This course provides an overview of the planning of cities and metropolitan regions. The legal and historical context as well as substantive areas of urban planning are addressed.
By the end of the course, students will be able to
- Explain the historical development of human settlements and the emergence of cities
- Analyze city plans and understand the social, economic, political, and environmental forces that shape urban planning
- Demonstrate a solid understanding of foundational planning theories and key areas within the planning discipline
- Apply planning theories to real-world planning practices, policies, and case studies
All required materials will be made available on our Canvas site. There are no textbooks that students must purchase. All readings and assignments will be posted on Canvas.
Class Participation and Attendance: 10%
Reading Reflections and Discussion: 20%
Group Project: 20% (or Individual Project – based on the number of students)
Exam 1 (Midterm): 25%
Exam 2 (Final): 25%
Optional Extra Credit: 5%
Active class participation and consistent attendance are essential components of this course. Engaging in class discussions enhances understanding of the material and contributes to a more enjoyable learning experience. Students are permitted to miss up to two classes for any reason without penalty. Absences beyond this limit will result in a reduction of the attendance grade. If a student anticipates missing more than two classes, they must notify the instructor in advance. The instructor will make every effort to accommodate the student’s circumstances.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy. For information on the Georgia Tech Student Honor code, consult the website: https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-life/academic-honor-code. Students are expected to uphold and abide by this Honor Code.
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I understand human experiences and connections?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcomes:
- Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Intercultural Competence
- Perspective-Taking
- Persuasion