HSOC-271: Introduction to Urban Studies

Introduction to Urban Studies is a course designed to address many key issues of urban life, both past and present. Starting with a general understanding of cities as collections of spaces and places shaped by human activity, the course will explore the varied forces determining the proliferation, expansion, and even decline of the urban form. Are the cities of the 21st century the cure or the cause of the many challenges facing us in the world today? How have people studied cities and how might we study them now? These questions and many others will emerge over the course's duration. Students will use this course to make the connections between topics often discussed separately, like housing, transportation, and urban politics. In addition, Introduction to Urban Studies will shine a spotlight on the modern city in the global context by linking the urban to processes of migration, investment, and environmental impact.