINAR (1-3 credits)(F/S/SU).
Selected urban studies and community development topics under faculty direction. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.
URBAN 499 SEMINAR (1-3 credits)(F/S/SU).
Selected urban studies and community development topics under faculty direction. PREREQ: Upper-division standing.