Florida State University

Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Course Syllabus

URS1006- World Cities

Summer 2015
Monday-Friday
11:00am-12:15pm
Bellamy Building (BEL 180)

Instructor: Kristin M. Murray

Email: kmm10g@my.fsu.edu
Office Hours: 1 hour after class or by appointment via email (all appointments should be set via
email, even during regular office hours)
Office: BEL232
Required Materials:
Course Text Book: Cities of the World: World Regional Urban Development (Fifth Edition)
Edited by: Stanley D. Brunn, Maureen Hays-Mitchell, and Donald Zeigler
Other readings: available through Blackboard
Subscription: Netflix- Temporary subscription for the duration of this semester

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the conceptual and analytic tools used to explore the
social, cultural, and economic dimensions of the urban centers of the world. Urban related issued
such as globalization, sustainability, and urban economics will be explored along with potential
solutions related to urban problems. Students will explore cities in several regions of the world
using the text book and other assigned readings as well as other materials such as videos, power
point presentations and the internet.
This course fulfills the liberal studies requirement. The Liberal Studies Program at Florida State
University has been designed to provide a perspective on the qualities, accomplishments, and
aspirations of human beings, the past and present civilizations we have created, and the natural
and technological world we inhabit. This course has been approved as meeting the requirements

for Liberal Studies Area III, History and Social Science, and in combination with your other
Liberal Studies courses, provides an important foundation for your lifelong quest for knowledge.
Course Objectives
Through participation in this course you will learn to demonstrate the following:
1. Critically examine, interpret, and explain how personal, political, cultural, economic, and
social experiences and/or structures shape the past and/or the present.
Students will develop a final class project in which they will examine the social, cultural,
economic forces that have shaped the growth of cities through history. They will produce
a city profile that examines these influences on the growth of cities.
2. Gather and analyze data using social science and/or historical methodologies to evaluate
causal arguments and analyze assertions, assumptions, and explanatory evidence.
Students will examine demographic and social infrastructure data on urban development
patterns and use these tools to analyze the growth patterns of the city. The students will
determine how patterns of environmental, social and economic activity have shaped cities
and the people who live in them. They will assess the extent to which this city conforms
to urban growth and development models.
3. Evaluate and employ appropriate methods and technology in the collection and analysis
of data.
Students will examine a time series of data, including historical photos and maps of cities
from 100 years ago (or as early as possible) to establish a baseline profile of the city.
Students will use online data sources including UN, World Bank and Google Earth to
examine the current state of the city and evaluate urban models the city currently
represents. Students will prepare a final evaluation of urban data, which may include
internet-generated maps, photos, etc. to demonstrate understanding of urban growth and
performance.

Attendance and Participation

You are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Participation enhances every students ability
to understand the topic and is highly valued in this course. For this reason, you will be expected
to attend and participate in every class session. Participation points can only be earned in class
through active participation in discussions and group activities.
Part of the class will be conducted through online resources. The online requirements include
videos, readings, some responses and quizzes. In order to participate, you will need access to
Blackboard. The class schedule will be available on Blackboard as well as information you need
to access online materials. If you have questions please e-mail me as soon as possible and well
BEFORE the online access to course materials is required.

Quizzes
Your understanding of course content will be measured periodically through quizzes. If you are
not present for a quiz (without a valid excuse) you will lose points towards your final grade.
Quizzes may be conducted in class or online. If online, an announcement will be made in class
and the quiz will be available for 24 hours. If an absence is necessary due to a valid excuse,
please notify me via e-mail immediately. Written documentation of excused absences is required.
Daily Thoughts
Throughout the semester you will be asked to write a brief response to either a topic from class
or from the readings. Often these will be at the end of class and in groups. These daily thoughts
will not have a single right or wrong answer, but are intended to help you to understand the
wicked problems that planners and city organizers face. Thoughtful answers will receive full
credit.
City Project
The city project will consist of three (3) assignments, a reflection paper, a final project and poster
presentation due throughout the semester. The city project will include: an urban form study;
analysis of spatial change and urban performance; a final urban development analysis; and, a
reflection paper. The final project will include a poster project presentation. Instructions for each
section will be made available throughout the semester.
Each section of the paper will build on the previous section and will culminate in a large research
project due late in the semester. Please note: If you do well on the early sections of the paper,
your final paper will not take long at all.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If any member of the class feels that they have a disability for which they wish to receive
accommodation from the instructor, they are expected to advise the instructor of this request by
the end of the first week of class. Students requesting accommodations must be registered with
the FSU Student Disability Resources (SDRC) in most circumstances. Students must also
provide written documentation of the disability and the desired accommodations to the instructor
in order to develop the most effective and appropriate educational plans. The instructor will work
with SDRC and with students to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that all have a
fair opportunity to perform in class.
Academic Honor Code
The Academic Honor Code of FSU is based on the premise that each student has the
responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in your own work, (2) to
refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University community, and (3) to foster a
high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the University community. Any
student who words or acts demonstrate a lack of respect for state and federal laws, Board of
Regents rules or policies, the rights of others, or the health, safety, or welfare of members of the
community shall be subject to disciplinary action by the University. Students who violate
academic standards through plagiarism and other actions will be disciplined according to the
procedures noted in the FSU Bulletin.

Courtesy in the Classroom

The content of this course will provide opportunity and encouragement for the discussion of
political and social ideologies. Class participation through dialogue is expected in every class
period. During class discussions, everyone is expected to respect the rights and sensibilities of
their colleagues.
University is a place of both assent and dissent and is committed to academic freedom and civil
dialogue. In a free and vigorous academic community an ongoing clash of ideas is to be expected
and encouraged. Therefore, in accordance with Students Freedom of Expression, Rights and
Responsibilities (6C2-3.003), all students maintain the right to seek knowledge, debate ideas,
form opinions and freely express their views in a manner which will not interfere with the same
rights and freedoms of others in their enjoyment of the benefits of this class.
Failure to abide by these principles may result in academic penalties or ejection from the
classroom.
Technology in the Classroom
Technology in the classroom is expected to be used for note taking only. Using computers or
other technology in the class is not acceptable for any other purpose. Laptops are allowed in this
class as long as they are used for class purposes. If computers and other technology cause
distractions, the use of technology will be discontinued for everyone. Those students that feel
the need to use a laptop to take notes will need to sit in the front two rows of the classroom.
Phones are to be turned off for the entirety of the class, unless the instructor is notified of a
reason prior to the class beginning. Phone usage includes texting, talking, and/or any other
distracting behavior.
Missed Assignments and Tests
Your presence in the classroom is valued. If at all possible, be sure to come to every class ready
to provide your contribution to our session. If you cannot come to class please e-mail me to let
me know. Keep in mind that you cannot make up assignments, pop quizzes and tests unless your
absence is excused.
If you miss a test or assignment due to absence, notify me within 24 hours of the original test or
assignment date. With a valid reason you will be able to make up the test or assignment. Makeup tests may be different from the original test. If there is no valid reason for the absence, you
will receive a zero on that test or assignment. Assignments handed in late will receive a
substantial penalty.
For each day late, an assignment will lose 25% of its maximum allowable points. After a week,
the assignment will receive a zero (0). A weekend (Saturday and Sunday) counts towards 1 day
of the late penalty. Unless otherwise indicated, an online assignment is due by 11:59pm, the day
it is due and any in-class assignment should be turned in at the beginning of the class time.
Excused Absences
The following and only the following absences are guaranteed as eligible excuses: documented
illness (or a dependent childs illness), religious holidays, death in the family; and absences due

to representing FSU at official functions, including intercollegiate debating or varsity sporting

events.
The Director of Student Health Services does not issue excuses to students. But a card indicating
date and time of admission, discharge or treatment is acceptable documentation for an excused
absence. Ultimately, the authority for deciding whether the student is excused for medical
reasons resets with the instructor.
When possible, you should provide advance notice of absences, as well as relevant
documentation regarding absences. If advance notice is not possible, provide documentation as
soon as possible following the event that led to the absence.
You are responsible for all content, including any assignments, knowledge, or skills covered or
assigned in missed classes. If you are excused for a day in class when extra credit is given, you
will receive the average of the extra credit amount given. It is your responsibility to make
arrangements to make up work. Be proactive.
Course Schedule
The Couse schedule is on our course blackboard site in the Syllabus area. The schedule is
subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to you in class and/or Blackboard.

Point Structure and Grading Scale

Point Structure
Tests (2)
(100pts each)
City Project
(50pts each)
Final Project
City Project Reflection
City Project Poster Presentation
Quizzes
(5pts each)
Daily Thoughts
(5pts each)
Study Guide
Attendance
Participation
Total

200 Points
150 Points
25 Points
50 Points
50 Points
20 Points
25 Points
15 Points
25 Points
10 Points
570 Possible Points

Grading Scale
A 95% or higher
A-90-94%
B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%

C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
F less than 60%