Winter 2016/Pasadena

GM518

Colletti

GM518: INTRODUCTION TO URBAN STUDIES. (4 Units: 160 Hours). Joe Colletti.

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of the class is to challenge each student’s perspective of the city and to encourage engagement in solutions for various social disparities and injustices. The instructor will expose the class to a wide variety of topics, theories, and methods that relate to the field of urban studies and to a wide variety of urban issues and related solutions. Students will be encouraged to interact with professionals who represent public and private organizations including local government and non-profit agencies. Such persons will be guest lecturers who, along with the instructor, will integrate social responsibility and Christianity from various points of view involving community partnerships, demographics, faith-based and social capital, local politics, poverty, public art and music, and social services.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) gain an introductory understanding of urbanology: the city, its people, and its systems; (2) acquaint themselves with urban leaders; (3) familiarize themselves with the three major sectors of urban life—private, government, and voluntary (non-profit and faith-community)—as they contribute to our understanding of the processes of urban continuity, growth, and decay; (4) examine differing viewpoints on community development and conflict; (5) orient and motivate themselves to solve a local social issue or injustice.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,000 pages.

Barton, Ruth Haley. Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. InterVarsity Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830833337, Pub. Price $17.00 [192 pp.].

Gottdiener, M., and Leslie Budd. Key Concepts in Urban Studies. SAGE Publications, 2005. ISBN: 978-0761940982, Pub. Price: $35.00 [200 pp.].

Course Reader compiled by instructor.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,030 pp. of required reading. [Assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [70 hours].

  2. Prepare for and participate regularly in class. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 & 2]. [30 hours]. (20% of grade).

  3. Complete eight (8) two to three page neighborhood description and theological reflection papers following instructions in class [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [20 hours]. (graded pass/fail and count towards 20% of grade)

  4. Submit a three-to-four page theological reflection paper (minimum 750 words) following final instructions given in class which will include a related reading (paper is due week 6 and will be graded pass/fail and count towards 20% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [10 hours, DLAs].

  5. Complete a final paper (3,000 words) that seeks to solve a social issue or injustice in a community in which you live, work, worship, recreate, socialize, or serve. (40% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Missions (MIN8) and the requirement in Globalization (GLBL) for MA degrees. C2.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.