URBAN STUDIES
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
(See Urban Studies in the Academic Programs section for information on the degree)
Undergraduate Courses
200 The City (3) [GE]
Understanding city life. Experience and analysis of urban America through social science materials, film, novels, and the arts. Origin and growth of American cities. Urban physical patterns. Citizens and city hall. Changing urban work and lifestyles. Urban problem-solving. (Also offered as SOC 200.)
400 Dynamics of the American City (3) [GE]
Social science perspectives on the historical development and contemporary condition of urban America, including city planning, federal-city relations, and the dynamics of urban policy-making. Special attention to social class, gender, and ethnic diversity in urban America. (Also offered as HIST 489.)
433 Urban Transportation (4) [GE]
S
For course description, see GEOG 433.
455 Geography of Ethnic Communities (3) [GE]
S
For course description, see GEOG 455.
456 Urban Community Organizing and Citizen Action (3)
For course description, see S W 456.
475 Selected Issues in Urban Studies (3-4)
Prerequisite: upper division standing and consent of instructor. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule. Intensive study of selected topics in urban studies. Open to majors in urban studies and related fields. In-depth review of relevant literature and student project work. May be repeated for a total of eight units when topics vary.
480 Policy Analysis (4)
Prerequisite: upper division standing. For course description, see PLSI 480.
485 San Francisco Political Issues (4)
Prerequisite: upper division standing. For course description, see PLSI 475.
492 Research Methods (4)
Prerequisite: upper division standing. Research methods for politics, public policy, administration, and urban studies. Problem formulation; research design; finding, organizing, and reporting data; surveys; introduction to computing and data analysis; uses and limitations of applied research. (Also offered as PLSI 492.)
493 Data Analysis (4)
Prerequisite: URBS/PLSI 492 or equivalent. Statistical analysis for politics, public policy, administration, and urban studies. Uses, interpretation, and limitations of statistical methods; use of computers. (Also offered as PLSI 493.)
512 Urban Politics and Community Power (4)
Prerequisites: upper division standing. Examination of political dynamics in the contemporary metropolitan context and of the bases and distribution of power in urban and suburban areas. Leadership, decision-making, and representation in metropolitan politics. Intergovernmental relations and urban political power. (Also offered as PLSI 512.)
513 Politics, Law, and Urban Environment (4) [GE]
Prerequisite: upper division standing. Law and the legal system as mechanisms for regulating urban development and protecting the environment. Politics and legal intervention in urban development and land use, urban environmental decay, and conservation of open space and other resources affected by urbanization. (Also offered as GEOG 668 and PLSI 513.)
514 Urban Growth Management (4)
Prerequisites: URBS/PLSI 613/GEOG 668, upper division standing, or consent of instructor. Analysis of demographic, land use, transportation, environmental, and housing impacts of urban growth. Paired with URBS 714. Students who have completed URBS 514 may not take URBS 714 later for credit.
530 Alternative Urban Futures (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: ENG 214 and junior standing. A critical, social analysis of ideas and programs regarding the urban future. The scientific, technological, humanistic utopian visions; the prospects and problems of contemporary approaches; the implications for the quality of life.
535 Urban Economics (3) [GE]
S
For course description, see ECON 535.
555 Urban Anthropology (4)
Prerequisites: one course in social and cultural anthropology and upper division standing or URBS 400. Examines the impact of urban environments upon human behavior cross-culturally. Students study: ethnographic field work techniques, the history and theoretical roots of urban anthropology, and case studies from around the world. (Also offered as ANTH 555.)
557 Ethnography of the Inner City (4)
Prerequisites: URBS 400 or one course in cultural anthropology and upper division standing. Corequisite: URBS 555 or consent of instructor. Students are trained in participant-observation fieldwork techniques and undertake research projects in inner city communities in the Bay Area. (Also offered as ANTH 557.)
565 Social Policy and Family Systems (4) [GE]
Prerequisite: upper division standing. Analysis of basic patterns of U.S. social policy and its impact on families. Includes issues of income, employment, childcare, and health care. Particular attention to needs of low-income and third-world people. Lessons from other countries. Concepts, methods, and strategies for developing more effective policy.
570 Urban Health Policy (3) [GE]
Prerequisites: upper division standing; ENG 214 or equivalent. Political economy of urban health. Critical analysis of public and private health care delivery. Workplace health and safety. Evaluation of health policy and programs; formulation of alternatives. The special role of women and minorities in community health care systems. (Also offered as LABR/PLSI 570.)
580 Urban Housing (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: upper division standing. The social, economic, and technical aspects of urban housing. Topics include housing market analysis, housing production, tenant/landlord relations, housing finance, government regulation of housing, housing subsidies. (Also offered as PLSI 580.)
582 Homelessness and Public Policy (3) [GE]
Prerequisite: completion of critical thinking component of G.E. Homelessness as a major public problem in the United States—its incidence, etiology, consequences, and preventions. Students develop critical understanding of this epidemic and strategies for intervention. Field visit is required. (Also offered as H ED 582.)
603 Public Service Internships (3)
F,S
Prerequisites: upper division standing and consent of instructor. Corequisite: URBS 604. Field work in approved public, private, non-profit, or political organization under supervision of organization staff and faculty coordinator. Training in relevant analytical and applied skills. May be repeated for credit on advisement. (Also offered as PLSI 603.)
604 Internship Seminar (1)
F,S
Corequisite: URBS 603. Analysis of internship experiences. May be repeated for credit on advisement. (Also offered as PLSI 604.)
650 Urban Internship: Fieldwork (3)
F,S
Corequisite: URBS 651. Internship in an off-campus government or community agency or in the private sector. May be repeated for credit with consent of the Urban Studies Program.
651 Urban Internship Seminar (1)
F,S
Corequisite: URBS 650. Regular meetings of all interns during which fieldwork is discussed and analyzed.
652 Environmental Impact Analysis (4)
For course description, see GEOG 652.
655 Urban Environmental Design (4)
For course description, see GEOG 655.
658 Land Use Planning (4) [GE]
For course description, see GEOG 658.
660 The Roles of Nonprofit Organizations in Urban Life (3)
For course description, see S W 660. (Also offered as PLSI 660.)
680 Senior Seminar (4)
F,S
Practicum in policy and planning. Interdisciplinary individual and small team projects in a workshop context. Projects include research reports for real clients; development and evaluation of grant proposals; job-market preparation. Pre-professional hands-on experience. Open to seniors in the social sciences.
686 Field Work in Urban Studies (1-4)
Supervised field research including preparation of policy papers, developing databases on local issues and applied policy work. Includes editorial and production work for annual Urban Studies publications: Urban Action and the Alumni Survey. May be repeated for a total of eight units of credit.
699 Independent Study (1-3)
F,S
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Supervised individual research or project of special interest to develop research capability.
Graduate Course
714 Urban Growth Management (4)
Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of instructor. Analysis of demographic, land use, transportation, environmental, and housing impacts of urban growth. Paired with URBS 514. Students who have completed URBS 514 may not take URBS 714 for credit.