Urban Studies (URBS)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
URBS 505. GIS for Planning & Policy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): For students enrolled in URBS 505 only: URBS 201, URBS 202, and completion of at least 60 credit hours of prior coursework; no prerequisites for students enrolled in URBS 605.
Description: This course will introduce students to geographic information systems (GIS) as an analytical tool with which to study urban demographic issues. The material will be geared towards students in the urban planning, public administration, and urban studies programs, with a focus on demographic data and issues frequently encountered by planners, policymakers, and policy analysts. Topics that will be covered include migration, housing and neighborhood development, segregation, and land use.
Note: Cross-listed with URBS 605.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 601. Planning Theory & History3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course will introduce the historic foundation of modern urban planning, and investigate the central themes in planning theory, using both historical and contemporary contexts to assist in the understanding of its role in shaping planning thought and practice.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 602. Urban Economics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PLAN 500 and ECON 500, or consent of instructor.
Description: Application of economic theory to urban policy issues including metropolitan development and job creation, poverty, crime, transportation, environment, spatial structure, and other issues.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 603. Applied Research Methods3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course is designed to provide students with the basic analytic tools that are commonly used by professional planners and policy analysis in their daily practice, with a special emphasis on techniques for population and economic analysis. The course will instruct students in foundational statistical methods and techniques, as well as additional analytical tools, including the assumptions underlying the tools and methods and strengths and weaknesses of the tools and methods.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 604. Land Use & Planning Law2-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course examines legal issues related to planning and land use activities in the U.S. Students will study various legal and regulatory tools, including ordinances, state and federal legislation, and judicial decisions. Considerable attention will be given to planning perspectives on legal problems, as well as legal perspectives on planning problems, and thus has an interdisciplinary focus.
Note: Cross-listed with LAW 904.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 605. Urban Demography and GIS3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): For students enrolled in URBS 505 only: URBS 201, URBS 202, and completion of at least 60 credit hours of prior coursework; no prerequisites for students enrolled in URBS 505.
Description: This course will introduce students to geographic information systems (GIS) as an analytical tool with which to study urban demographic issues. The material will be geared towards students in the urban planning, public administration, and urban studies programs, with a focus on demographic data and issues frequently encountered by planners, policymakers, and policy analysts. Topics that will be covered include migration, housing and neighborhood development, segregation, and land use.
Note: Cross-listed with URBS 505.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 606. Site Planning3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course introduces art and aesthetics of site planning through lectures, readings, discussions, site visits, and a studio project.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 610. Internship and Professional Practice3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Application of internship experience to government organization; the role of planning in governmental decision-making; the planner's relations with citizens, politicians and administrators; strategies for dealing with conflict, pressure, and uncertainty; and ethics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 611. Real Estate Principles3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: A general introduction to real estate as a business and as a profession, designed to acquaint the student with the wide range of subjects necessary to the practice of real estate.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 613. Real Estate Market Analysis3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 602 or approval of instructor.
Description: Covers concepts, methodologies and analytical tools used in urban real estate market analysis, with a particular emphasis on site selection using GIS applications.
Note: Cross-listed with GEOG 635.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 614. Transportation and Land Use Planning3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This course provides an understanding of the history and current characteristics of land use planning and policy. Topics include the comprehensive plan, regulatory controls such as zoning, fiscal mechanisms of control, land use and environmental disputes, regional planning, and growth management.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 615. Environmental Policy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Survey of environmental issues and policies designed to address those issues.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 627.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 618. Urban Design3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Covers theories, principles, and processes of urban design, including applications to actual design problems.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 620. Capstone Studio6 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: The Capstone Studio course allows students to apply the various skills acquired over the course of their graduate studies to a practical planning project co-produced with a local community partner. At the center of the course is a group, experiential learning assignment focused on applying and sharpening planning related knowledge and other professional skills, such as leadership and teamwork, necessary to excel as a practicing planner.Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
Note: Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL).
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 621. Housing and Community Development3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Examines issues in housing and community development.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 622. Historic Preservation and Sustainable Practice3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This course is a graduate level course on historic preservation, examining sustainable practices in Louisville and other regions. The course examines architecture and the built environment as it relates to historic preservation, urban revitalization, and the contributions of other disciplines such as urban planning, economics, and political science to the principles and practice of preservation.
Note: Cross-listed with PADM 651 and UPA 651.
Note: Course fee.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 623. Neighborhood Planning Studio3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This studio course introduces the skills, practices, and values fundamental to the development of a successful neighborhood plan, and explores the variety of planning approaches within a practical context.Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
Note: CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL).
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 624. Urban Transportation Planning3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): URBS 602.
Description: Analysis of characteristics and costs of existing and innovative urban transportation systems. Role of planning methods in estimating transportation usage and choosing optimal plans.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 626. Analytical Urban Geography3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): URBS 605 or consent of instructor.
Description: Advanced analysis of urban spatial processes and patterns with an emphasis on quantitative data and models.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 627. The Just City3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Planners are called upon to promote equity in their work, to assure fairness in their procedures and secure justice through their plans and programs. Social and racial equity represent more than just equality but should produce societal fairness and equal opportunity. Many groups in the U.S. are marginalized by inequitable conditions, policies, and disparate outcomes. From the inner city to declining inner suburbs or impoverished rural areas, distressed, opportunity-deprived communities limit the life chances for their residents and impact everyone. The course will investigate the planning processes that have produced inequitable outcomes in communities and explore best practices for the future.
Note: Cross-listed with 427.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 631. Introduction to Sustainability3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: An introduction to the theories, principles, and practices of sustainability from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 632. Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course examines sustainability problems and processes as embedded within large social-ecological systems and societal frameworks in the U.S. and globally. Students will examine topics in sustainability from a holistic systems perspective, in which "sustainability" is seen to integrate multiple actors, social systems (e.g., culture, economy, communities, and governance), environmental processes, and built / technological infrastructures at multiple scales to archive human welfare and lasting environmental prosperity (i.e., "social-ecological sustainability").
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 633. Sustainable Development & Planning3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: The course is designed to address institutions and governance in sustainable development, and will take an interdisclipinary approach. The course will be open to graduate students in any program at UofL.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 641. Urban Justice & Policy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): For Law School students: LAW 802, LAW 804, LAW 806, LAW 810, LAW 811, LAW 803, LAW 805, LAW 807, LAW 808, LAW 812, unless approved by Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Description: All other students: must be a graduate student in good standing unless waived by the professor teaching the course. For other students: graduate status or permission of instructor. An interdisciplinary study of various theories and concepts of justice in cities. Students will study selected urban policy problems through the perspectives of diverse theories and concepts of justice.
Note: Cross-listed with LAW 846.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 643. Water Resources Law and Policy2-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Description: This course involves the study of water rights, and the policies and legal principles governing the management of water resources generally. Specific topics may vary. Topics may include riparian rights, prior appropriation systems, water use permitting systems and statutory codes, the management drainage and runoff, the law and practices of water institutions, interstate water disputes, watershed-based management, integration of water supply and water quality protections, and the control and distribution of clean drinking water supplies. May be offered as a seminar.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 651. Foundations of Public Administration3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Using the classic writings in the field of public administration for the past 150 years, the course explores the theoretical foundations of public administration and applies the theories to current practice in public administration.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 625.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 652. Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course will cover the key concepts and issues in program evaluation, including performance measurement, threats to validity, data sources and measurement issues, and research design. The primary objective of this course is for the student to understand the professional practice of program evaluation and the ethical considerations that guide the professional evaluator.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 653. Urban Policy Analysis3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: An introduction to basic issues in urban policy analysis, with an emphasis on the urban context. The course describes policy formulation of alternative policy options, analytical tools commonly used to evaluate policies, the correspondence between research and policy analysis, and the practical implications of policy analysis.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 654. Ethics in Public Administration3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Analyzes and explains the role of ethics for the practice of public administration. The development of ethical codes is traced from moral and constitutional roots. Course will include case studies and legal precedents.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 655. Human Resources Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Basic theories, public policies, laws, regulations, problems, and prospects of human resource development and management within the context of the public sector.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 656. Cultural Competency and Action3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Summer Only
Description: This course primarily focuses on the professional development of public administrators. It seeks to improve their knowledge about diverse issues of discrimination and prejudice in the public sector. It provides a framework for examining factors related to discrimination as well as racism, sexism, and heterosexism in terms of political history, power, stereotyped perceptions and practices across society, groups and among individuals.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 660. Practicum/Internship1-6 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 661. Public Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: An applied course focusing on developing the knowledge base and skill set one needs to effectively manage a public organization. Special emphasis on leadership models for the public sector.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 662. Public Budgeting3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Examines public budgeting and finance from economics, political, and institutional perspectives. Topics include: budget process, approaches and techniques of budgeting, ethics, intergovernmental fiscal relations, revenue-raising, capital budgeting, debt administration and risk management.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 663. Economic Development3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: The course provides an introduction to the many facets of economic development, including the context, theory, process and practice of economic development planning and policy.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 664. Social Equity and the Public Sector3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course will provide a comprehensive review of social equity in American public administration.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 666. Nonprofit Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Management of nonprofit organizations is a graduate seminar in the Masters of Public Administration program. Its purpose is to apply management theories and concepts to nonprofit organizations. As such, the emphasis of this seminar will be relating how nonprofits are managed in a time of scarce resources. Furthermore, students will understand challenges faced by managers as they seek to meet mission objectives, attract public and private support, work with and motivate volunteers, collaborate with other sectors, and meet the challenges of meeting performance objectives.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 667. Budgeting and Finance3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Examines accounting and financial management for managers of public and not-for-profit organizations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 668. Grantsmanship and Fundraising3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: A critical examination of methods and tools for developing grant proposals and raising funds for organizations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 669. Leadership and Community Engagement3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Focus on leadership approaches, theories and principles in the public and nonprofit sectors to improve performance, meet citizen expectations, and restore trust. Students learn effective leadership and community engagement practices for transforming organizations and communities.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 671. Organizational Behavior3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Concepts and theories from the behavioral sciences that describe human behavior in public organizations. Special emphasis on organizational culture and group dynamics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 672. Mediation and Dispute Resolution3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Designed principally for incipient practitioners of the mediation process. Class participation, serving as a mediator in cases presented to the class, and a short paper depicting mediating in process are the course requirements.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 628.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 675. Thesis1-6 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Description: Thesis research/preparation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 681. Urban Policy and Governance3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: A study of urban policy and its impacts upon cities and particular segments of the population. Emphasizes the content, evolution, and consequences of national urban policy. Examines centralization and decentralization of metropolitan government, intergovernmental systems, and their relationship to policy implementation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 682. Urban Theory3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course explores how theory and interpretive history illuminate the contemporary nature of the city. Introduces epistemological concerns and the nature of knowledge in describing the city and its urban form.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 683. Urban Experiential Learning3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course is a graduate seminar focused on the practical aspects of neighborhood and city growth and development. Through readings, discussion, debate and applied examples, students will learn how social and political factors structure neighborhoods, and the impact of federal, state, and local level programs on neighborhoods and cities. The course will draw from the experiences of developers, council members, community organizations, and other local stakeholders within the city of Louisville. Teaching modalities include slide and multimedia presentations, class discussions, field work, guest lectures, and walking tours.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 684. Research Design3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of social science research design. Topics will include the fundamentals of scientific inquiry, the various epistemological approaches to investigating social phenomena, techniques of data collection, and ethical considerations in research.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 685. Qualitative Methods3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: An examination of the philosophical underpinnings of the qualitative approach with practical experience in conducting qualitative research.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 686. Urban Ethnography3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This seminar-style course explores three dimensions of ethnography: first as a distinct form of knowledge; secondly as a research method; and thirdly as a genre of writing.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 687. Urbanism in the Global South: Cities and Space3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This course is a reading-based seminar. We learn about processes and practices within the Latin American and African city from a spatial, cultural, economic and political perspective.
Note: Cross-listed with LALS 510 and GEOG 510.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 688. Urban Dispossessions and Refugees3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course explores the interconnections between global level dynamics of displacement and dispossession, and local level transformations and contestations over urban resources and regimes of belonging.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 689. Comparative Urban Development3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Examines urban development in a cross national perspective. Traces the formulation, strategy and implementation or management of urban development policy in a number of nations. While the emphasis is on North America and West Europe, the lessons have broader relevance for other parts of the world, and will be applied to developing areas.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 690. Special Topics1-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This is a special topics course on a subject related to urban studies or sustainability. The exact topic of the course, its design, and the required readings, assignments, activities, exams, and deliverables, will vary by semester. Additional information can be provided by the instructor of record for the course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 695. Independent Study1-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Description: This is an independent study course in an urban-related topic. The design of the course, including the required readings, assignments, activities, exams, and deliverables, will be determined by the student in consultation with the instructor of record.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 700. Dissertation Research1-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): Approval of program director.
Description: Continuing dissertation research.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
