Urban Studies and Planning
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Social Sciences Public Engagement Building (PEB), Third Floor
http://usp.ucsd.edu
All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.
The Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Cities are now home to more than half of the people on earth—and this proportion is increasing rapidly. The number of city dwellers is projected to grow to 6.4 billion by 2050, making the planet’s population two-thirds urban. Global urbanization is one of the twenty-first century’s most complex and transformative trends worldwide. Accordingly, the United Nations adopted a New Urban Agenda in 2016 to set global standards for sustainable urban development, addressing how cities, their neighborhoods, and the regions in which they are situated are planned, designed, financed, developed, governed, and managed. Sustainable urban development will require a significant change in the ways in which we plan, build, and live in human settlements. Cities across the world will need to balance population growth, land scarcity, social and economic equity, demographic shifts, and climate-change related adaption. The Department of Urban Studies and Planning recognizes the critical importance of educating the next generation of urban problem solvers and offers two undergraduate degrees: the BA in Urban Studies and Planning and the BS in Real Estate and Development.
The Department of Urban Studies and Planning has a rich history dating back to 1971. It is a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff with a broad range of interests and goals. The department has three undergraduate student clubs and student chapters or affiliations with prominent organizations such as NAIOP, the Urban Land Institute, the American Planning Association, the Association of Environmental Professionals, and the Construction Management Association of America. Urban studies and planning provides students with the opportunity to engage in experiential learning, place-based research, internships, and practicum experiences focused on issues such as community economic development, physical planning, urban design, affordable housing, real estate development, sustainable development, transportation policy, healthy placemaking, and active living. The Department of Urban Studies and Planning provides students with a solid foundation for graduate study or for professional work in a number of fields in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors both domestically and internationally. After graduation, some alumni pursue graduate work in social science disciplines. Others pursue graduate studies in urban planning, real estate development, public policy, law, landscape architecture, or architecture. The Department of Urban Studies and Planning also attracts students interested in medicine and public-health issues who continue to study in these areas at schools of medicine or public health. Many students find employment opportunities through internship placements. More generally, graduates of the Urban Studies and Planning Program will have the analytic skills to think clearly and act creatively about the problems and prospects of neighborhoods, cities, and metropolitan regions.
The Urban Studies and Planning Major
The urban studies and planning major provides students with a variety of perspectives for understanding the development, growth, and culture of cities and the communities within them. Course work introduces students to the ways different disciplines understand cities and the societies of which they are a part. Upper-division requirements educate students about the parameters within which urban choices are made. The urban studies and planning major is the oldest and most comprehensive undergraduate urban planning degree program in the University of California system.
One of the outstanding features of the urban studies and planning major is the upper-division senior sequence—an integrated research, internship, and writing requirement. During the two-quarter senior sequence, designed to be taken in the fall and winter of the senior year, all USP majors learn how to write a research proposal, carry out the proposed research, and share the results in the form of a scholarly thesis, poster, and video. The posters go on display at USP’s well-attended annual Urban Expo. The senior sequence allows students to self-select a topic of interest and work on specific planning, policy, urban design, and development projects in San Diego and the surrounding region, including sites across the international border in Mexico. Eligible students may choose to enroll in USP 190 in the spring to write an honors thesis. The honors option is an opportunity to do advanced research and writing that builds on work already completed in the senior sequence.
A Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and Planning will be given to students who satisfactorily complete the general-education requirements of Muir, Revelle, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, or Sixth College in addition to the urban studies and planning courses described below. The undergraduate program in urban studies and planning requires a four-quarter lower-division sequence in urban studies (USP 1-2-3-4), POLI 30, and twelve courses in upper-division urban studies and planning. Students are encouraged to complete the lower-division prerequisites before they enroll in the upper-division courses.
In accordance with campus academic regulations, courses used to satisfy the major cannot be applied toward a minor, although some overlap is allowed for double majors. All lower-division and upper-division requirements must be taken for a letter grade. A 2.0 grade point average is required in the major, and students must earn at least C– in each course used for the major. Transfer students should see the USP major affairs adviser to determine whether courses taken elsewhere satisfy USP major requirements. No more than one special studies course, USP 198 or USP 199, will be accepted to count toward the major.
Lower-Division Requirements
Students majoring in urban studies and planning must complete the introductory sequence:
USP 1. History of US Urban Communities (4)
USP 2. Urban World System (4)
USP 3. The City and Social Theory (4)
USP 4. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (4)
and
POLI 30D. Political Inquiry (4)
(PSYC 60, Introduction to Statistics, or SOCI 60, The Practice of Social Research, may be substituted for POLI 30D.)
Upper-Division Requirements
The upper-division requirements in urban studies and planning are
- USP 124 and one additional foundation course
- one research methods course to be taken junior year
- one technical elective course to be taken junior year
- two senior sequence courses
- six upper-division elective courses
Foundation Courses
Foundation courses provide the conceptual tools for the major. Students are required to complete USP 124, Land Use Planning, and to choose one of the following:
USP 100. Introduction to Urban Planning (4)
USP 103. American City in the Twentieth Century (HIUS 148) (4)
USP 104. Ethnic Diversity and the City (ETHN 105) (4)
USP 105. Urban Sociology (SOCI 153) (4)
USP 106/HIUS 129. The History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities (4)
USP 107. Urban Politics (POLI 102E) (4)
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design (4)
Research Methods Courses
Students are to choose one course of the following:
USP 125. The Design of Social Research (4)
USP 129. Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities (ETHN 190) (4)
USP 141A. Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals (4)
USP 142A. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Core Fundamentals (4)
USP 160. Research Methods: Analyzing Crime (4)
USP 188. Mexican Migration Field Research Practicum (SOCI 188) (4)
USP 193. San Diego Community Research (4)
Technical Elective Courses
Students are to choose one course of the following:
USP 169. Introduction to Green Building (4)
USP 172. Graphics, Visual Communication, and Urban Information
USP 175. Site Analysis
USP 177. Urban Design Practicum
USP 191. Intermediate Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning (prerequisite: USP 4)
Senior Sequence Requirement
In their senior year, all students must complete the senior sequence: USP 186 in the fall, and USP 187 in the winter. These courses must be taken in order. The sequence develops each student’s ability to (1) critically review research literature; (2) formulate interesting research questions of their own; (3) design an original research project and investigative strategy; (4) conduct research; and (5) analyze, interpret, and write up findings. The final requirement of USP 186 is a research proposal. By the end of USP 187, each student must complete a Senior Research Project that includes a scholarly thesis coupled with a poster and video designed to share the research with select audiences.
Because the senior sequence includes an internship, no other internship or field placement will be counted toward the major. Students are required to complete USP 124, a research methods course, and a technical elective course prior to enrolling in USP 186.
Honors in Urban Studies and Planning
Candidates for honors in urban studies and planning are required to take USP 190, Senior Honors Seminar, in which students write a senior thesis. Prerequisites for enrolling in USP 190, are a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major, senior standing, USP 186 and USP 187, and consent of instructor. Majors who plan to enroll in USP 190 must declare their intent fall quarter in USP 186.
USP 190. Senior Honors Seminar (4)
Upper-Division Elective Courses
Students are encouraged to pick an area of concentration and choose upper-division electives listed under that cluster. Students may also define their own area of concentration and design an appropriate curriculum drawn from courses offered by USP and other related departments. USP 199, Independent Study, taken for Pass/Not Pass counts for one USP upper-division elective course.
Urban/Regional Policy and Planning
USP 100. Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 101/POLI 160AA. Introduction to Policy Analysis
USP 107/POLI 102E. Urban Politics
USP 109. California Government and Politics
USP 110/POLI 102J. Advanced Topics in Urban Politics
USP 111/POLI 102JJ. Field Research in Urban Politics
USP 113/POLI 103B. Politics and Policymaking in Los Angeles
USP 115/POLI 103C. Politics and Policymaking in San Diego
USP 116. California Local Government: Finance and Administration
USP 120. Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Real Estate
USP 124. Land Use Planning
USP 126. Comparative Land Use and Resource Management
USP 131. Culture, Tourism, and the Urban Economy: Case Studies of Craft Breweries
USP 133/SOCI 152. Social Inequality and Public Policy
USP 136. Community Organizing
USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice
USP 138. Urban Economic Development
USP 139. Urban Design and Economic Development
USP 154. Global Justice in Theory and Action
USP 165A. Advanced Special Topics in Housing
USP 165B. Advanced Special Topics in Sustainability
USP 165C. Advanced Special Topics in Transportation
USP 165D. Advanced Special Topics in Urban Design and Land Use
USP 170. Sustainable Planning
USP 171. Sustainable Development
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design
USP 174. Regional Governance and Planning Reconsidered
USP 175. Site Analysis: Opportunities and Constraints
USP 176. Binational Regional Governance
USP 180. Transportation Planning
USP 181. Public Transportation
USP 182. Gentrification
USP 189. Special Topics in Urban Planning
USP 191. Intermediate GIS for Urban and Community Planning
USP 193. San Diego Community Research
ANBI 132/BIEB 176. Conservation and the Human Predicament
ECON 116. Economic Development
ECON 118. Law and Economics: Torts, Property, and Crime
ECON 130. Public Policy
ECON 131. Economics of the Environment
ECON 139. Labor Economics
ECON 150. Economics of the Public Sector: Taxation
ECON 151. Economics of the Public Sector: Expenditures
ECON 155. Political Economics
ENVR 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies
ENVR 130. Environmental Issues: Social Sciences
POLI 160AB. Introduction to Policy Analysis
POLI 162. Environmental Policy
POLI 168. Policy Assessment
SOCI 121. Economy and Society
SOCI 146. Law Enforcement in America
SOCI 155. The City of San Diego
SOCI 169. Citizenship, Community, and Culture
SOCI 179. Social Change
SOCI 180. Social Movements and Social Protest
Urban Design/Built Environment
USP 124. Land Use Planning
USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice
USP 161. Environmental Design and Crime Prevention
USP 165A. Advanced Special Topics in Housing
USP 165B. Advanced Special Topics in Sustainability
USP 165D. Advanced Special Topics in Urban Design and Land Use
USP 170. Sustainable Planning
USP 171. Sustainable Development
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design
USP 174. Regional Governance and Planning Reconsidered
USP 175. Site Analysis: Opportunities and Constraints
USP 177. Urban Design Practicum
USP 179. Urban Design, Theory, and Practice
USP 180. Transportation Planning
USP 182. Gentrification
USP 191. Intermediate GIS for Urban and Community Planning
USP 193. San Diego Community Research
ENVR 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies
ENVR 110. Environmental Law
ENVR 130. Environmental Issues: Social Sciences
ETHN 103. Environmental Racism
ETHN 104. Race, Space, and Segregation
HISC 172/272. Building America: Technology, Culture, and the Built Environment in the United States
POLI 125A. Communities and the Environment
POLI 162. Environmental Policy
VIS 110G. The Natural and Altered Environment
VIS 111. Structure of Art
Health, Social Services, and Education
USP 101/POLI 160AA. Introduction to Policy Analysis
USP 114. Communication and Social Institutions: Science Communication
USP 133/SOCI 152. Social Inequality and Public Policy
USP 134. Community Youth Development
USP 136. Community Organizing
USP 141A. Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals
USP 141B. Life Course Scholars Capstone Project
USP 142A. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Core Fundamentals
USP 142B. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 143. The US Health-Care System
USP 144. Environmental and Preventive Health Issues
USP 145. Aging—Social and Health Policy Issues
USP 147. Case Studies in Health Care Programs/Poor and Underserved Populations
USP 154/POLI 111B. Global Justice in Theory and Action
ECON 130. Public Policy
ECON 139. Labor Economics
ECON 150. Economics of the Public Sector: Taxation
ECON 151. Economics of the Public Sector: Expenditures
ECON 155. Political Economics
EDS 130. Introduction to Academic Mentoring of Elementary School Students
ETHN 142. Medicine, Race, and the Global Politics of Inequality
PHIL 163. Biomedical Ethics
POLI 168. Policy Assessment
PSYC 104. Introduction in Social Psychology
SOCI 112. Social Psychology
SOCI 117/EDS 117. Language, Culture, and Education
SOCI 123. Sociology of Work
SOCI 126/EDS 126. Social Organization of Education
SOCI 132. Gender and Work
SOCI 135. Medical Sociology
SOCI 136E. Sociology of Mental Illness: A Historical Approach
SOCI 136F. Sociology of Mental Illness in Contemporary Society
SOCI 141. Crime and Society
SOCI 159. Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions
Urban Diversity
USP 104/ETHN 105. Ethnic Diversity and the City
USP 106/HIUS 129. History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities
USP 129/ETHN 190. Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities
USP 130/ETHN 107. Fieldwork in Racial and Ethnic Communities
USP 132/ETHN 188. African Americans, Religion, and the City
USP 135/ETHN 129. Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
USP 141A. Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals
USP 141B. Life Course Scholars Capstone Project
USP 142A. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Core Fundamentals
USP 142B. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 149. Madness and Urbanization
USP 154/POLI 111B. Global Justice in Theory and Action
ANSC 131. Urban Cultures in Latin America
ETHN 118. Contemporary Immigration Issues
ETHN 121. Contemporary Asian American History
ETHN 123. Asian American Politics
ETHN 131/HIUS 159. Social and Economic History of the Southwest II
ETHN 151. Ethnic Politics in America
ETHN 161. Black Politics and Protest Since 1941
ETHN 184. Black Intellectuals in the Twentieth Century
HILA 115. The Latin American City, a History
HILA 121. History of Brazil
HITO 180. Housing in the Developing World
HIUS 114. California History
HIUS 117. History of Los Angeles
HIUS 180/ETHN 134. Immigration and Ethnicity in Modern American Society
POLI 100H. Race and Ethnicity in American Politics
POLI 100J. Race in American Political Development
POLI 105A. Latino Politics in the U.S.
POLI 150A. Politics of Immigration
SOCI 100. Classical Sociological Theory
SOCI 125. Sociology of Immigration
SOCI 139. Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender
SOCI 144. Forms of Social Control
SOCI 148. Political Sociology
SOCI 148E. Inequality and Jobs
SOCI 151. Comparative Race and Ethnic Relations
Cities in Historical and Comparative Perspectives
USP 105/SOCI 153. Urban Sociology
USP 106/HIUS 129. The History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities
USP 107/POLI 102E. Urban Politics
USP 167/HIUS 123. History of New York City
USP 168/HIUS 117. History of Los Angeles
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design
ANSC 131. Urban Cultures in Latin America
ECON 116. Economic Development
ETHN 121. Contemporary Asian American History
ETHN 131/HIUS 159. Social and Economic History of the Southwest II
HIEU 129. Paris, Past and Present
HILA 115. The Latin American City, a History
HILA 121. History of Brazil
HIUS 114. California History
HIUS 117. History of Los Angeles
HIUS 124/ETHN 125. Asian American History
HIUS 139. African American History in the Twentieth Century
HIUS 140/ECON 158A. Economic History
HIUS 141/ECON 158B. Economic History of the United States II
HIUS 154. Western Environmental History
The Minor Program
The Urban Studies and Planning Minor
The urban studies and planning minor consists of seven courses in urban studies and planning, selected with the prior approval of the USP student affairs adviser. Students who wish to minor in urban studies may do so by taking any two courses from among the lower-division sequence and the upper-division foundation courses, and five upper-division courses from among those that serve the USP major. All courses must be taken for a letter grade not lower than a C–. Courses selected need approval from the USP undergraduate adviser. Students can declare the minor online.
The Real Estate and Development Major
The real estate and development (RED) major at UC San Diego is one of the most comprehensive undergraduate programs of its kind in the country. It recognizes that the next generation of real estate and development innovators will need to understand the nexus between real estate finance and development, data analysis, urban planning and design, environmental regulations, and new technologies. The major also emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships and knowledge of the role and function of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors at the neighborhood, city, and regional level. It recognizes the importance of supplementing classroom instruction with professional development opportunities and uses the San Diego-Tijuana city-region as a living laboratory for hands-on, project-based learning.
The curriculum for the bachelor of science in RED is broad and interdisciplinary in response to the diverse ways in which real estate impacts the ways people live, work, and enrich their lives. Required courses include economics, business management, urban planning, real estate finance, real estate law, sustainable development, and urban design. All course work is designed to facilitate qualitative, quantitative, analytical, strategic, design, and problem-solving, solutions-oriented skills. Students pursuing the RED major are encouraged to pair their degree with a minor degree in urban studies and planning or one of the many minor degrees offered at UC San Diego, particularly those offered by the Rady School of Management including the minor in business and the minor in entrepreneurship and innovation.
One of the outstanding features of the real estate and development major is the upper-division capstone studio requirement. During a two-quarter “Capstone Studio Sequence,” designed to be taken in fall and winter of the senior year, all RED majors are guided through a hands-on, actual real estate finance and development project. Through project-based learning, students work in teams culminating with the presentation of their findings at the annual Urban Expo hosted by the Urban Studies and Planning Program.
A bachelor of science degree in RED will be given to students who satisfactorily complete the general-education requirements of Muir, Revelle, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, or Sixth College in addition to the real estate and sustainable development courses described below. The undergraduate RED major requires eight lower-division courses, ten upper-division courses, and the required two-quarter Capstone Studio Sequence. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the lower-division requirements before they enroll in the upper-division courses.
Lower-Division Requirements
Students majoring in real estate and development must complete
USP 1. History of US Urban Communities OR USP 2. Urban World System
USP 5. Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
USP 15. Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development (to be taken after completion of ECON 1)
USP 25. Real Estate and Development Principles and Analysis
MATH 10A. Calculus 1 OR MATH 20A. Calculus for Science and Engineering OR MGT 3. Quantitative Methods
ECON 1. Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 4/MGT 4. Financial Accounting
MGT 5 (ECON 4/MGT 4 and MGT 5 may be replaced with MGT 45)
Upper-Division Requirements
The upper-division requirements in real estate and development are
- Seven foundation courses (twenty-eight units)
- One technical elective (four units)
- Two upper-division electives (eight units)
- Two real estate finance and development Capstone Studio Sequence courses (twelve units)
Foundation Courses
Foundation courses provide the conceptual tools for the major. Students are to complete the following:
USP 124. Land Use Planning
USP 150. Real Estate and Development Law and Regulation
USP 151. Real Estate Planning and Development
USP 152. Real Estate Development Finance and Investment
USP 153. Real Estate and Development Market Analysis
USP 171. Sustainable Development
MGT 172. Business Project Management
Technical Elective
Students are to choose one course (four units) of the following:
USP 169. Introduction to Green Building
USP 172. Graphics, Visual Communication, and Urban Information
USP 175. Site Analysis
USP 177. Urban Design Practicum
USP 191. Intermediate GIS for Urban and Community Planning
Upper-Division Electives
Students are to choose two courses (or eight units) from
ECON 116. Economic Development
ECON 125. Demographic Analysis and Forecasting
ECON 131. Economics of the Environment
USP 120. Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Real Estate
USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice
USP 155. Real Estate Development in Global and Comparative Perspective
USP 159A. NAIOP Real Estate University Challenge I
USP 170. Sustainable Planning
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design
USP 179. Urban Design, Theory, and Practice
USP 180. Transportation Planning
USP 181. Public Transportation
MGT 112. Global Business Strategy
MGT 153. Business Analytics
MGT 157. Real Estate Securitization
MGT 158. Real Estate and the Tech Sector
MGT 162. Negotiation
MGT 164. Business and Organizational Leadership
MGT 166. Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
MGT 181. Enterprise Finance
Real Estate and Development Capstone Studio
In their senior year, all RED majors must complete the Capstone Studio Sequence: USP 185A in fall, and USP 185B in winter. These courses must be taken in order. Working in teams, the real estate and development studio advances each student’s ability to (1) critically approach the real estate finance, development, and design process; (2) gather and manage complex sources of research and knowledge as part of an integrated team approach; (3) prepare a detailed pro forma financial analysis; (4) evaluate all site constraints and opportunities; (5) evaluate all market constraints and opportunities; (6) develop a complete urban design program; (7) develop a plan to market, lease, and/or sell the development; and (8) analyze, interpret, and write up the findings. Each team will prepare a final written report and presentation drawings. The studio will culminate with a public presentation of the students’ work at the USP Program’s annual Urban Expo held every March to showcase undergraduate research.
Students must complete USP 124, USP 151, USP 152, and USP 153 prior to enrolling in USP 185A.
The Minor Program
The real estate and development minor (RED) consists of seven courses (28 units). Students who wish to minor in real estate and development may do so by taking two required lower-division courses, four required upper-division courses, and one upper-division elective. All courses must be taken for a letter grade not lower than a C–. Courses selected need approval from the USP program adviser. Students can declare the minor online.
Lower-Division Requirements
Students minoring in real estate development must complete
USP 5. Introduction to the Real Estate and Development Process
USP 15. Applied Urban Economics for Planning and Development
Upper-Division Requirements
The upper-division requirements in real estate and development are
- four foundation courses
- one upper-division elective
Foundation Courses
Foundation courses provide the conceptual tools for the major. Students are required to complete the following:
USP 124. Land Use Planning
USP 150. Real Estate and Development Law and Regulation
USP 151. Real Estate Planning and Development
MGT 181. Enterprise Finance
Upper-Division Electives
Students are to choose one of the following:
USP 120. Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Real Estate
USP 137. Housing and Community Development Policy and Practice
USP 152. Real Estate Development Finance and Investment
USP 153. Real Estate and Development Market Analysis
USP 155. Real Estate Development in Global and Comparative Perspective
USP 159A. NAIOP Real Estate University Challenge I
USP 161. Environmental Design and Crime Prevention
USP 170. Sustainable Planning
USP 171. Sustainable Development
USP 172. Graphics, Visual Communication, and Urban Information
USP 173. History of Urban Planning and Design
USP 175. Site Analysis
USP 177. Urban Design Practicum
USP 179. Urban Design, Theory, and Practice
USP 180. Transportation Planning
USP 181. Public Transportation
USP 191. GIS for Urban and Community Planning
MGT 112. Global Business Strategy
MGT 153. Business Analytics
MGT 157. Real Estate Securitization
MGT 158. Real Estate and the Tech Sector
MGT 162. Negotiation
MGT 164. Business and Organizational Leadership
MGT 166. Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
MGT 172. Business Project Management
Education Abroad Program
Students are encouraged to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) or Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making progress toward completing their major. For more information on EAP, see the section of this catalog on the Education Abroad Program or visit http://studyabroad.ucsd.edu/. Students considering this option are advised to discuss their plans with the USP student affairs adviser before going abroad.