Core Courses
PD 501 Evolution of Urban Structure
Required core course covers the evolution of urban and regional structure and function through a historic lens. Examines the social, economic, political, cultural, and technological forces and trends shaping places. Outlines the history of the planning profession and planning thought.
PD 508 Race, Class, Gender, and the City
Explores race, class, and gender as social constructs and examines the comparative nature of racial classification systems in the United States and elsewhere. Examines how relationships among economic development, public policy, and residential patterns constrain the development of communities of color. Emphasis on how planners can rebuild inner city neighborhoods within a metropolitan context.
PD 510 Planning Concepts and Controversies
Required core course introduces students to a broad range of planning concepts. Through lectures, readings, and case studies, examines the origins and concepts of traditional planning paradigms and traces recent and emerging planning approaches. Emphasizes close relationships between planning theory and planning practice, and explores the ethical implications of planning practice and thought.
PD 512 Research Methods in Planning
Required core course surveys methods for investigating and analyzing issues encountered in planning and public affairs, including research design, methods of analysis commonly used in professional planning practice, and demographic analysis. Emphasizes traditional social science methods and alternative approaches to research inquiry.
PD 538 Economic Concepts and Contexts
Provides students with the economic language and concepts critical for understanding and intervening in planning and policy. Applies basic economic concepts, the economics of markets, rationales for market intervention, and the economic pros and cons of alternative policy interventions in housing, transportation, poverty, environmental resources, land use and development, regional competition, economic development, and international trade.
PD 573 Land Use and Physical Planning
Introduces physical planning ideas and methods relevant to planning. Surveys the evolution of physical planning and design as professional fields, and introduces key theories and debates relevant to land use, physical planning, location analysis, environmental science, and planmaking.
