Course Descriptions

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Urban Studies and Planning Discipline Courses Details

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USP 200 : Changing Cities

Prerequisites: None
Description: Changing cities in a global world. Multi-disciplinary social science perspectives on city life. Social, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Metropolitan regions. Strategies for creating social justice and environmental sustainability. Experiencing the city. (Cross listed with SOC 200. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Behavioral and Social Sciences Area (BSS)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 400 : Dynamics of the American City

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent; upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Historical development and contemporary condition of urban America, city planning, federal-city relations; dynamics of urban policy making; class, gender, race and ethnicity in urban America. (Cross listed with HIST 489. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Dynamics of the City
  • Segment III Cluster - Planning the Urban Environment
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
  • Segment III Cluster - Integrating the Social Sciences
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 401 GW : Seminar in Urban Studies and Planning - GWAR

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent with a grade of C or better. Upper division standing, USP major or minor, or consent of instructor.
Description: Lectures and discussion of seminal basic and contemporary writings on the most important topics in urban studies and planning. Intensive practice in written and oral communication skills. (ABC/NC grading only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 432 : Urban Geography

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent.
Description: Cross listed with GEOG 432. For course description, see GEOG 432. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Dynamics of the City
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 433 : Urban Transportation

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with GEOG 433. For course description, see GEOG 433. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Planning the Urban Environment
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 456 : Urban Community Organizing and Citizen Action

Prerequisites: S W 400, S W 401, S W 402 or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with S W 456. For course description, see S W 456. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 470 : City in a Global Society

Prerequisites: Completion of GE Segment I requirements including ENG 214 or equivalent and upper division standing.
Description: Cross listed with SOC 480. For course description, see SOC 480. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
  • Segment III Cluster - Globalization and Citizenship in the Americas
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 480 : Introduction to Urban Policy and Analysis

Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 480. For course description, see PLSI 480. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 485 : San Francisco Political Issues

Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 475. For course description, see PLSI 475. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) [CSL may be available; consult index for page reference.]
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 492 : Research Methods

Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Description: Problem formulation; research design; data collection, organization and analysis; introduction to computer generated analyses; report writing and presentation; applied research. (Cross listed with PLSI 492. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 493 : Data Analysis

Prerequisites: USP/PLSI 492 or equivalent.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 493. For course description, see PLSI 493. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 512 : Urban Politics and Community Power

Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 512. For course description, see PLSI 512. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 512 GW : Urban Politics and Community Power - GWAR

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent with grade of C- or better; upper division standing; PLSI/USP majors or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 512GW. For course description, see PLSI 512GW. (ABC/NC grading only.) (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4

USP 513 : Politics, Law, and the Urban Environment

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Law and the legal system as mechanisms for regulating urban development and protecting the environment; intervention in development and land use; environmental decay, conservation of open space, other related resources. (Cross listed with GEOG 668 and PLSI 513. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Planning the Urban Environment
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 514 : Sustainable Development in Cities

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Analysis of development and sustainable development theory and practice, the role international lending institutions, sustainable planning and management of urban infrastructures, and the role appropriate technologies. Case studies of sustainable development planning and policy in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, Caribbean and USA.
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Planning the Urban Environment
  • Segment III Cluster - Exploring the Future: Next 20 Years
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 515 : Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Examination of environmental justice concepts, research and policies; understanding how toxins and other environmental assaults differentially affect communities and groups in USA and abroad; focus on research, ethnic, class dynamics; environmental justice movements, public policy and planning. (Cross listed with GEOG 667. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
  • Segment III Cluster - Planning the Urban Environment
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 530 : Alternative Urban Futures

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent and upper division standing.
Description: Examines future of cities through analysis of current trends and policies; implications for quality of life and natural resources; planning and policy analysis for future of cities and urban populations; focus on problems and solutions.
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
  • Segment III Cluster - Exploring the Future: Next 20 Years
  • Segment III Cluster - Dynamics of the City
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 535 : Urban Economics

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with ECON 535. For course description, see ECON 535. (May not repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 555 : Urban Anthropology

Prerequisites: One course in cultural anthropology and upper division standing or URBS 400.
Description: Cross listed with ANTH 555. For course description, see ANTH 555. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 557 : Ethnography of the Inner City

Prerequisites: USP 555 or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with ANTH 557. For course description, see ANTH 557. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 560 : Urban Poverty and Policy

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent.
Description: Nature and causes of urban poverty. Theories of poverty and their policy implications. Role of education, employment and family status; gender and race; metropolitan location; global economic restructuring; anti-poverty policies and proposals; development of policy alternatives. (Cross listed with PLSI 560. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 565 : Social Policy and Family Systems

Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Description: Background and analytical tools to understand impact of past, current and proposed public policies on families in the U.S.; role of the state; analysis of specific policy areas--i.e. healthcare, income and employment, poverty, taxation, medical rights, education, violence; legal rights of families.
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
  • Segment III Cluster - Family Dynamics and Societal Change
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 4

USP 570 : Urban Health Policy

Prerequisites: upper division standing; ENG 214 or equivalent.
Description: Political economy of urban health system. Critical review of urban health policy; analysis of alternatives. Politics of health care reform. Particular needs of women and communities of color. (Cross listed with LABR/PLSI 570. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
  • Segment III Cluster - Health Care Policy and Practices
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 580 : Housing Policy and Planning

Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Description: Social, economic, and technical aspects of urban housing; market analysis, housing production, tenant/landlord relations, finance, government regulation, subsidies. (Cross listed with PLSI 580. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Understanding Public Policy
  • Segment III Cluster - Planning the Urban Environment
  • Segment III Cluster - Dynamics of the City
  • Cultural, Ethnic, or Social Diversity (CESD)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

USP 603 : Public Service Internships

Prerequisites: Upper division standing and consent of instructor. Must be taken concurrently with USP 604.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 603. For course description, see PLSI 603. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) [CSL may be available; consult index for page reference.]
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 604 : Internship Seminar

Prerequisites: Must be taken concurrently with USP 603.
Description: Cross listed with PLSI 604. For course description, see PLSI 604. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) [CSL may be available; consult index for page reference.]
Units: 1
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 651 : San Francisco Bay Area Environmental Issues

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: An introduction to the mission and work of environmental management organizations. Managing our air, water, soil, wildlife, and aesthetic resources. Emphasis is placed on land use and transportation concepts. Field projects are integral to the course. Classwork, three units; laboratory, one unit. (Cross listed with GEOG 651. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Preservation of a Livable Environment
  • Segment III Cluster - California Cultures and Environments
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 652 : Environmental Impact Analysis

Prerequisites: GEOG 103 or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with GEOG 652. For course description, see GEOG 652. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 658 : Land Use Planning

Prerequisites: ENG 214 or equivalent.
Description: Cross listed with GEOG 658. For course description, see GEOG 658. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 660 : The Roles of Non-profit Organizations in Urban Life

Prerequisites: Senior standing.
Description: Cross listed with S W 660. For course description, see S W 660. (Plus-minus letter grade only.) (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Making Cities Humane
Units: 3

USP 680 : Senior Seminar

Prerequisites: USP 401, 492, 493, 480 or 658, 603, and 604 or consent of instructor.
Description: Practicum in policy and planning. Projects for clients outside the university. Preparation for professional work or continued study upon graduation. Open to seniors in urban studies after completing sufficient USP core requirements. Classwork, 3 units; activity, 1 unit. [CSL may be available; consult index for page reference.]
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

USP 685 : Projects in the Teaching of Urban Studies

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and completion of course (or equivalent) in which student will be assisting.
Description: Students serve as instructional aides in order to enrich their knowledge of the subject and the general processes of learning and teaching. Help develop course materials, plan and review course structure and activities, and provide assistance to students in class activities such as writing assignments, research projects, and fieldwork. (Students may earn a maximum of 4 units toward the baccalaureate degree for any course(s) numbered 685 regardless of discipline.)
Units: 1-4

USP 686 : Field Work in Urban Studies

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Supervised field research including preparation of policy papers, developing databases on local issues, and applied policy work. Editorial and production work for annual Urban Studies publications: Urban Action and the Alumni Survey. May be repeated for a total of 8 units.
Units: 1-4

USP 699 : Independent Study

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Description: Supervised individual research project of special interest to develop research capability.
Units: 1-4
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