Department Electives
PD 301 Perspectives on Land Use and Development
Covers concepts and practices of urban land use and development in U.S. Topics include zoning, growth management, site planning, and land use evolution. Includes fieldwork. SEM
PD 305 Environmental Assessment
How communities learn about and discuss the natural/built environment. Considers possible roles for community planners and environmental designers. SEM
PD 312 Design of Cities
Traces evolution of urban form and character from Greek city-states to the present. Emphasizes how technological, social, economic, and political changes affect urban layout and functioning. LEC
PD 355 Urban and Environmental Information
Examines, uses, and assesses urban information systems, such as signage, environmental data, and neighborhood demographics. Fieldwork. LEC
PD 356 Computing for Environmental Analysis
Covers basics of GIS and other computer tools for understanding, mapping, and analyzing natural and built environments. Includes weekly computer lab. LEC
PD 362 Property Management
Considers the strategic planning, design, and management of facilities, from cubicles to corporate campuses. SEM
PD 379 City Through Film
Through weekly film screenings, discussions, readings, and critiques, explores themes of urban imagery, inner city, city-suburb relations, planning and politics, and urban futures in cinema. LEC
PD 402 Real Estate Development Business
Introduces students to all aspects of real estate development, including planning, site acquisition, project feasibility, finance, and development. Uses case studies, small group workshops, fieldwork, readings, and discussions. LEC
PD 406 Community Development Processes
Prerequisite: senior standing and permission of the instructor
Studies theories, concepts, and practices of neighborhood planning and community development, emphasizing local urban neighborhoods. SEM
PD 407 Site Planning and Design
Overview of facilities programming, processes and approaches. Focuses on the performance concept applied to environmental design, using human factors as a basis for developing building programs, and introduces research methods used in pre-design activities. LEC
PD 422 Economic Development Planning and Industrial Change
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor
Covers theory, concepts, and practices in contemporary economic development planning. Considers alternative approaches to job growth, including industrial development, workforce training, and quality of life strategies. SEM
PD 435 Introduction to Urban Management
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor
Introduces concepts of urban management, including roles of planners as advocates, advisors, and information resources. Focus on complex inner-city problems and reforms. SEM
PD 439 Local Government Finance and Budgeting
Introduces studetns to the theory, practice, and real world applications of the financial operations of local government. Budgeting, revenue analysis, capital project planning, and issues such as fiscal impact are covered. LEC
PD 443 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor
Introduces and practices techniques in negotiations and bargaining, particularly as applied to planning and environmental conflict. SEM
PD 463 Cities and Globalization
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor
Considers “world cities” and how global trends and forces shape the design, politics, social life, and economies of urban places. SEM
PD 469 GIS Applications in Planning
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor, PD 356
Covers theory, techniques, and applications in geographic information systems, particularly as applied to planning problems and issues. Includes weekly computer lab. SEM
PD 473 Physical and Spatial Planning
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor
Introduces concepts and techniques in land use planning, site plan assessment, property development, and redevelopment planning. Fieldwork. SEM
PD 479 Global Issues and Futures
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of the instructor
Covers concepts and methods in futures planning, including scenario development, projections, and global trend analysis. SEM
PD 488 - 491 Special Topics
Topics vary annually. In the past such courses have addressed planning and environmental design, hidden systems of urban environments—utilities, water, sewer, telecommunications, and transport—urban hazards and disasters, etc. SEM
PD 496 Internship
Offers opportunity to work in urban or rural agencies for housing, planning, transportation, community development, and design. TUT
