www.uap.vt.edu/
University Exemplary Department
D. Zahm and K. Wernstedt, Co-Chairs
University Distinguished Professor: P. Knox
Professors: J.O. Browder; C. T. Koebel; J. Randolph; T. Sanchez
Associate Professors: S. Hirt; D. Hyra; J. Richardson; M. Stephenson; K. Wernstedt; D. Zahm
Assistant Professors: R. Beuhler; M. Cowell; R. Hall; S. Misra; J. Schilling; J. Widmer; Y. Zhang
Adjunct Professors: B. Anderson; T. Holzheimer; S. Mastran; E. Morton; J. Provo; M. E. Ridenour
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Overview
The Urban Affairs and Planning Program (UAP) offers two undergraduate degrees, the B.A. in public and urban affairs and the B.S. in environmental policy and planning, as well as minors under both degrees. At the graduate level the department offers the master of urban and regional planning degree.
B.A. in Public and Urban Affairs
The B.A. in public and urban affairs (PUA) is an interdisciplinary social science degree with a professional cast. It aims to educate students in the liberal arts tradition while equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and analytical thinking used in planning and policy. Students learn to address the political, economic, environmental, social, and governmental consequences of growth and change and to help resolve the problems that emanate from them.
The 120 credit hour curriculum in public and urban affairs includes 34 hours in the Curriculum for Liberal Education, 36 hours in the major core, 15 hours in one of five areas of concentration and 35 hours of free electives.
| Curriculum for Liberal Education Requirements (34 hours) |
| Area 1: ENGL 1105-1106 Freshman English |
Area 2: 3 hours from approved list, plus
PHIL 3314 Ethics
or PHIL 1304 Morality and Justice
or PHIL 2304 Global Ethics |
| Area 3: ECON 2005-2006 Principles of Economics |
| Area 4: 6 hours in any approved science lecture/lab sequence |
Area 5: MATH 1015-1016 Elementary Calculus with Trigonometry
or MATH 1205-1206 Calculus
or MATH 1525-1526 Calculus with Matrices
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| Area 6: LAR 1144 Introduction to Landscape Architecture |
Area 7: UAP 3344 Global Environmental Issues
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| Major Core Requirements (36 hours) |
SPIA 1004 Nations and Nationalities
or UAP 3074 Social Movements in Urban Society
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| PSCI 1014 Introduction to United States Government and Politics |
| PSCI 2054 Introduction to World Politics |
| STAT 3604 Statistics for the Social Sciences |
| UAP 1024 Public Issues in an Urban Society |
| UAP 3014 Urban Policy and Planning |
| UAP 3024 Urban and Regional Analysis |
| UAP 3224 Policy Implementation |
| UAP 4184 Community Involvement |
| UAP 4754 Legal Foundations of Planning |
| UAP 4914 Senior Seminar in Public and Urban Affairs |
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15 hours from an approved list in one of five concentration areas:
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| Urbanization: Planning and Policy |
| or Public Policy |
| or Global Development |
| or Environmental Affairs |
| or Public and Non-Profit Management |
| 35 hours free electives |
Satisfactory Progress
Satisfactory progress toward the public and urban affairs degree requires successful completion of PSCI 1014, PSCI 2054, UAP 3014, UAP 3024, and UAP 3344 by the time 72 total hours have been attempted. Minimum overall and in-major GPA 2.0. In-major GPA includes the PUA major core, the PUA concentration, and ECON 2005-2006 and UAP 3344 in the Curriculum for Liberal Education.
Minor in Public and Urban Affairs
A minor in Public and Urban Affairs requires completion of 18 credit hours:
UAP 1024: Public Issues in Urban Society
UAP 3014: Urban Policy and Planning
12 hours from approved list of UAP courses
B.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning
The B.S. in environmental policy and planning (EPP) provides students the opportunity to study environmental problems and their solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective involving humanities, natural and social science, planning, and public policy. While rooted in scientific and technological fields, environmental problems and their solutions increasingly deal with public values, economics, law, policy, and planning. The EPP curriculum, while providing a broad liberal arts and natural and social science base, has a pre-professional slant involving analytical and communication skills and policy and planning methods to prepare students for employment and graduate study.
| Curriculum for Liberal Education Requirements (34 hours) |
| Area 1: ENGL 1105-1106 Freshman English |
Area 2: 3 hours from approved list, and either LAR 4034 Evolution of the American Landscape
or FOR 2554 Nature and American Values
or UAP 4264 Environmental Ethics and Policy |
Area 3: ECON 2005-2006 Principles of Economics
or AAEC 1005-1006 Economics of Food and Fiber |
Area 4: BIOL 1005-1006 General Biology
or BIOL 1105-1106 Principles of Biology
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| Area 5: MATH 1015-1016 Elementary Calculus with Trigonometry |
| Area 6: LAR 1144 Introduction to Landscape Architecture |
| Area 7: UAP 3344 Global Environmental Issues |
| Environmental Policy and Planning Requirements (58 hours) |
| PSCI 1014 Introduction to US Government & Politics |
| UAP 3224 Policy Implementation |
| AAEC 3314 Environmental Law |
| UAP 3354 Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning |
| UAP 4354 Environmental Problem Solving Studio |
| UAP 4364 Seminar in Environmental Policy and Planning |
| UAP 4184 Community Involvement |
| UAP 4374 Land Use and Environment |
| UAP 4384 Pollution Control Planning and Policy |
| UAP 3024 Urban and Regional Analysis |
| STAT 3604 Statistics for the Social Sciences |
COMM 2004 Public Speaking
or ENGL 3764 Technical Writing |
ECON 4014 Environmental Economics or
AAEC 4304 Environmental and Sustainable Development Economics |
CHEM 1015/1025 Intro to Chemistry and Lab or
CHEM 1035/1045 General Chemistry and Lab |
| ENSC 3604/CSES 3604 Fundamentals of Environmental Science |
One of the following:
ENGR 3054 Engineering Our Environment
or ENGR 3124 Intro to Green Engineering
or UAP 4394 Community Renewable Energy Systems |
One of the following:
BIOL 2804 Ecology
or BSE 2384 Soil and Water Resources Management
or GEOG 1104 Intro to Physical Geography
or GEOL 1004 Physical Geology
or FOR 2314/2324 Dendrology and Lab
or FIW 2114 Principles of Fisheries and Wildlife Management
or CSES 3114 Soils |
Two of the following:
or UAP 4214 Women, Environment, Development
or UAP 4344 Law of Critical Environmental Areas
or AAEC 4314 Environmental Economic Analysis and Management
or AAEC 4344 Sustainable Development Economics
or HIST 3144 American Environmental History
or LAR 4444 Environmental Impact Assessment |
| Free Electives (27 hours) |
Satisfactory Progress
Satisfactory progress toward the degree requires successful completion of UAP 3344, UAP 3354, CHEM 1015 (or CHEM 1035), and PSCI 1014 by the time 72 total hours have been attempted. Minimum overall and in-major GPA 2.0. In-major GPA includes all courses in the EPP curriculum plus BIOL 1005-1006 (or BIOL 1105-1106), and ECON 2005-2006 (or AAEC 1005-1006), and LAR 4034 (or FOR 2554 or UAP 4264), and UAP 3344 in the Curriculum for Liberal Education.
Minor in Environmental Policy and Planning
| Environmental Values, History, Ethics: (3 hours--one course--from the following) |
| HIST 3144: American Environmental History |
| or LAR 4034: Evolution of the American Landscape |
| or FOR 2554: Nature and American Values |
| or UAP 4264: Environmental Ethics and Policy |
| Environmental Science: (6 hours from the following) |
| UAP 3354: Intro. to Environmental Policy & Planning |
ENSC 3604: Fundamentals of Environmental Science
or CSES 3604: Fundamentals of Environmental Science |
| Environmental Policy and Planning: (9 hours) |
| 9 hours from: |
| UAP 3344: Global Environmental Issues |
| UAP 4184: Community Involvement |
| UAP 4344: Law of Critical Environmental Areas |
| UAP 4374: Land Use & Environment: Plan. & Policy |
| UAP 4384: Pollution Control: Planning and Policy |
| Env. Policy & Planning Applications: (2-4 hours from the following) |
UAP 4354: Environmental Problem Solving Studio
or UAP 4364: Seminar in Environmental Policy & Planning |
Undergraduate Course Descriptions (UAP)
1004: INTRODUCTION TO CAREERS IN URBAN AFFAIRS AND PLANNING
Introduces academic requirements for the Public and Urban Affairs (PUA) and Environmental Policy and Planning (EPP) majors. Assists students with academic planning and career exploration. Students develop an ePortfolio to document their personal and professional growth in the major. Course must be taken during the first semester in the PUA or EPP program. (1H,1C)
1024: PUBLIC ISSUES IN AN URBAN SOCIETY
This class introduces some of the most vital concerns and issues challenging democratic capitalistic urban societies today. Topics addressed include different perspectives on the causes and portent of the urban underclass, the growing inequality between the educated and less well educated in the nation's labor markets, the causes of the marked resegregation of many of the nation's urban centers by race and income and the implications of privatization and interjurisdictional competition for the public policy behavior and outcomes of subnational governments. (3H,3C)
2004: PRINCIPLES OF REAL ESTATE
Introduction to real estate, including markets, land use planning and zoning, development, finance, construction, sales, marketing, management and property valuation. Examines the key actors and processes in each of these areas. Explores major public policies impacting real estate. (3H,3C)
2014: URBANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Relationships between urbanization and economic development; role of cities in social, political, cultural, and economic development of societies; cities as settings for innovation and change. (3H,3C)
2964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.
3014: URBAN POLICY AND PLANNING
An introduction to urban policy and urban planning. Includes analysis of the basic concepts and principles of urban policy, a review of urban policy in the United States, discussion of the development of urban planning and its role in shaping the urban environment, and an analysis of the relationship between public policy and planning and the organization and structure of the urban environment. Must complete prerequisite UAP 1024 with a B- grade or higher. Pre: 1024. (3H,3C)
3024: URBAN AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS
Overview and application of various methods used to study, represent, understand communities in their urban and regional context. Data collection and analysis; population, land use, transportation and economic forecasting; selecting and applying an appropriate
method; designing and presenting a community study. Restricted to majors and minors only. (3H,3C)
3224: POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
Systematic analysis of the field and practice of public policy implementation. Includes analysis of the structure and dynamics of the policy process as well as specific analytic approaches to understanding policy implementation. Includes analysis of intra-organizational, interorganizational and intergovernmental implementation processes. Must complete prerequisites UAP 3014 (B- or higher) or 3354, and UAP 3024 (B- or higher). Pre: 3024, (3014 or 3354). (3H,3C)
3264: CONTEMPORARY URBAN ISSUES
Consideration of one particular issue of immediate importance to the contemporary urban environment. Topics emphasize major social or economic policy issues, and may change each year. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)
3344 (PSCI 3344): GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES
Critical examination of major global environmental problems (e.g., global warming, atmospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, tropical deforestation, toxic waste) with emphasis on their social, economic, political, ethical, and policy implications and solutions. Completion of Area 4 of University Core required. (3H,3C)
3354: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PLANNING
Introduction to the interdisciplinary principles of environmental policy, planning, economics, and ethics to address pollution abatement, resources conservation, habitat protection, and environmental restoration. The course will focus on practical means of identifying environmental problems and creatively solving them. (3H,3C)
3434 (PSCI 3414): PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
The role and context of public administration in the contemporary United States, administrative organization and decision-making, public finance, human resources administration, and program implementation. Pre: PSCI 1014. (3H,3C)
3444 (PSCI 3444): ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND POLICY
The legal context of the exercise of discretion by public administrators in the United States. Adjudication and rule making; access to administrative processes and information; legislative and judicial control of administration. Pre: PSCI 1014. (3H,3C)
3464 (AHRM 3464) (APS 3464) (EDHL 3464) (GEOG 3464) (HD 3464) (HUM 3464) (SOC 3464):APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES
The concept of community in Appalachia using an interdisciplinary approach and experiential learning. Interrelationships among geographically, culturally, and socially constituted communities, public policy, and human development. Pre: Junior standing. (3H,3C)
3714 (PSCI 3714): THE U S POLICY PROCESS
Description and analysis of the processes and institutions involved in the making and implementation of public policy in the United States, with a primary focus on domestic and economic policy. Empirical and normative models of the process of public policy making in the U.S. Pre: PSCI 1014. (3H,3C)
3744 (PSCI 3744): PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
Methods and approaches used in the analysis and evaluation of public policy; strengths and limitations of various analytic tools; normative issues in the practice of policy analysis. (3H,3C)
3774 (PSCI 3774): MARXIAN POLITICAL ANALYSIS
Contemporary uses of Marxian concepts and theories to study the world economy, business structure, current social issues, modern ethical values, and alienation. Pre: PSCI 1014 or PSCI 1014H. (3H,3C)
3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.
4184: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Issues, concepts, and techniques of citizen participation in community development. Institutional frameworks and their historical precedents. Exercises developing group communications skills, public meeting facilitation, and design of community involvement programs. (3H,3C)
4214 (WGS 4214): WOMEN, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Explores intersecting roles of gender, culture, and socio-economic status in people's use of nature, management of environmental resources, and experiences of environmental change. Examines debates on environmental and development initiatives, environmental ethics, and environmental social movements from feminist perspectives. Pre: 3344 or 3354. (3H,3C)
4264: ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND POLICY
Issues in applied environmental ethics. Contributions of diverse religious and philosophical traditions to contemporary perspectives on the human-nature relationship. Examination of environmental policies from utilitarian economic, deep ecology, and ecofeminist perspectives. Junior, senior or graduate standing required. Pre: 3344 or 3354. (3H,3C)
4344: LAW OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS
This course examines the legal principles and policy debates involved in the regulation and protection of critical environmental resources. Specific topics vary but will likely include wetlands law and policy, endangered species habitat, open space, forestland and farmland protection, coastal zone management, and floodplain regulation and policy. (3H,3C)
4354: INTERDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM SOLVING STUDIO
Interdisciplinary, experiential problem solving studio focusing on specific environmental problems. Working in groups, students interact with local officials, consultants, developers, environmental groups to explore the processes of environmental management, regulation and mitigation, applying techniques and skills frequently used by environmental planners and policy-makers. Senior status required and 9 credit hours, 3000-level or above, in the Environmental Policy and Planning major or minor; Pre: 3354. (2H,5L,4C)
4364: SEMINAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PLANNING
Critical examination of the social, political, economic, legal, scientific, and technological contexts underlying processes of environmental change, problems, and solutions, as seen from various conceptual and disciplinary perspectives. Senior status required and 9 credit hours, 3000-level or above, in the Environmental Policy and Planning major or minor. Pre: 3354, 3224. (2H,2C)
4374: LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENT: PLANNING AND POLICY
Environmental factors involved in land use planning and development, including topography, soils, geologic hazards, flooding and stormwater management, ecological features, and visual quality. Techniques used in conducting environmental land inventories and land suitability analyses. Policies and programs to protect environmental quality in land use planning and development. Pre: Junior standing. (3H,3C)
4384: POLLUTION CONTROL PLANNING AND POLICY
Planning and policy aspects of managing residuals and environmental contaminants and their effects on human health and environmental quality. Technical and economic factors involved in management of water quality, air quality, solid and hazardous wastes, toxic substances, and noise. Implementation of pollution control legislation, policies, and programs at federal, state, and local levels. (3H,3C)
4394: COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Practical design fundamentals for small scale renewable energy systems: solar building heating and cooling; solar domestic hot water; wind, photovoltaic, and hydroelectric systems; alcohol, methane and other biomass conversion systems. Developing plans, programs, and policies to stimulate development of renewable systems. Pre: MATH 1016 or (ECON 2116 or ECON 2116H). (3H,3C)
4614: HEALTH POLICY
Inquiry into the structure of contemporary health policy and its historic antecedents, into the impacts of public policy on health status and health care delivery, into policy strategies for controlling health costs, and into the political economy of health and its influence on health policy formation. Emphasis is on the U.S. health system but that experience is placed in context by consideration of case studies of other advanced capitalist nations. Pre: 3224. (3H,3C)
4624 (PSCI 4624): THE WASHINGTON SEMESTER: SEMINAR IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
This seminar is the integrative forum for the principal elements of the Washington Semester experience. The course explores both the role of political institutions in policy formation and implementation and the primary managerial and leadership challenges that arise for implementing organization managers in American democratic public policy-making. Junior standing required and acceptance into the Washington Semester program. X-grade allowed. (3H,3C)
4624H (PSCI 4624H): HONORS THE WASHINGTON SEMESTER: SEM IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
X-grade allowed. (3H,3C)
4644 (PSCI 4644): THE WASHINGTON SEMESTER: POLITICS, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION IN A DEMOCRACY
This course is part of the Washington Semester. Explores the relationship between the imperatives of democratic mobilization, policy choices and organizational choices through intensive study of the operating context of a selected public or nonprofit organization. Examines implications of policy-maker choices for implementing institution dynamics and challenges. Junior standing and acceptance into the Washington Semester program. X-grade allowed. Pre: PSCI 3714. (3H,3C)
4644H (PSCI 4644H): HONORS THE WASHINGTON SEMESTER: POLITICS, POLICY AND ADMIN IN A DEMOCRACY
X-grade allowed. (3H,3C)
4714: ECONOMICS AND FINANCING OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Examines the provision and financing of public goods and services in local governments. Analyzes associated policy issues. Reviews experience in Western Europe and developing countries, as well as in the United States. Must complete prerequisites UAP 3024 with B- grade or higher, and ECON 2005 and 2006 with C grade or higher. Pre: 3024, (ECON 2005 or ECON 2005H), (ECON 2006 or ECON 2006H). (3H,3C)
4754: LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF PLANNING
Examination of the legal context in which urban planning and public policy operate. Legal structure, role of law, powers of sovereign governments, constitutional limitations on government activities, and public-private conflict and their influence on planning and public policy are examined. (3H,3C)
4764 (GEOG 4764) (SOC 4764): INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND PLANNING
Examination of major development theories and contemporary issues and characteristics of low-income societies (industrialization, urbanization, migration, rural poverty, hunger, foreign trade, and debt) that establish contexts for development planning and policy-making. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)
4854: PLANNING OF THE URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Course examines the interdependences among the elements of the built environment of the city and those between the elements of the built environment and the policy/planning structure of the city. Considered are those elements associated with the primary urban activities (residential, commercial, industrial) as well as the urban form-giving infrastructure facilities that support those land uses (water supply, sewerage, solid waste disposal, transportation, education, recreation, health, and safety). Pre: 3014. (3H,3C)
4914: SEMINAR IN PUBLIC AND URBAN AFFAIRS
This capstone seminar explores the central questions of the role of the citizen and the citizenry in democratic capitalistic urban societies as well as the nature of accountability in such regimes. Topics such as the
processes by which representation occurs, alternate theories of democratic community and the relationship of the public, private and civil sectors in urban society are treated. Senior status in PUA required. PUA majors and minors must complete this course with a C grade or higher to graduate; otherwise course must be repeated. Pre: 3224, 4714, 4754. (3H,3C)
4964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.
4964H: HONORS FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
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