URS 300: Urban and Regional Studies

Course Description

In this course we will explore the field of urban and regional studies. The scope of readings is inter-disciplinary, spanning the environmental, aesthetic, social, economic, geographic, historical, political and cultural aspects of cities, suburbs and regions. The interrelationship between the spatial organization of a city, patterns of social and economic inequality, delivery of services, the relationship between culture and public space, as well as the processes of urban and regional change will all be considered. Problems such as race and class inequality will also be examined. Special attention will be given to issues of relevance in the Detroit metropolitan region (e.g. spatial, economic, cultural, political and social impacts of the loss of manufacturing jobs). Students will be introduced to methods of social scientific analysis and will begin to apply those methods to researching urban and regional community groups, enterprises and social movements. (YR).