Urban Studies and Planning
College of Health and Social Sciences
Dean: Don Taylor
School of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement
Director: Gerald Eisman
Urban Studies and Planning Program
HSS 263
415-338-1178
Fax: 415-338-2391
Web Site: http://dusp.sfsu.edu/
Faculty
Professors: Pamuk, Pinderhughes
Associate Professor: Rubin
Programs
B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning
Minor in Urban Studies and Planning
Program Scope
The Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers two programs: The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning and a Minor in Urban Studies and Planning. The B.A. is designed to prepare students for a wide range of urban planning and policy careers. The minor is designed to complement a wide range of SF State majors by offering students an opportunity to develop competence in urban planning and policy. The major and the minor in Urban Studies and Planning are founded upon the conviction that urban universities have unique opportunities as well as responsibilities to help shape the future of city life.
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning. The urban studies and planning major offers an interdisciplinary curriculum in urban planning and policy and reflects a social science education with an applied, problem-solving focus, training in research methods, and practical hands-on experience in a carefully supervised internship and a practicum (senior seminar). Core courses integrate social science, planning and policy perspectives into the study of cities, develop the research and analytic tools necessary for urban planning and policy analysis, and offer hands-on applied research experience. Elective courses are designed to apply the basic core course content to urban planning and policy areas of interest.
The B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning is recognized as a solid basis for graduate study. Recent program graduates have gone on to M.A. and Ph.D. programs in schools of city and regional planning (Cornell, Harvard, UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, the New School for Social Research, University of Texas at Austin), schools of public policy and administration (Kennedy School, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State), and other fields including law, architecture, social work, public health. We also have a large number of students who seek entry level urban planning and policy jobs with a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning.
Minor in Urban Studies and Planning. The minor consists of a three course core and three elective courses in urban planning and policy.
Career Outlook
The USP program has been fortunate in attracting talented and motivated students whose central concern is to make our cities more livable, humane, and sustainable. These students have made important contributions as interns and researchers and as alumni; they have gone on to work as planners, analysts, and managers in private, non-profit, and public organizations throughout the region and beyond. Urban studies and planning alumni are employed in planning departments, housing and community development corporations, transportation planning agencies, health and social service organizations, private consulting firms, environmental organizations, real estate firms, general public management positions, and political organizations. The network of contacts maintained by the department with alumni provides solid evidence of the job opportunities available to Urban Studies and Planning graduates and their continuing contributions to the larger community and offers an invaluable resource to new graduates as they begin their job search.
A copy of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning Advising Handbook and further information about the major and minor can be found on the department’s web page at http://dusp.sfsu.edu/
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning
Many of the urban studies and planning courses included below in the list of program requirements are cross-listed with other departments and are designated as GE III cluster courses.
All students who begin their studies as majors or minors in Fall 2009 or later are required to receive at least a grade of C in all courses in the major or minor.
All courses in the major or minor (including electives) must be taken for a letter grade.
Students planning to enroll in USP 603 and USP 604 must attend a mandatory informational meeting the semester preceding their enrollment in these courses.
USP majors who successfully complete USP 401 GW in fall 2009 or thereafter will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. Courses are listed in the Bulletin. On-line course descriptions including pre-requisites are available.
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning Core
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| USP 401 GW | Seminar in Urban Studies and Planning - GWAR | 3 |
| Cross-disciplinary Perspectives: drawing upon the basic social science disciplines to provide a broad-based understanding of urban growth and change. | ||
| Units selected from the following: | 7-8 | |
| USP 470/ SOC 480 |
City in a Global Society (4) | |
| USP 432/ GEOG 432 |
Urban Geography (4) | |
| USP 512/ PLSI 512 |
Urban Politics and Community Power (4) | |
| USP 535/ ECON 535 |
Urban Economics | |
| Research Methods and Data Analysis: providing the basic tools necessary for effective research and analysis. | ||
| USP 492/ PLSI 492 |
Research Methods (4) | 4 |
| USP 493/ PLSI 493 |
Data Analysis (4) | 4 |
| Foundation Course in Policy or Planning: developing the conceptual and analytic approaches necessary for effective action intended to address current urban issues. | ||
| Units chosen from the following: | 4 | |
| USP 480/ PLSI 480 |
Introduction to Urban Policy and Analysis (4) | |
| USP 658/ GEOG 658 |
Land Use Planning (4) | |
| Fieldwork and Practical Applications: internship and research project providing carefully supervised hands-on experience in both a real-world work setting (the internship) and a practicum (the senior seminar). | ||
| USP 603 PLSI 603 |
Public Service Internships | 3 |
| USP 604 PLSI 604 |
Internship Seminar (1) | 1 |
| USP 680 | Senior Seminar (4) | 4 |
Total for Core: 30 - 31 units
Electives
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Focus of Interest | ||
| Upper division electives chosen by each student with the approval of a faculty advisor. The electives are courses focusing on particular urban planning and policy issue areas in which the theoretical and analytic approaches developed in the core courses are applied to critical contemporary issues. This allows students to develop familiarity and some expertise in a public policy area. Major urban planning and policy areas include housing and community development, land-use planning, transportation, sustainable development, and social policy. See the Department of Urban Studies and Planning Advising Handbook for descriptions of possible foci of interest. | 13 - 14 | |
Total for Major: 43 - 45
Minor in Urban Studies and Planning
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses (required of all students) | Units | |
| USP 401 GW | Seminar in Urban Studies and Planning - GWAR | 3 |
| USP 492/ PLSI 492 |
Research Methods | 4 |
| Emphasis (select electives from the list below) | 13-16 | |
Total units: 20 - 23 units
Minor in Urban Studies and Planning Elective Courses
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Units selected from the following: | 13-16 | |
| USP 433/ GEOG 433 |
Urban Transportation (4) | |
| USP 480/ PLSI 480 |
Introduction to Urban Policy and Analysis (4) | |
| USP 514 | Sustainable Development in Cities (4) | |
| USP 515/ GEOG 667 |
Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment (4) | |
| USP 560/ PLSI 560 |
Urban Poverty and Policy (4) | |
| USP 580/ PLSI 580 |
Housing Policy and Planning | |
| USP 652/ GEOG 652 |
Environmental Impact Analysis (4) | |
| USP 658/ GEOG 658 |
Land Use Planning (4) | |
| USP 660/ S W 660 |
The Roles of Nonprofit Organizations in Urban Life | |
| Approved substitute(s) with consent of advisor (3-4 units) | ||
Total for electives: 13 - 16 units
