Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - URP6406
Tracking Number - 5392
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Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2016-08-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: Elective for MURP. To Gc Approvd 5/12/16 To USF Sys 5/18/16; to SCNS after 5/25/16. SCNS apprd 6441 as 6406 eff 8/1/16
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2016-02-19
- Department: School of Public Affairs
- College: AS
- Budget Account Number: 125600
- Contact Person: Mark R. Hafen
- Phone: 47982
- Email: mhafen@usf.edu
- Prefix: URP
- Number: 6406
- Full Title: Urban Environmental Policy
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: N
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?: N
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Urban Environmental Policy
- Course Online?: C -
Face-to-face (0% online)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites: None
- Corequisites: None
- Course Description: The purpose of this course is to examine issues related to environmental planning and policy within the context of the urban/humanly-built environment and its relation to surrounding natural environments.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This course was first offered in Fall 2011 (17 enrolled), cross-listed as URP 6930/EVR 6937 Environmental Policy & the Built Environment. It has since been offered Fall 2012 (15), Fall 2013 (13), Fall 2014 (16), and Fall 2015 (16).
This course appeals to students from many disciplines who are interested in the application of environmental planning and sustainability principles in urban environments. It provides subject matter to MURP students who desire electives in Environmental and Natural Resources Planning, and it has consistently drawn enrollments from other programs.
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) A Ph.D. is required. The doctorate can be in Planning, Environmental Science/Policy, or other appropriate discipline. Other related doctoral disciplines with supporting academic and professional experience are also acceptable.
- Objectives: The intersection of broad environmental policy and urban planning issues will be examined both for their impacts on the built environment and vice versa. Ultimately, students will gain an understanding of human/urban ecology, within broader spatial and ecological contexts, and how these can be utilized for the purposes of sustainable urban and environmental planning, and for drafting and implementing sustainable urban environmental policies in the public and private sectors.
- Learning Outcomes: 1. Students will gain an understanding of human/urban ecology.
2. Students will be able to identify a range of spatial contexts in which human/urban ecology resides alongside natural ecosystems.
3. Students will be able to identify problems of urban sustainability related to water resources, air quality, and public health.
4. Students will be able to apply their knowledge of human/urban ecology towards solving problems of sustainability and resilience in urban and environmental planning.
5. Students will be able to draft broad goals and objectives for developing sustainable urban and environmental planning strategies.
6. Students will be able to draft implementable public and private sector policies to achieve planning goals and objectives.
- Major Topics: • Why urban environmental policy is important
• Redefining urban ecology, sustainability, and regeneration
• The city in its local environmental context (“agropolis”)
• Urban and ecological footprints (“petropolis”)
• “Big picture” issues and frameworks affecting sustainable urban environmental policy
• Climate change and urban environmental policy
• Climate and sustainable community planning
• Environmental impacts of the globalization of “petropolis"
• Urban and regional water policy
• Environmental issues related to land use
• Sprawl, smart growth, and sustainable land use
• Urban/Regional transportation and environmental policy
• Urban air quality and air pollution
• Ecosystem services and natural infrastructure
• The urban metabolism
• Urban waste management
• "Ecopolis": the regenerative city
• Cities of the Future
- Textbooks: Creating Regenerative Cities by Herbert Girardet (2015). Routledge: New York.
Available as electronic resource through the USF Library, or as a paperback ISBN: 978-0-415-72446-3
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Outside readings will be assigned and made available on Canvas.
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: There are a variety of assessments that will be used to determine your understanding and application of the concepts in the course:
1. “Take-home” assignments (outside writing) 30% (60 points)
2. Research paper 35% (70 points)
3. In-class/Out-of-class reflections (short writing) 20% (40 points)
4. Participation/Leadership (in-class and on Canvas) 15% (30 points)
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: 1. “Take-Home” Assignments: these will be 3-5 page writing assignments based on readings and material discussed in class, in which you will be asked to provide critical analysis, synthesis, evidence of comprehension, and/or additional research on a topic.
2. Research Paper: a ~15-20 page research paper examining a relevant aspect of environmental policy/planning issues within urban/constructed environments. More specifics will be provided separately. There will be deadlines for submission of: A) paper topics; B) outlines with references; and C) the final paper itself.
Regarding all written assignments:
* Plagiarism: All work must be completed by the individual student and must be original work completed for this course. You may not use other students' work as your own, nor can you copy-and-paste unreferenced verbiage from reading material, from web sites, or from similar assignments that you completed in another course. No credit will be given for any duplicated or plagiarized work. Students who turn in work that is in violation of these requirements will be subject to review by the University's Policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism, which may result in a failing grade in this course. At the graduate level, my expectation is that you clearly understand the nature of plagiarism, and the requirement to submit original work in this course, and that this will not be an issue. Ever.
* TurnItIn: This course requires you to submit research papers to a plagiarism detection site that will be identified by your instructor. In order to comply with Federal (FERPA) and state privacy laws, students are not required to include personal identifying information such as name, SSN, or U# in the body of the work or use such information in the file naming convention prior to submitting. Please follow carefully your instructor's instructions regarding what identifying information to include. Your submission will be placed in the course grade center in an account that can be accessed by the instructor and attributed to you.
* Writing Quality: My expectations are that students in this class can compose essays which are: well-organized; clearly written; reflect a graduate-level mastery of grammar, punctuation, and syntax; and demonstrate a student’s ability to not only summarize, but to synthesize and critically analyze as well. Students who feel their writing skills may not meet these criteria should consult the Writing Center, located in the USF Library, for assistance.
3. In-Class/Out-of-class Reflection Assignments: throughout the semester, we will periodically conduct in-class activities. These may involve writing and/or computation related to weekly readings and discussions, and may require final completion outside of class.
4. Participation/Leadership: you will be expected to make salient contributions both in class and on the Canvas discussion board. This will be through leading weekly discussions, suggesting topics, providing readings/research, and/or other methods which help us all to increase our knowledge in this discipline, and which demonstrate to me that you are exploring relevant topics outside of class requirements. All students will be required to lead at least two in-class discussions. The “format” for this is entirely up to you: it can be a traditional presentation, or interpretive dance! However, you must, at a minimum:
• present a summary of the reading(s) required
• analyze and critique the contents of the readings for significant topics/issues
• generate class discussion and/or deeper exploration of the topics
All students are also required to participate in the on-line discussion forum on Canvas. You must, at a minimum:
* post links/topics/additional readings on a regular basis beyond assigned readings
* contribute to existing discussions by responding with insights, debate, and/or additional materials
* demonstrate knowledge of course topics and themes via your contributions
To earn all participation/leadership points available, students must attend class, be prepared (readings, etc.), and actively participate in sharing research in and outside of class.
- Attendance Policy: Missing class will negatively impact your grade in this course! To succeed in this course, you must commit to being in class every week. You are responsible for contacting me if you have missed class or are going to be absent.
Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work: Makeup policy: Make-up assignments or other accommodations are provided for students only in special circumstances. These circumstances include:
(1) Death or illness in the student's family, or of a friend.
(2) Illness or other medical issue of the student.
(3) Participation in a conference or university sponsored activity.
(4) Professional obligations.
Make-up work will not be granted for personal convenience or travel. Make-up work will be granted only if the circumstances (above) are documented. Advanced arrangements must be made for the situations described in (3) above. This should be arranged with me well ahead of any scheduled assignment date.
- Program This Course Supports: Master of Urban and Regional Planning
- Course Concurrence Information: Environmental Science & Policy
Geography
Global Sustainability
Civil & Environmental Engineering
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.