Urban Studies
URBS 131. Introduction to Sustainability - SB3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: The interdisciplinary field of sustainability examines the environmental, political, economic, and social problems facing humans and society at local, regional and global scales. This course provides an introductory survey of the concepts, values, frameworks, and methodologies that contribute to understanding and responding to problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, and the issues of limited resource allocation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 201. The Making of Urban Places - SB, D13 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course provides an introduction to the study of cities and urban places, through integration of the works of urban planners, sociologist, geographers, and political scientist. Topics to be covered include historical and contemporary patterns of urban growth, the social structure of cities, and suburbanization and new urbanism. The course fulfills the Cardinal Core requirement in Social & Behavioral Sciences (SB) with the U.S. Diversity credit (D1).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 202. Discover Louisville3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course will introduce students to the urban environment of Louisville, exploring the city's past, present, and future. Students will explore how the intertwining forces of politics, economics, social struggles, and cultural heritage shape the current spatial forms we see in the city today. Using Louisville as an urban laboratory, students will examine current socio-political and socioeconomics processes and connect these processes to the existing built environment.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 231. Environmental Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 131.
Description: This course introduces students to major environmental problems in sustainability. Students will examine the biophysical or ecological properties, manifestations, and consequences of these problems at local, regional, and global scales. The course will take particular interest in human-environment interactions, understanding the role different ecosystems and environmental processes play in human well-being, as well as how humans interact with and influence biodiversity, structure, and function of natural systems worldwide.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 232. Behavioral Dimensions of Environmental Decision-Making3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 131.
Description: This course will examine sustainability through a behavioral lens, exploring the psychological processes, primary research methods, and behavioral solutions involved in environmentally responsible behavior and sustainability. Students will be introduced to key principles of motivation, perception, and decision-making to identify fundamental behavioral obstacles to sustainability.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 301. Planning for Innovative and Equitable Cities and Regions3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 201.
Description: An exploration of historical and contemporary patterns in city design and development, and an introduction to the processes through which these patterns change.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 302. Foundations of Urban Administration3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 201.
Description: This course is an introduction to urban administration. It involves the political, legal, and managerial principles that drive the development and implementation of public policy in American cities. Scholarly writing and news coverage of current events will guide our examination of the actors, institutions, and complex relationships that define the subject. As many of these concepts are illuminated by local events, where possible we will focus on Louisville.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 303. Quantitative Research Methods in Sustainability and Urban Studies - QR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): ACT Math score of at least 19 or SAT Math score of at least 510 or a course indicating equivalent college math readiness.
Description: This course is designed to be an elementary introduction to statistics with an additional mixture of research methods fundamentals for sustainability and urban studies. Students will learn statistical techniques for quantitative data analysis as well as a basic understanding of how research is conducted. The statistics sections covers descriptive statistics, such as measures of central tendency and variation, some probability theory, and inferential statistics, such as hypothesis testing using t-tests. The focus of the research methods section is on quantitative research, such as sampling, measurement issues or experimental approaches, as they are relevant for sustainability and urban studies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 311. Urban Policy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 201.
Description: This course offers an introduction to public policy formation and policy analysis in the urban setting.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 312. Dogs in Society: An Interdisciplinary Examination of the Human-Canine Connection - SB3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: The course examines the evolution of dogs as human partners in society and delves into the relationship of our species with one another. It explores medical, safety, ethical, regulatory and legal issues, including the American with Disabilities Act and municipal approaches to regulating ownership. It considers behavioral adaptations of both species and some cutting-edge research in canine neuroscience. (Social Science)
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 331. Sustainable Built Environment - D1, SB3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 131.
Description: The course will explore the issues of sustainability from the perspective of the built environment, our history of construction and expansion, and buildings and how they interact with the natural environment. These issues will be explored from building specific, as well as urban system, perspectives including urban design. Further, the course will focus on identifying and implementing practices that lead to more sustainable man-made modifications of natural environment for human purposes. The course will comprise of a discussion about sustainable sources for energy, water, air, materials for human habitat design and management.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 411. Real Estate Principles3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: This course provides decision makers with a basic understanding of real estate principles that will help them to make informed business decisions relating to real estate development. A general introduction to the role of real estate in governance, and the particulars of the wide range of subjects associated with it as a business and necessary for its practice as a profession, are provided.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 412. Real Estate Development3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Real estate development is the dynamic process of transforming land or existing properties into valuable assets. It encompasses planning, design, construction, and management of projects. Developers need to identify opportunities, secure financing, navigate regulations, and oversee construction to create spaces that meet market demands and enhance communities. Topics of this classes include the development process, market analysis, developer partnerships and characteristics, development financing, and planning and analysis.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 420. Community Engagement - CUE3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Minimum of 90 credit hours completed and approval of program director.
Description: Students are required to complete 120 hours in a community engagement position for an agency or organization in the Louisville area. Typical community engagement mentors and sites might include local government agencies, community nonprofit organizations, local business organizations, or university partnerships. Students must get prior approval from the program director before enrolling.CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status. 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.
Note: CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status., 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 427. 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 627.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 431. Policy and Governance in Sustainability - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 231, URBS 232.
Description: The course will deal with policy making and governance, and explore the impacts of political economy on overall sustainability. Students will examine desired economic conditions, policies, and governance systems that may encourage adoption of best practices in sustainability, including city / county level policy making, state and federal level issues (e.g., EPA, renewable energy incentives), and grassroots political organizing.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 432. Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): URBS 231 and URBS 232.
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 440. Sustainability Internship - CUE3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Minimum of 90 credit hours completed and approval of program director.
Description: Students are required to complete 120 hours in a sustainability-focused position for an agency or organization in the Louisville area. Typical internship mentors and sites might include local government agencies, community nonprofit organizations, local business organizations, or university partnerships. Students must get prior approval from the program director before enrolling.CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status. 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.
Note: CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status., 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 445. Independent Study in Sustainability - CUE3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): URBS 231, URBS 331, and consent of instructor.
Description: This course is a student-designed and faculty-supervised independent study in a sustainability-related topic. Students interested in designing an independent study course should meet with their advisor or the program director during the semester prior to that in which they propose to enroll in the course.CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
Note: CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 490. Special Topics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Examination of an advanced topic related to urban studies or sustainability. Topic will vary by semester offered.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
URBS 495. Independent Study1-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Minimum of 60 credit hours completed and approval of program director.
Description: This course is an independent study in an urban studies-related topic. Students interested in designing an independent study course should meet with the program director during the semester prior to that in which they propose to enroll in the course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
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 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
