Central to all urban and regional development decisions are complexity and conflict. The increasing complexity and conflicts associated with today's urban problems in our societies are forcing us either to close our eyes and pretend that they do not exist, or freezing us from making decisions. Both are unacceptable alternatives. However, the inability to decide is the least desirable one. This is due to the demand for action brought about by the exponential rates of population growth coupled with those of technological and social change experienced by cities and urban regions here and throughout the world.
In addition, the complexity and conflicts posed by the dynamics of all urban and regional environments around the world defy intervention from one discipline alone. Yet, most of our institutional settings (including our universities) seem to encourage just that by making interdisciplinary participation difficult, if not down right impossible.
Purpose and Topics
The course has two goals, the educational and the planning goals. The central educational goal of this course is not to instruct on research methods, but rather to enhance two basic concepts in planning education --- critical thinking and learning on demand. Thus, it can be said that we will be pursuing the construction of planning knowledge in order to learn how to learn. On the other hand, in terms of planning education, the aim of the course is to research urban and regional problems through the development of new or use of existing tools or approaches which can support decision making in order to resolve them.
Expectations and Research Domains
Therefore, the course expects to support the educational and planning goals above by introducing the students to (1) innovative methodological concepts and approaches, as well as (2) researching interesting questions. These expectations will be pursued within the following three domains of urban and regional development:
Format
The format will be kept as informal as possible to encourage student participation. It includes lecture coupled with workshops sessions. Each lecture session incorporates presentations with discussions. These will include presentations by the instructor, guest speakers, as well as students. In this manner the course will represent a community of learners where distributed knowledge from all participants will help in framing the research questions as well as aiding in the formulation of their respective answers. For the workshops requirements and other guidelines see the Laboratories Handout.
Grades and Other Requirements
Students will be evaluated in terms of class contribution (participation / attendance / instructor assessments) (l5%), a small projects (15%), two exams to be discussed (20%), and the laboratory research project (50%). The research project will be evaluated in terms of progress work (15%), required presentations (15%), and the final report (20%). The student is responsible for understanding all the reading assignments and will be evaluated in terms of their participation in class discussions as part of the class contribution.
Course enrollment is based on the prerequisites as defined in the College's Catalog or upon instructor's permission. Other policies governing student responsibilities are as follows:
There are no incomplete grades, and no make up examinations or quizzes. Prompt and regular class attendance at all scheduled lectures and lab sections is expected. Please note that all quizzes and student discussions/ presentations will take place at the beginning of class. Repeated tardiness will be considered in your class participation evaluations. All university rules regarding absences, reduction of grades, and/or dropping of course will hold. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Any late work will receive one grade reduction for each day. Finally, you should be aware of rules regarding student behavior in examinations, writing originality, etc.
Guest Speakers
There will be a selected set of speakers to be invited throughout the course of the semester. They will be selected from the names below depending on the research topics which will surface from student interests and their on-going research interests. The list (although not necessarily inclusive) from which selections will be made is included in a handout.