Courses

Examines the forces that have prompted urban development and shaped urban areas throughout human history. Focuses on the historic relationships between cultural influences and theoretical concepts and their impact on contemporary patterns, trends and problems of urban development.

Examines the intellectual heritage and procedural approaches shared by practitioners working in all areas of contemporary planning practice. Focuses on the general area of planning theory and ethical issues.

Utilizes computer-based analytical tools for planning analysis, and descriptive and influence statistics as applied to public policies in planning and environmental policy. The software package SPSS is the working tool of the class.

Examines methods of investigation and analysis, the formulation of theory, appropriate research and data gathering techniques, data preparation and data processing, measures of association and statistical significance, and methods of addressing environmental quality.

Focuses on the study and evaluation of the developed environment, with particular emphasis on those aspects of the development process that result in “better” physical forms. An appreciation of the architectural and design elements of land-use development is stressed.

Under the supervision of faculty members, students create planning projects that address solutions to real world issues facing communities and public service organizations.

Provides a basic framework of important environmental laws and a survey of critical cases, policy decisions and legal history. Addresses regional, national and international issues, with a focus on inter-jurisdictional problem systems in different localities.

Discusses all aspects of public land – usage policy and legislation, implementing governmental actions, land use control exercised by several levels of government, and practice and impacts of zoning on growth management.

Examines relational databases in the context of urban and environmental planning and focuses on geographic information systems for collecting and displaying spatial information.

Discusses idealized urban forms, theories and models of urban form as they relate to the function and location of urban activities.

Introduces students to the organization and conduct of local land-use planning as practiced in Texas. Th e course covers Texas statutes and the General Plan, specific plans and how to prepare them, and how to manage a planning department.

Encompasses comparative planning and policies in transportation and compares various models of transportation in developed and developing countries. Examines the effects of and relationship between transportation and economic development.

Focuses on GIS and its application to both urban planning and environmental policy. Topics will include data discovery, databases design, construction, modeling and analytical measurements.

Multivariate statistical methods are used to analyze land use, environmental and other large data sets. Topics include multiple regression analysis, non-linear models, path analysis and log-linear models. Causal modeling of cross-sectional data is emphasized.

Analyzes and examines methods and procedures used in planning basic urban infrastructure systems. Centralized and decentralized systems are compared and case studies are utilized.

Examines current approaches to the disposal of hazardous wastes and the management and disposal of urban waste, focusing on alternatives such as recycling.

Explores environmental impact assessment processes and methods from a theoretical and applied perspective. The philosophy and statutory basis of the assessment process is reviewed; the broader planning processes for jurisdiction are emphasized.

Explores the theory, history, methods and practice of local community development and examines the historical roots of community involvement and action.

Surveys the residential environment from economic and sociological perspectives and discusses the behavior of individuals and institutions in the housing and mortgage markets. Emphasizes the impact of federal, state and local policies on housing markets, housing availability and family welfare.

An examination of sustainable communities and the environmental, social, economic, political and design standards that underlie them. Case studies of cities, towns and development projects are utilized.

Examines the role of citizens and citizen organizations in the city planning process, the effectiveness of different organizational models in various situations and models for citizen involvement.

An introduction to methods of financial analysis for real estate investment. Topics include methods of valuation, each flow forecasting, computer modeling, and taxation and leverage structure. Emphasizes the financing of individual projects.

A detailed exploration of the normative debate surrounding environmental issues – the foundation of environmental economics, questions about the value of endangered species, concerns of future generations and obligations toward equity.

Provides an understanding of planning evaluation methods and processes employed in the review of development proposal, site plans and public policies.

Examines the intellectual and professional roots of contemporary planning theory and practice. Effort is directed toward analyzing these roots with an eye to stimulating new perspectives and concepts for a sustainable community orientation.

Genesis and structure of planning thought and methods; economic, political, and social factors influencing the development of urban theories and policies; the theory and development of urban structure; and the history of cities.

Methods for investigation and analysis of urban and environmental phenomena; models, data-gathering techniques; sources and applications of aggregate data; data preparation and data processing; measures of association and statistical significance.

Applied statistics and computing, inferential statistics; multivariate statistical methods; selecting the appropriate statistical test for analyzing bivariate relationships and procedures for more complex designs.

Examines contemporary environmental policy and practice and the institutional framework for establishing policy and programs. Analysis of case studies of environmental planning at the federal, state, and local levels.

Examines the problems related to resources management and environmental planning. Relationship between the physical environment and the quality of urban life. Global population impacts to local air pollution control and management.

Interpretation and analysis of scientific information: examination of the chemistry of atmospheric, land and water environment, with particular emphasis on pollution encountered in urban and industrial sectors.

Legal principles and institutions involved in protecting the environments, including air, water, and noise pollution. The approach of lawyers and courts, as differentiated from that of planner.

Examines the technological and management options for controlling and preventing air, water, and solid waste pollution.

Examines issues, methods, strategies and problems related to the integration of population information with policies for guiding the social and economic development of third world countries.

Explores the comprehensive planning process by developing a plan for a local jurisdiction. Problems and needs for growth management; planning approaches and methods for controlling growth in the urban environment.

Seminars for doctoral students addressing issues of interests in research, teaching, and career development.

Supervised research and dissertation preparation.