2023-2024 Academic Catalog

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Urban Design (URBN)

URBN 6500 -  Urban Design Studio I  (6 Credits)  

Introduces urban design at a citywide scale through the evaluation of urban structures, systems, networks, and spatial forms that create the complex organism known as the city. Students explore urban design concepts as physical solutions to real-world issues. Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students. Repeatable. Max hours: 12 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

Typically Offered: Fall.

URBN 6525 -  City Design Fundamentals  (3 Credits)  

Investigates the historical roots, spatial patterns, and physical forms of cities and their evolution over time; the environmental, cultural, and economic forces influencing city design; and urban design as the nexus of the planning and design professions in contemporary city-building. Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing. Cross-listed with URPL 6350, ARCH 6270, and LDAR 5530. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing.

URBN 6550 -  Design Policy, Process, and Regulation  (3 Credits)  

Explores the many design regulations that shape the urban form, how they are created and evolve, and how they impact design ideation, analysis, and communication using real-world scenarios to experiment with and test iterative design processes and techniques. Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing. Cross-listed with URPL 6397. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing.

URBN 6575 -  Advanced Visualization for Urban Design  (3 Credits)  

Provides advanced instruction in effective communication and visualization through the use of digital tools commonly used in urban design (e.g. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, SketchUp, Lumion). Topics include graphic design theory, use of storyboards, renderings, diagrams, maps, sketches, photographs, and infographics. Prereq: Intermediate-level knowledge and experience in the Adobe applications covered in the course. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Non-degree students

URBN 6600 -  Urban Design Studio II  (6 Credits)  

Advances the understanding and application of urban design tools, methods, and practices and engages students in a real-world project with a community partner. Students integrate real estate development, economics, environmental and social equity, aesthetic criteria, historic preservation, and community engagement. Repeatable. Max hours: 12 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6625 -  Urban Design Economics and Equity  (3 Credits)  

Explores the economics of urban design through its relationship with private-sector real estate development, public-sector infrastructure, and budgetary/fiscal constraints on design implementation while emphasizing the critical role of urban design in advocating for social equity, affordable housing, and related issues. Restriction: Restricted to graduate-level students. Cross-listed with URPL 6395 and ARCH 6261. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: Graduate standing (Grad or Non-Degree Grad)

URBN 6640 -  History of the City  (3 Credits)  

Introduces students to the history of global cities through selected typologies. Explores similarities and differences among cities considered against the larger cultural, political and socio-economic envelope of which they are part. Provides awareness of origins, growth and evolution of urban form. Cross-listed with ARCH 6240. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6641 -  Design Process  (3 Credits)  

Advances current practice by exploring innovative methods of design analysis, production, representation, and communication. Community participation and civic engagement are integral components of seminar. Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing. Cross-listed with URPL 6398 and LDAR 6741. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing.

URBN 6643 -  Visualization for Planning  (3 Credits)  

This course covers visual design theory and advanced instruction in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to create compelling info-graphics, renderings, and reports, as well as advanced instruction in SketchUp to create 3D visualizations at multiple urban scales. Restrictions: Restricted to ARUR-MUD majors in the College of Architecture and Planning. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6644 -  Sustainable Urbanism  (3 Credits)  

This seminar explores the connections between ecology and urbanism. It will examine the multiple, interrelated ecological and social systems operating in the city. Students will explore innovative design processes and techniques that serve to create a higher quality of life and place with a particular emphasis on the effectiveness of sustainable design approaches at varying scales. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6645 -  Global Design Practice  (3 Credits)  

This seminar will educate students about critical issues related to practicing design in a global context. Course will examine diverse issues of design and planning practice from contracts, communication and culture to remote research, design opportunities and ethics. Prereq: URBN 6612. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6650 -  Urban Design and the Environment  (3 Credits)  

Provides an understanding of the inextricable relationship between urban design and the natural environment. Students learn how to design sustainable public spaces, promote environmental resilience, combat climate change, and foster environmental justice and healthy communities through urban design. Restriction: Restricted to graduate-level students. Cross-listed with URPL 6396. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: Graduate standing (Grad or Non-Degree Grad)

URBN 6652 -  Design Seminar  (3 Credits)  

Investigates topical issues in urban design, typically within the framework of a theme running through an entire course of study. Focus is on critical evaluation of theory, process and methods. Cross-listed with LDAR 6652. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6675 -  Design Practice and Leadership  (3 Credits)  

Provides students with an understanding of urban design as a professional practice; how it functions within a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment; and the interpersonal skills needed to successfully work as part of and be a leader in a complex design team. Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to students with graduate standing.

URBN 6686 -  Special Topics: Urban Design  (3 Credits)  

Various topical concerns are offered in urban design history, theory, elements, concepts, methods, implementation strategies, and other related areas. Repeatable. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

Restrictions: Restricted to Master of Urban Design students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

URBN 6700 -  Urban Design Advanced Travel Studio  (6 Credits)  

Travels to international or US urban location(s) to engage in advanced urban design development, analysis, and production on a real-world project that includes multiple environmental, cultural, and economic influences; wide-ranging urban planning contexts, and various design dimensions and functional considerations. Restriction: Restricted to graduate students in the College of Architecture and Planning. Max hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to graduate students within the College of Architecture and Planning

Additional Information: Global Education Study Abroad.

Typically Offered: Summer.

URBN 6725 -  Urban Design Capstone  (6 Credits)  

Requires students to work individually, paired with an urban design practitioner mentor, on a complete design solution for a real-world client that incorporates the full spectrum of urban design knowledge, methods, and skills to produce professional-grade urban design plan deliverables. Prereq: URBN 6600: Urban Design Studio II. Max hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: URBN 6600

URBN 6840 -  Independent Study: URBN  (1-6 Credits)  

Studies initiated by students or faculty and sponsored by a faculty member to investigate a special topic or problem related to urban design. Restriction: Graduate level students. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Restriction: Graduate level students.

URBN 6930 -  Urban Design Internship  (3 Credits)  

Designed to provide professional practice experience in urban design. Emphasis on actual work experience in settings with client groups as students assist them in determining solutions. Program directors approval required. Restriction: Graduate level students. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Graduate level students.