This course is designed to introduce students to the diverse and complex field of urban studies. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Undergraduate Students across all social sciences and humanities
• Journalists and Media Professionals covering urban issues
• Community Organizers and Activists
• Public Policy Analysts and Researchers
• Teachers and Educators focusing on civics or geography
• Individuals interested in the social dynamics of city life
• Non-profit staff working on housing, poverty, or social justice

• Interdisciplinary Readings and Critical Analysis of Texts
• Discussions focused on contemporary urban phenomena
• Case Studies of specific global cities and their unique challenges
• Individual Exercises: Ethnographic observation of a public space
• Group Activities: Policy debates on issues like homelessness or transit funding
• Film and documentary analysis related to city life

Unit 1: Defining the Urban

• Theories on the origins of cities (e.g., hydraulic, economic)
• Classical theories of urbanism (Simmel, Wirth, Park)
• The Industrial Revolution and the birth of the modern metropolis
• Colonialism and the development of global urban systems
• Post-industrial and service-based economies and their urban form
• The rise of megacities and global cities in the contemporary world

• Concepts of density, concentration, and sprawl
• Analyzing demographic trends (migration, aging, diversity)
• Theories of residential segregation and neighborhood change
• Measuring and understanding urban poverty and inequality
• The concept of the "urban hierarchy" and metropolitan areas
• Using census data and spatial analysis in urban studies

Unit 2: Economic Structures of the City

• The role of location theory and agglomeration economies
• The shift from manufacturing to the service sector economy
• Understanding the informal economy in global South cities
• Creative class theory and the role of culture in economic growth
• The impact of global trade and supply chains on local economies
• Analysis of labor markets and employment specialization in cities

• The political economy of urban land use
• Rent theory and the forces driving property values
• The role of real estate finance and investment
• Cycles of urban expansion, decline, and revitalization
• Public-private partnerships in urban development projects
• The commodification of urban space and public assets

Unit 3: Urban Politics and Governance

• Models of urban governance (e.g., machine politics, reform)
• The role of local elected officials and bureaucracies
• Inter-jurisdictional competition and regionalism challenges
• Fiscal challenges: municipal finance, taxation, and budgeting
• The impact of state and federal policy on local government
• The role of urban policy in addressing social problems

• Community organizing and grassroots activism in cities
• The politics of planning and resistance to development
• Theories of social justice and equity in urban spaces
• Understanding protest, social unrest, and political violence
• The role of advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Analyzing NIMBYism and the struggle over resource allocation

Unit 4: Social and Cultural Life

• The role of public space in fostering social interaction
• Analyzing urban culture (e.g., subcultures, art, music)
• The impact of media and technology on urban social life
• The politics of representation and identity in the city
• Understanding multiculturalism and immigrant integration
• The social experience of commuting and public transit

• The sociology of neighborhood life and social networks
• The causes and consequences of residential mobility
• Historical and contemporary drivers of homelessness
• The social impact of large-scale public housing projects
• The concept and critiques of gentrification and displacement
• Policies and strategies for creating inclusive communities

Unit 5: Global and Future Cities

• Theories of world cities and their global functions
• Analyzing urbanization in the Global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America)
• Informal settlements and the challenges of rapid growth
• The role of international organizations (UN Habitat, World Bank)
• Environmental challenges in developing world cities (e.g., pollution, water)
• Comparing urban policy and planning across different continents

• The vision of the "Smart City" and digital infrastructure
• Planning for urban resilience and climate change adaptation
• The role of data analytics and big data in urban management
• Sustainable urbanism and ecological footprint reduction
• Equity concerns in technological innovation (digital divide)
• Speculation on the future form and function of the metropolis