University Catalog

CIRP 4310. PLANNING THE AMERICAN CITY. 3 Hours.

Students in this course will develop an understanding of the role of the private and public sectors in the development and management of the American city. It will consider such topics as the organization of city government, demographic, economic, and physical conditions analysis, land use planning, the quality of the urban environment, urban redevelopment, urban design, and regional planning. An off-campus service learning component is a key required element of this course.

CIRP 4320. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. 3 Hours.

This course course explores broad environmental and social issues in sustainable communities. Potential topics include urban water management, food and resources, wildlife conservation, native landscaping, waste management, green building, housing diversity, public transportation and community participation. The course serves as a laboratory for working with governmental and non-governmental organizations in the DFW area and developing issue-based, action research projects to solve real-world problems in our communities. This hands-on course combines lecture, student-led discussion, site visits and collaborative team work for service learning projects.

CIRP 4391. STUDIES CIRP. 3 Hours.

Advanced studies in various subjects of city and regional planning. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor.

CIRP 5160. URBAN MANAGEMENT/PLANNING INTERNSHIP. 1 Hour.

Intended to enhance readiness for professional work through exposure to planning practice in a one semester log internship (100 hrs in the spring or fall semester or 75 hrs in the summer). Integrates work experience and coursework through journaling and reflective practice. Requirements: (1)student secures an internship from a planning related employer and approval from the student's major professor prior to enrolling in the course;(2)the intern must provide performance evaluation by the job supervisor and the intern's evaluation of the internship experience. Enrollment open to students with no previous formal planning experience. Credit not available for previous internship or planning experience. P/F grade.

CIRP 5191. CONFERENCE COURSE. 1 Hour.

Special subjects and issues as arranged by individual students and faculty members. May be repeated for credit.

CIRP 5193. MASTER'S COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION. 1 Hour.

Directed study, consultation and comprehensive examination over coursework leading to thesis substitute for MCRP degree. Required of all thesis substitute students who were admitted to the MCRP program prior to Fall 2009 and who are not enrolled in thesis or other thesis substitute courses during semester in which they plan to graduate. Students beginning the MCRP program in Fall 2009 or after may not choose the Master's Comprehensive Examination as a thesis substitute option and may not enroll in this course.

CIRP 5197. PROFESSIONAL REPORT. 1 Hour.

Preparation of final professional report as a thesis substitute for MCRP degree. Required of all thesis substitute students not enrolled in CIRP 5193.

CIRP 5297. PROFESSIONAL REPORT. 2 Hours.

Preparation of final professional report as a thesis substitute for MCRP degree. Required of all thesis substitute students not enrolled in CIRP 5193.

CIRP 5300. FOUNDATIONS OF URBAN THEORY. 3 Hours.

Spatial development of human settlements, their life cycles, expansion, and decay. Covers key theories of social, spatial, and economic structures of cities, nineteenth century to present. Considers influences of urban form and development on class, race, gender, and community.

CIRP 5303. PLANNING HISTORY, THEORY AND ETHICS. 3 Hours.

Various theories of planning including rational comprehensive, communicative action, social learning, and radical planning. Sets theories within their historical contexts, and examines the social and political details of each era to show the development of diverse planning practices and theories of planning. Evaluates the values embodied in different theories and their relationship to practice and social justice, including planning ethics as contained in the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

CIRP 5304. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, ZONING, AND REGULATIONS. 3 Hours.

Introduction to plan preparation and implementation. Topics include zoning, subdivision regulations, form-based codes, site planning, strategic planning, and comprehensive planning.

CIRP 5305. LAND USE, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.

Assesses land use, management and development and considers new directions. Relates comprehensive planning, environmental management, and land use.

CIRP 5306. URBAN REVITALIZATION. 3 Hours.

Examines various urban revitalization projects from coordinated, large-scale ventures to grassroots and informal neighborhood initiatives. Emphasis on the history, logic, politics, and implementation of these projects as well as their physical, social, and economic outcomes.

CIRP 5307. URBANIZATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD. 3 Hours.

Explores the social, political and spatial dimensions of urbanization processes in developing countries. Covers urban, social, and cultural movements as well as development, processes of urban-rural migration, and globalization. The course will cover all developing regions of the world with an emphasis on Latin American countries.

CIRP 5308. METROPOLITAN SUSTAINABILITY AND PLAN MAKING. 3 Hours.

Provides the background for sustainability planning at the city and metropolitan levels including plan making (e.g., comprehensive plans, small area plans, functional plans, etc.). Explores the relationship of environmental sustainability to economic vitality and social equity including planning ethics.

CIRP 5309. TRANSPORTATION/LAND USE MODELING AND POLICY ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

Overview of transportation/land use with specific transportation models and simulation methods; topics include economic theory of travel demand, land use models, UTPS framework for travel demand estimation, disaggregated travel demand models and abstract mode models.

CIRP 5310. PLANNING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE. 3 Hours.

Overview of functional areas of planning (e.g., urban design, housing, transportation, etc.); fundamentals of urban structure and development of cities and regions including environmental, social, economic, and political factors and issues affecting urban settlements; global dimensions of planning.

CIRP 5311. ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN. 3 Hours.

Study of contemporary urban form and environmental design, emphasizing visual-spatial qualities, social needs and economic linkages. Examination of processes, methods and techniques for solving urban design problems.

CIRP 5312. STRATEGIC MGT AND PLANNING IN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT SERVICES. 3 Hours.

Readings and case studies of strategic planning and management in the public and non-profit sectors; application of principles to an actual situation, involving stakeholder identification, environmental scanning, and formulation of mission statements, goals, and strategies. Offered as CIRP 5312 and URPA 5357. Credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5313. URBAN GROWTH POLICIES. 3 Hours.

Study of the political, societal and physical policies involved in urban growth management.

CIRP 5315. TRANSPORTATION POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND HISTORY. 3 Hours.

Transportation and related programs and policies in relation to city development and housing patterns. Interdependencies of land use, building development, and social change are explained as transportation-related.

CIRP 5316. LAND USE PLANNING AND THE LAW. 3 Hours.

Explores the law of land use in the context of the American legal, economic, and political systems. Examines leading court decisions and precedents for their background, content, and applicability to contemporary land use. Offered as CIRP 5316 and URPA 5331. Credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5317. INTERMEDIATE DATA ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

An intermediate level examination of statistical and research techniques appropriate to urban and social analysis. Presuming a basic understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics, the course covers multivariate regression, including error analysis and non-linear models, path analysis, Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA), logit and probit models, and techniques for data reduction (e.g., factor analysis). Prerequisite: URPA 5302. Offered as URPA 5342 and CIRP 5317; credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5318. TECHNIQUES OF PLANNING ANALYSIS I. 3 Hours.

Introduction to analytical techniques used in urban and regional planning. Topics include: census data and geography and introduction to GIS, demographic analysis, cost-benefit analysis, economic base analysis, gravity models, and displaying and communicating data analysis and results in graphic, written, and oral forms.

CIRP 5319. AGENCIES OF PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION. 3 Hours.

Contemporary managerial functions involved in running public, private, or non-profit organizations: goal setting, planning, organizing, delegating and motivating others, personal productivity and motivation, time and stress management, controlling, and project management.

CIRP 5320. DATABASE MANAGEMENT FOR URBAN PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION. 3 Hours.

Concepts and computer applications of data management. Topics include data sources, data models, database design, data query, data analysis, and database management techniques for urban planning, management and administration. Credit will be given only once.

CIRP 5321. VISUAL BASIC AND GIS. 3 Hours.

Provides an introduction to the techniques and applications of computer graphics and mapping for presenting socioeconomic information in graphic and spatial form.

CIRP 5322. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND POLICY. 3 Hours.

Introductory seminar in subnational economic development programs in the U.S. Covers basics of location theory, economic planning, budgeting, incentives, public and private revenue sources, analysis methods such as central place and economic base, intergovernmental efforts, redevelopment, high tech, trade and/or tourism.

CIRP 5323. HISTORIC PRESERVATION. 3 Hours.

Covers elements of historic designation, rehabilitation, financial incentives, district regulations, and preservation impacts.

CIRP 5324. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.

Focuses on current problems of community development and neighborhood revitalization. Housing, community assets, the roles of community development corporations and social capital in cities, and community economic development will be analyzed. Federal, state, and local policies, with grassroots initiatives evaluated for effectiveness on promoting alternatives for community building and organizing. Also offered as URPA 5313; credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5325. PHYSICAL PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN. 3 Hours.

Introduction to basic concepts in urban design and physical planning. Provides an understanding of how built environments evolve, and how they can be creatively planned and designed so as to meet social and ecological goals. Special attention to principles and analyses related to the physical planning of neighborhoods and streets, as well as patterns of urban form and public places.

CIRP 5326. CULTURAL PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.

This course examines 1) the composition of the creative economy in cities around the world, 2) arts, culture, and creative economy planning and policy efforts at the neighborhood, city, and regional levels, and 3) the social, spatial and political ramifications of these efforts and of the creative economy broadly.

CIRP 5327. INTRODUCTION TO GREEN CITIES AND TRANSPORTATION. 3 Hours.

Introduction to concepts of green cities and transportation, environmental and transportation challenges, and school of thoughts on causes of environmental and transportation problems, with emphasis on planning practices and policies in relation to environmental and transportation issues and roles of planners in shaping urban landscape and infrastructure.

CIRP 5328. PUBLIC BUDGETING. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the principles and practices used by federal, state, and local governments to acquire and spend revenues within the context of American democracy, capitalism, federalism, and economics. The primary objective of this course is to provide students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to enable them to be effective participants in the budgeting process and critical consumers and producers of research relevant to public budgeting. Offered as CIRP 5328 and URPA 5326. Credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5329. PUBLIC CAPITAL BUDGETING. 3 Hours.

Examines governmental capital budgeting processes with a focus on understanding the significance of capital improvement planning, public facility investment, and project evaluation to sound infrastructure financing and regional economic growth. Governments purchase or construct long-lasting physical assets or facilities financed mostly through borrowing. This course aims to understand the rationale for public capital budgeting and debt instruments used to finance capital investment in the political context of public budgeting in America. Offered as URPA 5332 and CIRP 5329; credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5330. TECHNIQUES OF PLANNING ANALYSIS II. 3 Hours.

Introduction to research methods, both quantitative and qualitative and mixed methods. Relating planning problem identification and definition with appropriate method of data gathering and analysis. Analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data including interview and small group techniques, and basic statistical analysis. Communication of analysis results in graphic, written, and oral forms.

CIRP 5331. GIS WORKSHOP. 3 Hours.

Skills, practical experience, problem-solving methods and techniques in geographic information systems. Capstone course for GIS Certificate Program; substitutes for one Project Planning Course.

CIRP 5332. PROJECT STUDIO. 3 Hours.

Studio course working on applied city and regional planning projects within the Dallas-Fort Worth area or elsewhere. Provides students with practical experience in collaborative teamwork and the application of skills, methods, and techniques in city and regional planning, including citizen participation, problem analysis, mapping, design, presentation, working with clients, and applied planning process. Should be taken in the second half of the student's program of study, with exceptions for those with applied planning experience. May be repeated as topic changes.

CIRP 5340. GIS AND SUITABILITY ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

Acquaints students with theoretical and practical aspects of suitability analysis process or activity allocation on land use/environmental policies. Uses Geographic Information System (GIS) and computer models for overlaying map analysis, buffering, market demand and activity locations, etc. to incorporate environmental and ecological factors into the determination of land development potential including soils, slope, drainage, vegetation, and related factors.

CIRP 5341. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS: LAWS AND PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Federal, state, and local environmental regulations which have effect on the practice of city and regional planning. Specific articles, laws, and directives contrasted and compared to local city design and development controls. Subjects include CERCLA, RCRA, SARA, TSCA, OSH Act, among others.

CIRP 5342. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. 3 Hours.

Focuses on the physical environmental dimensions of urbanization including such factors as pollution, waste disposal, and land use; stresses the role of economic, social, and political institutions as these affect environmental quality of the city. Offered as CIRP 5342 and URPA 5317; credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5343. FOUNDATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. 3 Hours.

Explores how environmental controversy is rooted in conflict between a number of schools of environmental policy thought with divergent perspectives on issues such as how to define progress, how to balance the needs of economy and ecosystem, how to cope with environmental complexity, and what role science should play in environment affairs. Also offered as URPA 5365; credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 5344. HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Social welfare institutions: private and public; needs assessment, resource allocation, procedures, city/state/federal/private policy review; highlights of current system demands and changes. Also offered as URPA 5316.

CIRP 5345. PLANNING AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.

The goals, strategies, methods, and achievements of major participants in the urban land and building markets are examined. Land owners, speculators, real estate brokers, developers, bankers, lawyers, non-profit builders, and government agencies are studied, as well as such business tools as: market and feasibility analysis, appraisal techniques, proforma analysis, and others.

CIRP 5346. QUALITATIVE METHODS. 3 Hours.

The study of qualitative research and analysis methods. Offered as CIRP 5346 and URPA 5344; credit will be given only once.

CIRP 5347. URBAN PROBLEMS. 3 Hours.

Specific urban problems examined in depth, traced to their historical origins to see how they or similar problems have been dealt with in other times and places. Students will then propose possible solutions to the problems in their contemporary form. Offered as CIRP 5347 and URPA 5319.

CIRP 5350. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Overview of environmental planning issues and problems, including basic ecological principles; development and effects of the chemical industry; policies on international issues; environmental justice and ethics; environmental economics, including externalities and public goods; sustainable development; overviews of planning for air quality, water quality, solid waste, pollution prevention, habitat conservation, etc.; and plan implementation, including enforcement, regulation and funding.

CIRP 5351. TECHNIQUES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. 3 Hours.

Analysis of impact assessment documents from a variety of projects; study of federal laws and regulations governing the process; state impact assessment laws and regulations; and procedures used in other nations. Students will prepare an environmental assessment for a real-world project. Overviews of environmental site assessment, MIS documents, and environmental auditing will also be given.

CIRP 5352. ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT POLICY & PRACTICE. 3 Hours.

Review and analysis of the development of the environmental assessment process with focus on expectations of how environmental assessment will be transformed in the era of climate change. Students evaluate the effects of new laws and regulations and the accelerated growth of environmental policy development at all levels of government, especially among urban areas. The course includes review of selected environmental assessment documents and project case studies.

CIRP 5353. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. 3 Hours.

This seminar examines the role of environmental law within the political-institutional framework of the American system. Emphasis is on the legal-judicial aspects of environmental regulation. Analyzes the decision of U.S. courts as these affect and interpret environmental laws and regulations for their legality and constitutionality.

CIRP 5354. HOUSING PLANNING, POLICY AND FINANCE. 3 Hours.

Evaluation of the effect of state, local, and federal housing policy on the urban arena. Topics will be selected from federal subsidy programs, tax subsidies, operations of financial intermediaries, and related areas.

CIRP 5356. INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS. 3 Hours.

Introduction to GIS and the application of computer graphics systems in the storage, processing, and retrieval of geographic urban and regional information; case examples and related projects and issues of system management.

CIRP 5357. INTERMEDIATE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS. 3 Hours.

Applications of GIS to typical urban and regional geographic information problems and projects.

CIRP 5358. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS (ITS) AND PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Concepts, components, deployments, and implementations of ITS; methods for ITS evaluations; linkage between ITS and traditional transportation planning; and issues related to ITS planning and deployment.

CIRP 5360. COMPUTER METHODS FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Applications of computer software (for example, TransCad, Tranplan) in transportation planning modeling. Theories of residential location choice and travel behavior. Topics may include land-use and travel demand models, trip distribution models, mode choice models, and network equilibrium.

CIRP 5361. PLANNING INTERNSHIP. 3 Hours.

Intended to enhance readiness for professional work through exposure to planning practice in a one semester log internship (300 hrs in the spring or fall semester or 275 hrs in the summer). Integrates work experience and coursework through journaling and reflective practice. Requirements: (1)student secures an internship from a planning related employer and approval from the student's major professor prior to enrolling in the course;(2)the intern must provide performance evaluation by the job supervisor and the intern's evaluation of the internship experience. Enrollment open to students with no previous formal planning experience. Credit not available for previous internship or planning experience. P/F grade.

CIRP 5362. URBAN DIVERSITY. 3 Hours.

Examines the growing spatial and social diversity of cities; how physical as well as socioeconomic urban structures have fostered race, class, and gender inequalities; how urban policies have addressed and can address these issues. Offered as CIRP 5362 and URPA 5362.

CIRP 5363. LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. 3 Hours.

Governance and participation, comprehensive planning and the community planning process, participatory planning, and practical communication skills for planners and administrators: leadership and public meetings, participative decision making, interpersonal communications and conflict management, effective writing and presentations.

CIRP 5364. ECONOMIC BASE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY. 3 Hours.

Theories and methods of local and regional economic base analyses; techniques for inventorying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of local capital, labor and land resources; alternative policy responses to industrial development issues arising from economic base analysis.

CIRP 5380. RESEARCH QUESTIONS IN PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Application of research issues, writing, and communication skills in planning. Designed to assist students in preparing their research for master's thesis or professional report.

CIRP 5391. CONFERENCE COURSE. 3 Hours.

Special subjects and issues as arranged by individual students and faculty members. May be repeated for credit.

CIRP 5395. SPECIAL TOPICS IN PLANNING. 3 Hours.

Selected topics in City and Regional Planning. May be repeated for credit.

CIRP 5397. PROFESSIONAL REPORT. 3 Hours.

Preparation of final professional report as a thesis substitute for MCRP degree. Required of all thesis substitute students not enrolled in CIRP 5193.

CIRP 5398. PLANNING THESIS. 3 Hours.

Graded F/R.

CIRP 5698. PLANNING THESIS. 6 Hours.

Graded F/R.

CIRP 5998. PLANNING THESIS. 9 Hours.

Graded P/F/R.

CIRP 6301. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS AND Ph.D. WORKSHOP. 3 Hours.

Explores the development and function of theoretical models and frameworks. Examines the major theories from the social sciences designed for framing issues in urban planning, administration, and public policy. Designed to assist doctoral students in preparing their research for dissertation. Opportunities to present work in progress, share ideas, and interact with faculty. Prerequisite: CIRP 5317/URPA 5342, and CIRP 5346/URPA 5344. Offered as CIRP 6301 and URPA 6301; credit will be granted only once.

CIRP 6305. SEMINAR IN URBAN PLANNING PROCESSES. 3 Hours.

Final course in urban planning field. Focus on the various political, economic, and social institutions and theoretical approaches in the planning process, and application of these multidisciplinary perspectives in the analysis of specific planning issues.

CIRP 6346. ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS IN URBAN AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 3 Hours.

An introduction to selected advanced techniques related to planning analysis. Subjects include advanced applied regression analysis, multivariate logit analysis, and multinomial logistic regression. Applications of projection techniques, land use and transportation models, and methods of regional analysis. Offered as CIRP 6346 and URPA 6346. Credit will be given only once.