Graduate Catalog: 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

URP 542 Environmental Planning - Threesemester hours. This course explores therelationship between the natural environment andphysical planning. Ramifications of federal, state,and local environmental analysis and impactassessment are also discussed. Broad aspects of theenvironment including physical, social, economic,cultural, and aesthetic are presented as a means ofensuring environmental stability for futuregenerations.URP 543 Housing Issues in Planning - Threesemester hours. This course provides an introductionto housing markets and existing housing programs.It examines the structure of the demand and supplyof housing and the various methods used by thepublic sector to intervene in the housing market. Thedifferent programs and policies used bygovernments at all levels to serve different housinggoals and how well they work are analyzed. Inaddition, it examines the methodology andtechniques for assessing housing conditions andneeds, and presents case studies of currentinnovative approaches for addressing communityhousing problems. (Pre-requisite URP 506)URP 544 Historic Preservation andNeighborhood Conservation - Three semesterhours. Overview of the historic preservation fieldincluding topics such as taxation, gentrification,minority displacement, aesthetic revitalization,structural rehabilitation, alternative uses and otherissues relevant to the conservation and preservationof historic facilities and neighborhoods areaddressed.URP 545 Environmental Assessment -Threesemester hours. This course focuses on how toassess the likely impacts of land use plans andprojects on the bio-physical and socio-economicenvironment. It examines federal, state and localenvironmental regulations with an emphasis ontranslating environmental assessment results intopublic policy, conceptualization of the mitigation ofidentifiable environmental conflicts.URP 553 Community Development Process -Three semester hours. Elements of communityresource development strategies based ondevelopmental practices of private investors andgovernmental agencies. Special attention is given tothe political, business and citizen organizationalstructure at the local level and their relevant impacton code enforcement practices and developmentalpractices.URP 555 Terminal Research ProposalPreparation - One semester hour. This course is theinitial development stage of the terminal researchpaper. The research proposal outlines the approachfor conducting the research, with focus on theresearch design. The proposal is developed underthe supervision of the student’s approved researchcommittee.URP 556 Independent Research - Three semesterhours. A formal presentation of an investigationdirected by an assigned faculty member within thedepartment with respect to the student’sspecialization. It is intended to meet the needs ofstudents for study in urban planning beyond theregularly scheduled courses. The research willconsist of either a survey of existing research on agiven and specific area of study, an area of thestudent’s interest beyond the scope of instructionalcourses or work on a problem approved by thefaculty of the department. Registration for thiscourse requires a written approval of the facultyadvisor and the Chairman of the department.URP 557 Terminal Research - Two semesterhours. Non-thesis, faculty guided research paperdeveloped independently by the student. The papermust thoroughly explore a relevant issue (topic orquestion) which shall be substantiated by dataderived from primary or secondary sources. Theresearch topic or issue must be related or derivedfrom the student’s specialty area. (Prerequisites:URP 511; URP 521; URP 555)URP 559 Planning Project - Three semester hours.This is an applied research focused on theexamination of a planning issue or problem underthe supervision of the student’s project committeeculminating in the presentation of a report on theplanning project. (Prerequisites: URP 511; URP521; URP 555)URP 560 International Program Management andEvaluation - Three semester hours. This course isintended to enable the student to gain anunderstanding of the principles, issues, processesand problems involved in the planning, managementand evaluation of international programs. Specificexamples are provided from projects and programssupported by the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) and other principle publicand private agencies.URP 561 Interdisciplinary Seminar in EconomicDevelopment - Three semester hours. The course is176