Twin Cities campus

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Twin Cities Campus

Urban and Regional Planning M.U.R.P.

HHH Administration
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Student Services, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-3800; fax 612-626-0002)
Email: hhhadmit@umn.edu
Website: http://www.hhh.umn.edu
  • Program Type: Master's
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2021
  • Length of program in credits: 48
  • This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
  • Degree: Master of Urban and Regional Planning
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The Urban and Regional Planning master’s degree (MURP) is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to analyze, forecast, design, and implement plans for regions, communities, and neighborhoods. Students develop a comprehensive understanding of the built environment (land use, transportation, housing, regional economies) and the ability to mediate among competing interests. The degree prepares individuals for jobs in public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Program Delivery
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Prerequisites for Admission
A four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited US university or foreign equivalent at time of enrollment.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
A strong liberal education background, and sound quantitative and analytical skills are preferred. Previous coursework in mathematics, statistics, and economics is recommended. Applicants needing to strengthen this part of their skill prior set prior to admission may wish to take introductory microeconomics, college algebra, and/or introductory statistics courses.
Special Application Requirements:
A complete application will include a University of Minnesota application, personal statement, resume or C.V., transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores (if applicable), at least three letters of recommendation, and an optional diversity statement.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
  • GRE
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
  • TOEFL
    • Internet Based - Total Score: 100
    • Paper Based - Total Score: 600
  • IELTS
    • Total Score: 7.0
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.
Program Requirements
Plan A: Plan A requires 38 major credits, 0 credits outside the major, and 10 thesis credits. The final exam is oral.
Plan C: Plan C requires 48 major credits and up to credits outside the major. There is no final exam.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 2.80 is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 1 semesters must be completed before filing a Degree Program Form.
A 400-hour professional internship, in addition to coursework, is required. Internship options, identified through consultation with the Humphrey School’s Career and Professional Development Office, are usually completed during the summer after the second semester of the MURP program. Students not competent in GIS must take a graduate-level GIS course as part of the 48-credit requirement. Required coursework offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
Required Core Coursework (24.5 credits)
Take the following courses:
PA 5004 - Introduction to Planning (3.0 cr)
PA 5013 - Law and Urban Land Use (1.5 cr)
PA 5042 - Urban and Regional Economics (2.0 cr)
PA 5043 - Economic and Demographic Data Analysis (2.0 cr)
PA 5145 - Civic Participation in Public Affairs (3.0 cr)
PA 5205 - Statistics for Planning (4.0 cr)
PA 5206 - The City of White Supremacy (3.0 cr)
PA 5211 - Land Use Planning (3.0 cr)
PA 8081 - Capstone Workshop (3.0 cr)
Electives
Select from the following, in consultation with the advisor, to meet the minimum number of course credits required for the Plan A (38 credits) or the Plan C (48 credits):
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems (3.0 cr)
ARCH 8561 - Sustainable Design Theory and Practice (3.0 cr)
ARCH 8567 - Site and Water Issues in Sustainable Design (3.0 cr)
ESCI 5102 - Climate Change and Human History (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems (4.0 cr)
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5295 - GIS in Environmental Science and Management (4.0 cr)
ESPM 5603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy (3.0 cr)
FNRM 5131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources (4.0 cr)
FNRM 5204 - Landscape Ecology and Management (3.0 cr)
FNRM 5501 - Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People (3.0 cr)
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change [ENV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5011 - Pathways to Renewable Energy [TS] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5013 - Making Sense of Climate Change - Science, Art, and Agency [CIV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5017 - World Food Problems: Agronomics, Economics and Hunger [GP] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5027 - Power Systems Journey: Making the Invisible Visible and Actionable [TS] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5031 - The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change [CIV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5032 - Ecosystems Health: Leadership at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment [ENV] (3.0 cr)
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
HSCI 5244 - Nature's History: Science, Humans, and the Environment (3.0 cr)
LA 5003 - Climate Change Adaptation (3.0 cr)
LA 5004 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
LA 5204 - Metropolitan Landscape Ecology (3.0 cr)
LAW 5062 - Energy Law (3.0 cr)
LAW 6215 - Environmental Law (3.0 cr)
LAW 6234 - Public Lands and Natural Resources (3.0 cr)
PA 5113 - State and Local Public Finance (3.0 cr)
PA 5212 - Managing Urban Growth and Change (3.0 cr)
PA 5213 - Introduction to Site Planning (3.0 cr)
PA 5215 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
PA 5221 - Private Sector Development (3.0 cr)
PA 5242 - Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (3.0 cr)
PA 5261 - Housing Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5262 - Neighborhood Revitalization Theories and Strategies (3.0 cr)
PA 5271 - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Planning and Policy Analysis (3.0 cr)
PA 5880 - Exploring Global Cities (1.0-3.0 cr)
PUBH 6116 - Environmental Law (1.0 cr)
PUBH 6132 - Air, Water, and Health (2.0 cr)
PUBH 6154 - Climate Change and Global Health Modeling (3.0 cr)
Plan A Thesis Credits
Plan A students take 10 master's thesis credits.
PA 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's (1.0-18.0 cr)
Concentrations
All students select 1 of the following concentrations in consultation with the advisor. The concentration must comprise 6 course credits for Plan A students, or 12 course credits for Plan C students.
Environmental Planning (6 to 12 credits)
Required Course (3 credits)
Take the following course:
PA 5242 - Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (3.0 cr)
Additional Coursework (3 to 9 credits)
Plan A students select 3 credits, and Plan C students select 9 credits from the following in consultation with the advisor:
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems (3.0 cr)
ARCH 8561 - Sustainable Design Theory and Practice (3.0 cr)
ARCH 8567 - Site and Water Issues in Sustainable Design (3.0 cr)
ESCI 5102 - Climate Change and Human History (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems (4.0 cr)
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5241 - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5295 - GIS in Environmental Science and Management (4.0 cr)
ESPM 5603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy (3.0 cr)
FNRM 5131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources (4.0 cr)
FNRM 5204 - Landscape Ecology and Management (3.0 cr)
FNRM 5501 - Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People (3.0 cr)
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change [ENV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5011 - Pathways to Renewable Energy [TS] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5013 - Making Sense of Climate Change - Science, Art, and Agency [CIV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5017 - World Food Problems: Agronomics, Economics and Hunger [GP] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5027 - Power Systems Journey: Making the Invisible Visible and Actionable [TS] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5031 - The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change [CIV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5032 - Ecosystems Health: Leadership at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment [ENV] (3.0 cr)
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
HSCI 5244 - Nature's History: Science, Humans, and the Environment (3.0 cr)
LA 5003 - Climate Change Adaptation (3.0 cr)
LA 5004 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
LA 5204 - Metropolitan Landscape Ecology (3.0 cr)
LAW 5062 - Energy Law (3.0 cr)
LAW 6215 - Environmental Law (3.0 cr)
LAW 6234 - Public Lands and Natural Resources (3.0 cr)
PA 5711 - Science, Technology & Environmental Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5715 - Deliberating Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (1.5 cr)
PA 5721 -  Energy Systems and Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5722 - Economics of Environmental Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5724 - Climate Change Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5741 - Risk, Resilience and Decision Making (1.5 cr)
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale (3.0 cr)
PA 5761 - Environmental Systems Analysis at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus (3.0 cr)
PUBH 6116 - Environmental Law (1.0 cr)
PUBH 6132 - Air, Water, and Health (2.0 cr)
PUBH 6154 - Climate Change and Global Health Modeling (3.0 cr)
-OR-
Housing and Community Development (6 to 12 credits)
Required Courses (6 credits)
Take the following courses:
PA 5261 - Housing Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5262 - Neighborhood Revitalization Theories and Strategies (3.0 cr)
Additional Coursework (0 to 6 credits)
Plan C students select 6 credits from the following, in consultation with the advisor:
LAW 6031 - Smart Growth (2.0 cr)
LAW 6213 - Real Estate Transactions (3.0 cr)
PA 5212 - Managing Urban Growth and Change (3.0 cr)
PA 5221 - Private Sector Development (3.0 cr)
PA 5281 - Immigrants, Urban Planning and Policymaking in the U.S. (3.0 cr)
PA 5401 - Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5421 - Racial Inequality and Public Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5511 - Community Economic Development (3.0 cr)
PA 5512 - Workforce and Economic Development (3.0 cr)
-OR-
Land Use and Urban Design (6 to 12 credits)
Required Course (3 credits)
Take the following course:
PA 5213 - Introduction to Site Planning (3.0 cr)
Additional Coursework (3 to 9 credits)
Plan A students select 3 credits, and Plan C students select 9 credits from the following in consultation with the advisor:
ARCH 5391 - Design and Representation with BIM (3.0 cr)
ARCH 5671 - Historic Preservation (3.0 cr)
ARCH 5711 - Theory and Principles of Urban Design (3.0 cr)
ARCH 5721 - Case Studies in Urban Design (3.0 cr)
ARCH 5756 - Public Interest Design: Principles and Practices (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5256 - Natural Resource Law and the Management of Public Lands and Waters (3.0 cr)
FNRM 5501 - Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People (3.0 cr)
GIS 5571 - ArcGIS I (3.0 cr)
GIS 5572 - ArcGIS II (3.0 cr)
GIS 5574 - Web GIS and Services (3.0 cr)
LA 5004 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
LA 5771 - Landscape Infrastructure and Systems I (3.0 cr)
LAW 6031 - Smart Growth (2.0 cr)
LAW 6201 - Land Use Planning (3.0 cr)
PA 5209 - Urban Planning and Health Equity (3.0 cr)
PA 5234 - Urban Transportation Planning and Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5262 - Neighborhood Revitalization Theories and Strategies (3.0 cr)
PA 5271 - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Planning and Policy Analysis (3.0 cr)
PA 5290 - Topics in Planning (0.5-4.0 cr)
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale (3.0 cr)
PUBH 6066 - Building Communities, Increasing Health: Preparing for Community Health Work (2.0 cr)
-OR-
Transportation Planning (6 to 12 credits)
Plan A students select 6 credits, and Plan C students select 12 credits from the following in consultation with the advisor:
GEOG 8292 - Seminar in GIS: Spatial Analysis and Modeling (3.0 cr)
PA 5113 - State and Local Public Finance (3.0 cr)
PA 5114 - Budget Analysis in Public and Nonprofit Orgs (1.5 cr)
PA 5231 - Transit Planning and Management (3.0 cr)
PA 5233 - Sustainable Transportation (3.0 cr)
PA 5234 - Urban Transportation Planning and Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5290 - Topics in Planning (0.5-4.0 cr)
PA 5880 - Exploring Global Cities (1.0-3.0 cr)
-OR-
Self-Designed (6 to 12 credits)
Select courses, in consultation with the advisor, to meet academic and professional goals. Other courses can be chosen in consultation with advisor and director of graduate studies approval.
Joint- or Dual-degree Coursework:
MURP/JD: 29 credits in common allowed. MURP/MLA: 37 credits in common allowed. MURP/MPH: 26 credits in common allowed. MURP/MSCE: 18 credits in common allowed. MURP/MSW: 21 credits in common allowed for the full program; 15 for the advanced standing program; and 11 for MSW Direct Practice.
 
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PA 5004 - Introduction to Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
History/institutional development of urban planning as profession. Intellectual foundations, planning theory. Roles of urban planners in U.S./international settings. Scope, legitimacy, limitations of planning/planning process. Issues in planning ethics/settings of diverse populations/stakeholders. prereq: Major/minor in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 5013 - Law and Urban Land Use
Credits: 1.5 [max 1.5]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Role of law in regulating/shaping urban development, land use, environmental quality, local/regional governmental services. Interface between public/private sector. prereq: Major or minor in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 5042 - Urban and Regional Economics
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Evaluation of city existence/growth using economics. Economic forces in development of cities. Economic analysis of urban areas/land market. Economic analysis of planning issues in land use, transportation, housing, environment. prereq: [Major or minor in urban and regional planning, microeconomics course] or instr consent
PA 5043 - Economic and Demographic Data Analysis
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Economic/demographic data analysis techniques for planning. Exposure to most important data sources. Conceptual understanding of range of methods/hands-on experience in applying these methods. prereq: Major or minor in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 5145 - Civic Participation in Public Affairs
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Critique/learn various approaches to civic participation in defining/addressing public issues. Readings, cases, classroom discussion, facilitating/experiencing engagement techniques. Examine work of practitioner, design engagement process.
PA 5205 - Statistics for Planning
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Basic statistical tools for empirical analysis in urban and regional planning, including descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, elementary probability theory, research design and sampling, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, cross-tabulation/chi-square distribution, correlation, and simple/multiple regression analysis.
PA 5206 - The City of White Supremacy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
The title of this course is meant to signal the objective of scrutinizing how systems of white supremacy have shaped the American city and how the American city functions in ways that reproduce and reinforce white supremacy. The colonization of the Americas coincided with the fabrication of racial identities that set the terms for membership in what became a white supremacist/racial state wherein all things, including spatial thinking and design, conformed to a racial calculus. As Lipsitz (2007: 12) tells us, ?The lived experience of race has a spatial dimension, and the lived experience of space has a racial dimension.? The core of this class will, however, focus on later developments characteristic of the period of rapid urbanization from the Jim Crow era through the New Deal and Civil Rights periods to today. The first section of the course will focus on frameworks for understanding white supremacy generally, and as it relates to urban development specifically. The second section considers specific domains of urban policy and planning using white supremacy as the analytic framework. In these weeks we examine how white supremacy has been expressed across a range of urban development issue areas, including housing, transportation, the urban environment, education, criminal justice, and urban design, and how policies and planning practice have maintained or disrupted systems of white supremacy.
PA 5211 - Land Use Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Physical/spatial basis for land use planning at community/regional level. Role of public sector in guiding private development. Land use regulations, comprehensive planning, growth management, innovative land use planning/policies. prereq: Major or minor in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 8081 - Capstone Workshop
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring & Summer
Project for external client on issue agreed upon by student, client, and instructor. Students apply interdisciplinary methods, approaches, and perspectives from core courses. Written report with analysis and policy recommendations. Oral presentation. Topics vary by term. prereq: completion of core courses or instr consent
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Agro/Ent 5321
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Ecological approach to problems in agricultural systems. Formal methodologies of systems inquiry are developed/applied. prereq: [3xxx or above] course in [Agro or AnSc or Ent or Hort or PlPa or Soil] or instr consent
ARCH 8561 - Sustainable Design Theory and Practice
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
History, theory, and ethics of sustainable design processes/practices. Emphasizes approaches to sustainable architecture. Regional/global ecological issues, design strategies, methods of assessment. Primary architectural/technological implications of sustainable design theory/practice that inform design thinking/research. Sustainable design issues. Research projects, case studies, fieldwork. prereq: [5513, [grad MS or MArch]] or instr consent
ARCH 8567 - Site and Water Issues in Sustainable Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Site, water and site/building integration aspects of sustainable design. Ecological principles, site analysis. Water/site/building integration strategies, methods, and tools integrated with sustainable design issues such as energy, indoor environmental quality, and materials. Research projects, case studies, measurement methods. prereq: [5512, [grad MS or MArch student]] or instr consent
ESCI 5102 - Climate Change and Human History
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESci 3002/ESci 5102
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Causes of long-/short-term climate change. Frequency/magnitude of past climate changes, their geologic records. Relationship of past climate changes to development of agrarian societies and to shifts in power among kingdoms/city-states. Emphasizes last 10,000 years. prereq: 1001 or equiv or instr consent
ESPM 5014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3014/ESPM 5014
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course is designed to develop and refine your understanding of tribal and Indigenous natural resource management, tribal and Indigenous perspectives, and responsibilities natural resource managers have for tribal and Indigenous communities. This course includes one eight-hour weekend field session.
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Recent literature in field. Complements 4061. Ecology of aquatic ecosystems, how they are valuable to society and changed by landscape management. Case studies, impaired waters, TMDL process, student engagement in simulating water quality decision making.
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Analysis of functioning of ecosystems primarily structured by managed plant communities. Managed forests, field-crop agroecosystems, rangelands, aquatic systems. Structure-function relations. Roles of biodiversity in productivity, resource-use efficiency, nutrient cycling, resilience. Emerging principles for design of sustainable managed ecosystems, provision of ecological services. prereq: Sr or grad student
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3202WESPM /5202
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3245/ESPM 5245
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Planning theories, concepts, and constructs. Policies, processes, and tools for sustainable land use planning. Scientific/technical literature related to land use planning. Skills needed to participate in sustainable land use planning.
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3251/ESPM 5251/LAS 3251
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
International perspectives on resource use in developing countries. Integration of natural resource issues with social, economic, and policy considerations. Agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, water resources, certification, development issues. Latin American case studies. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
ESPM 5295 - GIS in Environmental Science and Management
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Application of geographic information science and technologies (GIS) in complex environmental problems. Students gain experience in spatial data collection, database development, and spatial analysis, including GNSS and field attribute collection, image interpretation, and existing data fusion, raster/vector data integration and analysis, information extraction from LiDAR data, DEM conditioning and hydrologic analysis, neighborhood analysis, bulk processing and automation, and scripting. Problems vary depending on topics, often with extra-University partners. *Please note that students should have completed a semester-long, introductory lab/lecture GIS course at the graduate or undergraduate level before enrolling in this course, e.g., FNRM 5131. We do not require any given course because students come from varied universities and backgrounds. That said, we assume a knowledge commensurate with a comprehensive introductory course. Students seeking a first course are directed to FNRM 5131. If you have questions regarding your capabilities, please contact the instructor prior to enrolling.
ESPM 5603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Concepts, major issues relating to inventory and subsequent analysis of production systems. Production system from holistic point of view, using term commonly used in industrial ecology: "the metabolic system." prereq: [Math 1142 or [Math 1271, Math 1282]], [Econ 1101 or ApEc 1101]
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
FNRM 5131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 3131/FNRM 5131/FR 3131/
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Geographic information systems (GIS), focusing on spatial data development and analysis in the science and management of natural resources. Basic data structures, sources, collection, and quality; geodesy and map projections; spatial and tabular data analyses; digital elevation data and terrain analyses; cartographic modeling and layout. Lab exercises provide practical experiences complementing theory covered in lecture. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
FNRM 5204 - Landscape Ecology and Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 3204/FNRM 5204
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to landscape ecology at different scales in time/space. Development/implications of broad-scale patterns of ecological phenomena, role of disturbance in ecosystems. Characteristic spatial/temporal scales of ecological events. Principles of landscape ecology as framework for landscape research, analysis, conservation, and management. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
FNRM 5501 - Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 4501/FNRM 5501
Typically offered: Every Spring
Management concepts for green infrastructure of cities, towns, and communities. Urban forest as social/biological resource. Emphasizes management of urban forest ecosystem to maximize benefits. Tree selection, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, landscape planning, values, perceptions. How urban forestry can be a tool to improve community infrastructure.
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change (ENV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: EEB 5146/FNRM 5146/GCC 5008/P
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Through readings, lectures, discussions, written assignments, and presentations this course introduces the critical issues underpinning global change and its environmental and social implications. The course examines current literature in exploring evidence for human-induced global change and its potential effects on a wide range of biological processes and examines the social and economic drivers, social and economic consequences, and political processes at local, national, and international scales related to global change. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5011 - Pathways to Renewable Energy (TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3011/GCC 5011
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This interdisciplinary course will examine obstacles to energy transitions at different scales. It will explore the role of energy in society, the physics of energy, how energy systems were created and how they function, and how the markets, policies, and regulatory frameworks for energy systems in the US developed. The course will closely examine the Realpolitik of energy and the technical, legal, regulatory, and policy underpinnings of renewable energy in the US and Minnesota. Students will learn the drivers that can lead global systems to change despite powerful constraints and how local and institutional action enables broader reform. Students will put their learning into action by developing a proposal and then working on a project to accelerate the energy transition and to ensure that the energy transition benefits people in a just and equitable way. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5013 - Making Sense of Climate Change - Science, Art, and Agency (CIV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3013/GCC 5013
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
The overarching theme of the course is the role of artistic/humanistic ways of knowing as tools for making sense and meaning in the face of "grand challenges." Our culture tends to privilege science, and to isolate it from the "purposive" disciplines--arts and humanities--that help humanity ask and answer difficult questions about what should be done about our grand challenges. In this course, we will examine climate change science, with a particular focus on how climate change is expected to affect key ecological systems such as forests and farms and resources for vital biodiversity such as pollinators. We will study the work of artists who have responded to climate change science through their artistic practice to make sense and meaning of climate change. Finally, students create collaborative public art projects that will become part of local community festivals/events late in the semester. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5017 - World Food Problems: Agronomics, Economics and Hunger (GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Agro 4103/ApEc 4103/GCC 3017
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
This course provides a multi-disciplinary look at problems (and some of the possible solutions) affecting food production, distribution, and requirements for the seven plus billion inhabitants of this planet. It is co-taught by a plant geneticist (Morrell) and an economist (Runge) who together have worked on international food production and policy issues for the past 40 years. Historical context, the present situation and future scenarios related to the human population and food production are examined. Presentations and discussions cover sometimes conflicting views from multiple perspectives on population growth, use of technology, as well as the ethical and cultural values of people in various parts of the world. The global challenge perspective is reflected in attention to issues of poverty, inequality, gender, the legacy of colonialism, and racial and ethnic prejudice. Emphasis is placed on the need for governments, international assistance agencies, international research and extension centers, as well as the private sector to assist in solving the complex problems associated with malnutrition, undernutrition, obesity, and sustainable food production. Through a better understanding of world food problems, this course enables students to reflect on the shared sense of responsibility by nations, the international community and ourselves to build and maintain a stronger sense of our roles as historical agents. Throughout the semester students are exposed to issues related to world food problems through the lenses of two instructors from different disciplinary backgrounds. The core issues of malnutrition and food production are approached simultaneously from a production perspective as well as an economic and policy perspective throughout the semester. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. GCC courses are open to all students and fulfill an honors experience for University Honors Program students.
GCC 5027 - Power Systems Journey: Making the Invisible Visible and Actionable (TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3027/GCC 5027
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
An energy revolution is underway, and needs to accelerate to support climate and economic goals. But the general citizenry does not understand our current energy systems, particularly the seemingly invisible phenomena of electricity, and its generation, distribution, and use. Technical knowledge is only half the solution, however. It is through human decisions and behaviors that technical solutions get applied and adopted, and the importance of communication and storytelling is being recognized for its relevance to making change. How can science literacy and behavior-motivating engagement and storytelling be combined to help make systemic change? This course explores the integration of science-based environmental education, with art-led, place-based exploration of landscapes and creative map-making to address this challenge. How do we make electricity visible, understandable, and interesting--so we can engage citizens in energy conservation with basic literacy about the electric power system so that they can be informed voters, policy advocates, and consumers. In this class, you will take on this challenge, first learning about the electric power systems you use, their cultural and technical history, systems thinking, design thinking, and prior examples of communication and education efforts. With this foundation, you will then apply your learning to create a public education project delivered via online GIS Story maps that use a combination of data, art, and story to help others understand, and act on the power journey we are all on. All will share the common exploration of power systems through field trips, and contribute to a multi-faceted story of power, presented in a group map and individual GIS Story maps. No prior knowledge of GIS story maps or electricity issues is needed. The study of power systems can be a model for learning and communicating about other topics that explore the interaction of technology and society toward sustainability. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. GCC courses are open to all students and fulfill an honors experience for University Honors Program students.
GCC 5031 - The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change (CIV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3031/GCC 5031
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Students will explore ecological and human health consequences of climate change, the psychology of climate inaction, and will be invited to join us in the radical work of discovering not only their own leadership potential but that of others. We will unpack the old story of domination and hierarchy and invite the class to become part of a vibrant new story of human partnership that will not only help humanity deal with the physical threat of climate change but will help us create a world where we have the necessary skills and attitudes to engage the many other grand challenges facing us. Using a strategy of grassroots empowerment, the course will be organized to help us connect to the heart of what we really value; to understand the threat of climate change; to examine how we feel in the light of that threat; and to take powerful action together. Students will work in groups throughout the course to assess the global ecological threat posed by climate change, and they will be part of designing and executing an activity where they empower a community to take action. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. For: so, jr, sr, grad
GCC 5032 - Ecosystems Health: Leadership at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment (ENV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3032/GCC 5032
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
What are the effects of climate change, disease emergence, food and water security, gender, conflict and poverty, and sustainability of ecosystem services on health? Unfortunately, these large-scale problems often become overwhelming, making single solution-based progress seem daunting and difficult to implement in policy. Fortunately, the emerging discipline of ecosystem health provides an approach to these problems grounded in trans-disciplinary science. Ecosystem health recognizes the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health, and merges theories and methods of ecological, health and political sciences. It poses that health threats can be prevented, monitored and controlled via a variety of approaches and technologies that guide management action as well as policy. Thus, balancing human and animal health with management of our ecosystems. In this class, we will focus on the emerging discipline of ecosystem health, and how these theories, methods and computational technologies set the stage for solutions to grand challenges of health at the interface of humans, animals and the environment. We will focus not only on the creation and evaluation of solutions, but on their feasibility and implementation in the real world through policy and real time decision making. This will be taught in the active learning style classroom, requiring pre class readings to support didactic theory and case-based learning in class. Participation and both individual and group projects (written and oral presentation) will comprise most of the student evaluation. These projects may reflect innovative solutions, discoveries about unknowns, or development of methods useful for ecosystem health challenges. We envision that some of them will lead to peer-review publications, technical reports or other forms of publication. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change (ENV, WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Geog 3401W/5401W
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Geographic patterns, dynamics, and interactions of atmospheric, hydrospheric, geomorphic, pedologic, and biologic systems as context for human population, development, and resource use patterns. prereq: grad student or instr consent
HSCI 5244 - Nature's History: Science, Humans, and the Environment
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: HSci 3244/5244
Typically offered: Every Fall
We examine environmental ideas, sustainability, conservation history; critique of the human impact on nature; empire and power in the Anthropocene; how the science of ecology has developed; and modern environmental movements around the globe. Case studies include repatriation of endangered species; ecology and evolutionary theory; ecology of disease; and climate change.
LA 5003 - Climate Change Adaptation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: LA 3003/LA 5003
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course will study nations, regions, cities, and communities that have adapted or are undergoing adaptation to climate change. The course will examine different approaches in planning, policy, economics, infrastructure, and building design that increase the adaptive capacity of human settlements. These approaches will vary in scale from the construction of new neighborhoods to the implementation of storm water gardens. The course will emphasize multi-functional strategies which couple climate change adaptation with other urban improvements. Learning Objectives: • To understand role of climate adaptation in the reconfiguration of human settlements. • To apply design thinking to the issue of climate adaptation in the context of an urban society. • To apply knowledge to challenge-based coursework on managing climate risk, decreasing climate vulnerability, and building resilience to climate change.
LA 5204 - Metropolitan Landscape Ecology
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theories/principles of holistic landscape ecology. People, nature, and environmental stewardship in metropolitan landscapes. Urban areas, rural areas that provide food, water, energy, and recreation. prereq: BED accelerated status or LA grad student or instr consent
LAW 5062 - Energy Law
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Law 5062/Law 6062
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course provides an introduction to U.S. energy law. The first portion of the course introduces the nation's sources of energy: coal, oil, biofuels, natural gas, hydropower, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal energy, and energy efficiency. In doing so, it explores the physical, market, and legal structures within which these energy sources are extracted, transported, and converted into energy. The second portion of the course turns to the two major sectors of our energy economy--electricity and transportation--and the full range of federal and state regulation of each sector. The third portion of the course explores case studies of hot topics in energy law and policy that highlight the complex transitions taking place in the energy system. These topics include electric grid modernization, electric vehicles, risks and benefits associated with hydraulic fracturing and deepwater drilling for oil and gas, the development of offshore wind energy, and the continued role of nuclear energy. In addition to traditional textbook reading and class discussion, the course will include industry, government, and nonprofit guest speaker presentations. Grading will be based on a final exam given at the end of the semester as well as class discussion and weekly written postings on Canvas for the course.
LAW 6215 - Environmental Law
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Legal aspects of major environmental problems with emphasis on issues that appear in various regulatory contexts, such as the degree to which environmental quality should be protected; who should bear the cost of enhancing environmental quality; allocation of responsibilities among courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies; the role of citizens. groups; and environmental litigation.
LAW 6234 - Public Lands and Natural Resources
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Public Lands and Natural Resources studies the expansive body of federal and state constitutional provisions, statutes, rules, customs, and processes that govern the ways individuals, corporations, and federal, state, and local governments interact with federal public lands, state lands, private lands, water, air, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources. We will study: (1) the history and statutes of U.S. federal public lands, and the past and present conflicts governing those lands; (2) the laws and regulations governing national parks, national monuments, national forests, grazing lands, energy resources, wildlife, and other natural resources; and (3) ownership interests and rights relating to public and private lands and resources. The course will help students gain an appreciation of our relationship with the natural environmental from cultural, historical, and economic perspectives, in addition to a legal perspective.
PA 5113 - State and Local Public Finance
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Theory/practice of financing. Providing public services at state/local level of government. Emphasizes integrating theory/practice, applying materials to specific policy areas, and documenting wide range of institutional arrangements across/within the 50 states.
PA 5212 - Managing Urban Growth and Change
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Theory/practice of planning, promoting, and controlling economic growth/change in urban areas. Economic development tools available to state/local policymakers, historic context of their use in the United States. legal, social, and economic implementation constraints. Interactions among economic, social, and demographic trends. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5213 - Introduction to Site Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Analyzing/preparing graphic plans for development or redevelopment of property. Site planning issues, process, opportunities, details, and techniques. Hands-on preparation of a site plan. Site visits, lectures, research, presentations, exam, in-class exercises. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5221 - Private Sector Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Roles of various participants in land development. Investment objectives, effects of regulation. Overview of development process from private/public perspective.
PA 5242 - Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Theory and practice. Ethical, legal, and institutional frameworks relative to a range of environmental issues. Innovative environmental decision making informed by collaboration, conflict resolution, adaptive management, and resilience thinking. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5261 - Housing Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Hsg 5463/PA 5261
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Institutional/environmental setting for housing policy in the United States. Competing views of solving housing problems through public intervention in the market. Federal/local public sector responses to housing problems. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5262 - Neighborhood Revitalization Theories and Strategies
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 5262/PA 8203
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Policymaking/politics of planning in housing, community development, social policy. Connecting policy to local/regional politics. Role of institutional decision-making structures on policy outcomes. Importance of citizens, social movements, interest groups in policymaking process.
PA 5271 - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Planning and Policy Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to GIS. Applications in public planning and policy analysis. Operational skills in GIS software. Mapping analysis of U.S. Census material. Local/state government management/planning. Spatial statistical analysis for policy/planning. prereq: Major in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 5880 - Exploring Global Cities
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Spring & Summer
Study abroad offered in cities across globe. Opportunities to study policy/planning issues in varied contexts from comparative/inter-cultural perspective. Study/work with practitioners/peers in field. Tanzania odd years/Austria even years. Additional countries may be added in future.
PUBH 6116 - Environmental Law
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Questions when pollution protection law conflicts with policy encouraging the use of natural resources. Conflicts when government restricts use of property without compensating its owner. Increasing authority of government to audit businesses.
PUBH 6132 - Air, Water, and Health
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Issues related to providing adequate levels of clean air/water. Local water quantity/quality, air quality in developed/developing world, global air/water quality, policies meant to protect these resources.
PUBH 6154 - Climate Change and Global Health Modeling
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Interconnected relationships between global climate change/human health. Develop computer models to predict climate change from natural/anthropogenic forces, predict human health outcomes as result of changing climate. prereq: Students must have elementary computer skills.
PA 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's
Credits: 1.0 -18.0 [max 50.0]
Grading Basis: No Grade
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
(No description) prereq: Max 18 cr per semester or summer; 10 cr total required [Plan A only]
PA 5242 - Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Theory and practice. Ethical, legal, and institutional frameworks relative to a range of environmental issues. Innovative environmental decision making informed by collaboration, conflict resolution, adaptive management, and resilience thinking. prereq: Grad or instr consent
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Agro/Ent 5321
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Ecological approach to problems in agricultural systems. Formal methodologies of systems inquiry are developed/applied. prereq: [3xxx or above] course in [Agro or AnSc or Ent or Hort or PlPa or Soil] or instr consent
ARCH 8561 - Sustainable Design Theory and Practice
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
History, theory, and ethics of sustainable design processes/practices. Emphasizes approaches to sustainable architecture. Regional/global ecological issues, design strategies, methods of assessment. Primary architectural/technological implications of sustainable design theory/practice that inform design thinking/research. Sustainable design issues. Research projects, case studies, fieldwork. prereq: [5513, [grad MS or MArch]] or instr consent
ARCH 8567 - Site and Water Issues in Sustainable Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Site, water and site/building integration aspects of sustainable design. Ecological principles, site analysis. Water/site/building integration strategies, methods, and tools integrated with sustainable design issues such as energy, indoor environmental quality, and materials. Research projects, case studies, measurement methods. prereq: [5512, [grad MS or MArch student]] or instr consent
ESCI 5102 - Climate Change and Human History
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESci 3002/ESci 5102
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Causes of long-/short-term climate change. Frequency/magnitude of past climate changes, their geologic records. Relationship of past climate changes to development of agrarian societies and to shifts in power among kingdoms/city-states. Emphasizes last 10,000 years. prereq: 1001 or equiv or instr consent
ESPM 5014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3014/ESPM 5014
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course is designed to develop and refine your understanding of tribal and Indigenous natural resource management, tribal and Indigenous perspectives, and responsibilities natural resource managers have for tribal and Indigenous communities. This course includes one eight-hour weekend field session.
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Recent literature in field. Complements 4061. Ecology of aquatic ecosystems, how they are valuable to society and changed by landscape management. Case studies, impaired waters, TMDL process, student engagement in simulating water quality decision making.
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Analysis of functioning of ecosystems primarily structured by managed plant communities. Managed forests, field-crop agroecosystems, rangelands, aquatic systems. Structure-function relations. Roles of biodiversity in productivity, resource-use efficiency, nutrient cycling, resilience. Emerging principles for design of sustainable managed ecosystems, provision of ecological services. prereq: Sr or grad student
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3202WESPM /5202
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.
ESPM 5241 - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3241W/ESPM 5241
Typically offered: Every Spring
Political processes at play in management of environment and how disagreements are addressed by different stakeholders, private-sector interests, government agencies and institutions, communities, and nonprofit organizations. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3245/ESPM 5245
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Planning theories, concepts, and constructs. Policies, processes, and tools for sustainable land use planning. Scientific/technical literature related to land use planning. Skills needed to participate in sustainable land use planning.
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3251/ESPM 5251/LAS 3251
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
International perspectives on resource use in developing countries. Integration of natural resource issues with social, economic, and policy considerations. Agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, water resources, certification, development issues. Latin American case studies. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
ESPM 5295 - GIS in Environmental Science and Management
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Application of geographic information science and technologies (GIS) in complex environmental problems. Students gain experience in spatial data collection, database development, and spatial analysis, including GNSS and field attribute collection, image interpretation, and existing data fusion, raster/vector data integration and analysis, information extraction from LiDAR data, DEM conditioning and hydrologic analysis, neighborhood analysis, bulk processing and automation, and scripting. Problems vary depending on topics, often with extra-University partners. *Please note that students should have completed a semester-long, introductory lab/lecture GIS course at the graduate or undergraduate level before enrolling in this course, e.g., FNRM 5131. We do not require any given course because students come from varied universities and backgrounds. That said, we assume a knowledge commensurate with a comprehensive introductory course. Students seeking a first course are directed to FNRM 5131. If you have questions regarding your capabilities, please contact the instructor prior to enrolling.
ESPM 5603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Concepts, major issues relating to inventory and subsequent analysis of production systems. Production system from holistic point of view, using term commonly used in industrial ecology: "the metabolic system." prereq: [Math 1142 or [Math 1271, Math 1282]], [Econ 1101 or ApEc 1101]
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
FNRM 5131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 3131/FNRM 5131/FR 3131/
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Geographic information systems (GIS), focusing on spatial data development and analysis in the science and management of natural resources. Basic data structures, sources, collection, and quality; geodesy and map projections; spatial and tabular data analyses; digital elevation data and terrain analyses; cartographic modeling and layout. Lab exercises provide practical experiences complementing theory covered in lecture. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
FNRM 5204 - Landscape Ecology and Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 3204/FNRM 5204
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to landscape ecology at different scales in time/space. Development/implications of broad-scale patterns of ecological phenomena, role of disturbance in ecosystems. Characteristic spatial/temporal scales of ecological events. Principles of landscape ecology as framework for landscape research, analysis, conservation, and management. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
FNRM 5501 - Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 4501/FNRM 5501
Typically offered: Every Spring
Management concepts for green infrastructure of cities, towns, and communities. Urban forest as social/biological resource. Emphasizes management of urban forest ecosystem to maximize benefits. Tree selection, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, landscape planning, values, perceptions. How urban forestry can be a tool to improve community infrastructure.
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change (ENV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: EEB 5146/FNRM 5146/GCC 5008/P
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Through readings, lectures, discussions, written assignments, and presentations this course introduces the critical issues underpinning global change and its environmental and social implications. The course examines current literature in exploring evidence for human-induced global change and its potential effects on a wide range of biological processes and examines the social and economic drivers, social and economic consequences, and political processes at local, national, and international scales related to global change. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5011 - Pathways to Renewable Energy (TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3011/GCC 5011
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This interdisciplinary course will examine obstacles to energy transitions at different scales. It will explore the role of energy in society, the physics of energy, how energy systems were created and how they function, and how the markets, policies, and regulatory frameworks for energy systems in the US developed. The course will closely examine the Realpolitik of energy and the technical, legal, regulatory, and policy underpinnings of renewable energy in the US and Minnesota. Students will learn the drivers that can lead global systems to change despite powerful constraints and how local and institutional action enables broader reform. Students will put their learning into action by developing a proposal and then working on a project to accelerate the energy transition and to ensure that the energy transition benefits people in a just and equitable way. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5013 - Making Sense of Climate Change - Science, Art, and Agency (CIV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3013/GCC 5013
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
The overarching theme of the course is the role of artistic/humanistic ways of knowing as tools for making sense and meaning in the face of "grand challenges." Our culture tends to privilege science, and to isolate it from the "purposive" disciplines--arts and humanities--that help humanity ask and answer difficult questions about what should be done about our grand challenges. In this course, we will examine climate change science, with a particular focus on how climate change is expected to affect key ecological systems such as forests and farms and resources for vital biodiversity such as pollinators. We will study the work of artists who have responded to climate change science through their artistic practice to make sense and meaning of climate change. Finally, students create collaborative public art projects that will become part of local community festivals/events late in the semester. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5017 - World Food Problems: Agronomics, Economics and Hunger (GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Agro 4103/ApEc 4103/GCC 3017
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
This course provides a multi-disciplinary look at problems (and some of the possible solutions) affecting food production, distribution, and requirements for the seven plus billion inhabitants of this planet. It is co-taught by a plant geneticist (Morrell) and an economist (Runge) who together have worked on international food production and policy issues for the past 40 years. Historical context, the present situation and future scenarios related to the human population and food production are examined. Presentations and discussions cover sometimes conflicting views from multiple perspectives on population growth, use of technology, as well as the ethical and cultural values of people in various parts of the world. The global challenge perspective is reflected in attention to issues of poverty, inequality, gender, the legacy of colonialism, and racial and ethnic prejudice. Emphasis is placed on the need for governments, international assistance agencies, international research and extension centers, as well as the private sector to assist in solving the complex problems associated with malnutrition, undernutrition, obesity, and sustainable food production. Through a better understanding of world food problems, this course enables students to reflect on the shared sense of responsibility by nations, the international community and ourselves to build and maintain a stronger sense of our roles as historical agents. Throughout the semester students are exposed to issues related to world food problems through the lenses of two instructors from different disciplinary backgrounds. The core issues of malnutrition and food production are approached simultaneously from a production perspective as well as an economic and policy perspective throughout the semester. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. GCC courses are open to all students and fulfill an honors experience for University Honors Program students.
GCC 5027 - Power Systems Journey: Making the Invisible Visible and Actionable (TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3027/GCC 5027
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
An energy revolution is underway, and needs to accelerate to support climate and economic goals. But the general citizenry does not understand our current energy systems, particularly the seemingly invisible phenomena of electricity, and its generation, distribution, and use. Technical knowledge is only half the solution, however. It is through human decisions and behaviors that technical solutions get applied and adopted, and the importance of communication and storytelling is being recognized for its relevance to making change. How can science literacy and behavior-motivating engagement and storytelling be combined to help make systemic change? This course explores the integration of science-based environmental education, with art-led, place-based exploration of landscapes and creative map-making to address this challenge. How do we make electricity visible, understandable, and interesting--so we can engage citizens in energy conservation with basic literacy about the electric power system so that they can be informed voters, policy advocates, and consumers. In this class, you will take on this challenge, first learning about the electric power systems you use, their cultural and technical history, systems thinking, design thinking, and prior examples of communication and education efforts. With this foundation, you will then apply your learning to create a public education project delivered via online GIS Story maps that use a combination of data, art, and story to help others understand, and act on the power journey we are all on. All will share the common exploration of power systems through field trips, and contribute to a multi-faceted story of power, presented in a group map and individual GIS Story maps. No prior knowledge of GIS story maps or electricity issues is needed. The study of power systems can be a model for learning and communicating about other topics that explore the interaction of technology and society toward sustainability. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. GCC courses are open to all students and fulfill an honors experience for University Honors Program students.
GCC 5031 - The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change (CIV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3031/GCC 5031
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Students will explore ecological and human health consequences of climate change, the psychology of climate inaction, and will be invited to join us in the radical work of discovering not only their own leadership potential but that of others. We will unpack the old story of domination and hierarchy and invite the class to become part of a vibrant new story of human partnership that will not only help humanity deal with the physical threat of climate change but will help us create a world where we have the necessary skills and attitudes to engage the many other grand challenges facing us. Using a strategy of grassroots empowerment, the course will be organized to help us connect to the heart of what we really value; to understand the threat of climate change; to examine how we feel in the light of that threat; and to take powerful action together. Students will work in groups throughout the course to assess the global ecological threat posed by climate change, and they will be part of designing and executing an activity where they empower a community to take action. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. For: so, jr, sr, grad
GCC 5032 - Ecosystems Health: Leadership at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment (ENV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3032/GCC 5032
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
What are the effects of climate change, disease emergence, food and water security, gender, conflict and poverty, and sustainability of ecosystem services on health? Unfortunately, these large-scale problems often become overwhelming, making single solution-based progress seem daunting and difficult to implement in policy. Fortunately, the emerging discipline of ecosystem health provides an approach to these problems grounded in trans-disciplinary science. Ecosystem health recognizes the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health, and merges theories and methods of ecological, health and political sciences. It poses that health threats can be prevented, monitored and controlled via a variety of approaches and technologies that guide management action as well as policy. Thus, balancing human and animal health with management of our ecosystems. In this class, we will focus on the emerging discipline of ecosystem health, and how these theories, methods and computational technologies set the stage for solutions to grand challenges of health at the interface of humans, animals and the environment. We will focus not only on the creation and evaluation of solutions, but on their feasibility and implementation in the real world through policy and real time decision making. This will be taught in the active learning style classroom, requiring pre class readings to support didactic theory and case-based learning in class. Participation and both individual and group projects (written and oral presentation) will comprise most of the student evaluation. These projects may reflect innovative solutions, discoveries about unknowns, or development of methods useful for ecosystem health challenges. We envision that some of them will lead to peer-review publications, technical reports or other forms of publication. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change (ENV, WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Geog 3401W/5401W
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Geographic patterns, dynamics, and interactions of atmospheric, hydrospheric, geomorphic, pedologic, and biologic systems as context for human population, development, and resource use patterns. prereq: grad student or instr consent
HSCI 5244 - Nature's History: Science, Humans, and the Environment
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: HSci 3244/5244
Typically offered: Every Fall
We examine environmental ideas, sustainability, conservation history; critique of the human impact on nature; empire and power in the Anthropocene; how the science of ecology has developed; and modern environmental movements around the globe. Case studies include repatriation of endangered species; ecology and evolutionary theory; ecology of disease; and climate change.
LA 5003 - Climate Change Adaptation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: LA 3003/LA 5003
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course will study nations, regions, cities, and communities that have adapted or are undergoing adaptation to climate change. The course will examine different approaches in planning, policy, economics, infrastructure, and building design that increase the adaptive capacity of human settlements. These approaches will vary in scale from the construction of new neighborhoods to the implementation of storm water gardens. The course will emphasize multi-functional strategies which couple climate change adaptation with other urban improvements. Learning Objectives: • To understand role of climate adaptation in the reconfiguration of human settlements. • To apply design thinking to the issue of climate adaptation in the context of an urban society. • To apply knowledge to challenge-based coursework on managing climate risk, decreasing climate vulnerability, and building resilience to climate change.
LA 5204 - Metropolitan Landscape Ecology
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theories/principles of holistic landscape ecology. People, nature, and environmental stewardship in metropolitan landscapes. Urban areas, rural areas that provide food, water, energy, and recreation. prereq: BED accelerated status or LA grad student or instr consent
LAW 5062 - Energy Law
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Law 5062/Law 6062
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course provides an introduction to U.S. energy law. The first portion of the course introduces the nation's sources of energy: coal, oil, biofuels, natural gas, hydropower, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal energy, and energy efficiency. In doing so, it explores the physical, market, and legal structures within which these energy sources are extracted, transported, and converted into energy. The second portion of the course turns to the two major sectors of our energy economy--electricity and transportation--and the full range of federal and state regulation of each sector. The third portion of the course explores case studies of hot topics in energy law and policy that highlight the complex transitions taking place in the energy system. These topics include electric grid modernization, electric vehicles, risks and benefits associated with hydraulic fracturing and deepwater drilling for oil and gas, the development of offshore wind energy, and the continued role of nuclear energy. In addition to traditional textbook reading and class discussion, the course will include industry, government, and nonprofit guest speaker presentations. Grading will be based on a final exam given at the end of the semester as well as class discussion and weekly written postings on Canvas for the course.
LAW 6215 - Environmental Law
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Legal aspects of major environmental problems with emphasis on issues that appear in various regulatory contexts, such as the degree to which environmental quality should be protected; who should bear the cost of enhancing environmental quality; allocation of responsibilities among courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies; the role of citizens. groups; and environmental litigation.
LAW 6234 - Public Lands and Natural Resources
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Public Lands and Natural Resources studies the expansive body of federal and state constitutional provisions, statutes, rules, customs, and processes that govern the ways individuals, corporations, and federal, state, and local governments interact with federal public lands, state lands, private lands, water, air, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources. We will study: (1) the history and statutes of U.S. federal public lands, and the past and present conflicts governing those lands; (2) the laws and regulations governing national parks, national monuments, national forests, grazing lands, energy resources, wildlife, and other natural resources; and (3) ownership interests and rights relating to public and private lands and resources. The course will help students gain an appreciation of our relationship with the natural environmental from cultural, historical, and economic perspectives, in addition to a legal perspective.
PA 5711 - Science, Technology & Environmental Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Interplay of science, technology, the environment, and society. Approaches from across the social sciences will cover how science and technology can create new environmental pressures as well as policy challenges in a range of spheres from climate change to systems of intellectual property and international development.
PA 5715 - Deliberating Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy
Credits: 1.5 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Exploration of the conceptual and ethical dimensions of science, technology, and environmental policy. Discussion-based course with rotating topics.
PA 5721 - Energy Systems and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Impact of energy production/consumption choices on environmental quality, sustainable development, and other economic/social goals. Emphasizes public policy choices for energy/environment, linkages between them.
PA 5722 - Economics of Environmental Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to economic principles and methods as they apply to environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and water quality. Course will cover benefit-cost analysis, methods of environmental valuation, as well as critiques of market-based solutions to environmental challenges.
PA 5724 - Climate Change Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Existing and proposed approaches to mitigate and adapt to climate change through policies that cross scales of governance (from local to global) and impact a wide range of sectors. Exploration of climate change policy from a variety of disciplinary approaches and perspectives, emphasizing economic logic, ethical principles, and institutional feasibility. How policy can be shaped in the face of a variety of competing interests to achieve commonly desired outcomes. Students develop a deep knowledge of climate change in particular countries through a team final project. prereq: Intro microecon (such as Econ 1101 or equiv)
PA 5741 - Risk, Resilience and Decision Making
Credits: 1.5 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Interplay between risk analysis, decision making, and policy in the context of new and emerging technologies, environmental and human well-being, risk and resilience. Assessment methods; risk management processes, issues and methods; role/treatment of uncertainty; factors in decision making; risk-based rule making; public values; risk communication and perception. Scientific, technical, social, political, and ethical issues. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Examine energy and climate innovations at local and community scales. Understand how to implement local policies, projects, and programs with a diverse set of perspectives on energy issues. Develop professional and analytical skills that support solutions to energy and climate challenges.
PA 5761 - Environmental Systems Analysis at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Agricultural lands, water resources, and energy production and transport are interconnected systems with implications for policy and management at local to global scales. This course will explore contemporary issues at the nexus of food, energy, and water with a focus on Midwestern landscapes. Specific topics include farm policy, permitting of pipelines and energy production, mitigation of air and water pollution, and strategies to incentivize the conservation and restoration of landscapes. Students will develop professional skills in systems thinking, scenario analysis, science communication, facilitation, and collective leadership.
PUBH 6116 - Environmental Law
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Questions when pollution protection law conflicts with policy encouraging the use of natural resources. Conflicts when government restricts use of property without compensating its owner. Increasing authority of government to audit businesses.
PUBH 6132 - Air, Water, and Health
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Issues related to providing adequate levels of clean air/water. Local water quantity/quality, air quality in developed/developing world, global air/water quality, policies meant to protect these resources.
PUBH 6154 - Climate Change and Global Health Modeling
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Interconnected relationships between global climate change/human health. Develop computer models to predict climate change from natural/anthropogenic forces, predict human health outcomes as result of changing climate. prereq: Students must have elementary computer skills.
PA 5261 - Housing Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Hsg 5463/PA 5261
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Institutional/environmental setting for housing policy in the United States. Competing views of solving housing problems through public intervention in the market. Federal/local public sector responses to housing problems. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5262 - Neighborhood Revitalization Theories and Strategies
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 5262/PA 8203
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Policymaking/politics of planning in housing, community development, social policy. Connecting policy to local/regional politics. Role of institutional decision-making structures on policy outcomes. Importance of citizens, social movements, interest groups in policymaking process.
LAW 6031 - Smart Growth
Credits: 2.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This class examines emerging legal strategies to address the fiscal, environmental, and social impacts of unrestrained metropolitan regional growth (“urban sprawl”). Topics include: inequalities in access to housing, jobs, and educational opportunities; local fiscal competition; local, state & regional regulatory responses to metropolitan development; environmental impacts of metropolitan development; and evolving legal structure of regional governance in America’s large metropolitan areas.
LAW 6213 - Real Estate Transactions
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Summer
The course examines the acquisition and development of real property. Topics include listing agreements, purchase agreements, conveyancing, real estate finance and security instruments, foreclosure, mechanics’ liens, and forms of real estate development.
PA 5212 - Managing Urban Growth and Change
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Theory/practice of planning, promoting, and controlling economic growth/change in urban areas. Economic development tools available to state/local policymakers, historic context of their use in the United States. legal, social, and economic implementation constraints. Interactions among economic, social, and demographic trends. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5221 - Private Sector Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Roles of various participants in land development. Investment objectives, effects of regulation. Overview of development process from private/public perspective.
PA 5281 - Immigrants, Urban Planning and Policymaking in the U.S.
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
This course examines the impact of contemporary immigration in the U.S. on urban planning and public affairs. Through a review of canonical scholarship and contemporary research, it engages several issues including migration theory, an exploration of immigrant settlement patterns, labor market outcomes for immigrants, and community development in immigrant communities. The course concludes with a focus on how urban planners and public policy makers can work more effectively with immigrants in the U.S.
PA 5401 - Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Nature/extent of poverty/inequality in the United States, causes/consequences, impact of government programs/policies. Extent/causes of poverty/inequality in other developed/developing countries. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5421 - Racial Inequality and Public Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Historical roots of racial inequality in American society. Contemporary economic consequences. Public policy responses to racial inequality. Emphasizes thinking/analysis that is critical of strategies offered for reducing racism and racial economic inequality. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5511 - Community Economic Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
Contexts/motivations behind community economic development activities. Alternative strategies for organizing/initiating economic development projects. Tools/techniques for economic development analysis/planning (market analysis, feasibility studies, development plans). Implementation at local level. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5512 - Workforce and Economic Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
Economic and workforce development examined from a U.S. context, exploring how rural and urban regional economies grow, why industries/employers locate where they do, and how workers decide where to live and work. Government and economic development practices related to businesses and innovation will also be addressed. prereq: Grad or instructor consent
PA 5213 - Introduction to Site Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Analyzing/preparing graphic plans for development or redevelopment of property. Site planning issues, process, opportunities, details, and techniques. Hands-on preparation of a site plan. Site visits, lectures, research, presentations, exam, in-class exercises. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
ARCH 5391 - Design and Representation with BIM
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Arch 3391/Arch 5391
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
In this course, students will be introduced to the concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM) through the use of Autodesk Revit, one, one of the BIM software tools most commonly used in architectural practice today. Students will engage in a series of design exercises that will require both learning and applying Revit in the context of real world architectural scenarios. In addition to learning Autodesk Revit as a design tool, we will examine the use of BIM technology within the architectural industry through a series of case study examples. Also, presenters will share firsthand accounts of CAD and BIM Software being implemented in architectural practice.
ARCH 5671 - Historic Preservation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Philosophy, theory, origins of historic preservation. Historic archaeology/research, descriptive analysis, documentation of historic buildings. Government's role in historic preservation, preservation standards/guidelines, preservation/building codes, preservation advocacy.
ARCH 5711 - Theory and Principles of Urban Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Seminar. Debate on dominant theories/paradigms informing city design from renaissance to 21th century. Critical issues central to current debates. prereq: M Arch major or LA grad major or grad student or instr consent
ARCH 5721 - Case Studies in Urban Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Arch/LA 5721
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Reading seminar. Evolution of contemporary city. Dynamics that created contemporary urban spatial patterns. Planning/design theories that have guided public interventions in built environment. Thematic texts, classroom discussions. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
ARCH 5756 - Public Interest Design: Principles and Practices
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Arch 3756/Arch 5756
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
As the allied fields of design evolve in response to an increasing number of global challenges—inequity, social and political turmoil, disruptive climate-change, accelerating population growth—the question of how designers will address the needs of the most vulnerable among us is fundamental. Public Interest Design (PID), an emerging area of specialization within the design professions, specifically considers the concerns of the vast majority of the world's inhabitants who are historically under-resourced and ill-equipped to respond to the "Grand Challenges" facing humankind. With this mind, this introductory survey course has two aims: First, to critically examine the range of environmental, economic, social, and ethical issues that underpins work with under-resourced domestic and international communities—including how these concerns can be collectively addressed to become more resilient; and second, to investigate organizational models that seek to broaden the traditional scope of the allied design fields as disciplines and professions by advocating a humanitarian basis for practice.
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3245/ESPM 5245
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Planning theories, concepts, and constructs. Policies, processes, and tools for sustainable land use planning. Scientific/technical literature related to land use planning. Skills needed to participate in sustainable land use planning.
ESPM 5256 - Natural Resource Law and the Management of Public Lands and Waters
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 4256/ESPM 5256
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course is intended to provide non-law students with an understanding of the role of the judiciary in the management of public lands and public waters. The course will examine Constitutional provisions affecting the management of public resources, the concept of property rights, major principles of water law, the role of the legal system in environmental review, the scope of legal authority granted to administrative agencies, and limitations of private property rights to protect public lands and public waters. The class will introduce students to the concepts of legal reasoning including case synthesis and analysis. The class will be taught using a combination of lecture, guest lectures, written exercises and class participation. prereq: grad student
FNRM 5501 - Urban Forest Management: Managing Greenspaces for People
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: FNRM 4501/FNRM 5501
Typically offered: Every Spring
Management concepts for green infrastructure of cities, towns, and communities. Urban forest as social/biological resource. Emphasizes management of urban forest ecosystem to maximize benefits. Tree selection, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, landscape planning, values, perceptions. How urban forestry can be a tool to improve community infrastructure.
GIS 5571 - ArcGIS I
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
First of a two-course series focusing on ArcGIS Desktop. Overview of ArcGIS system and its use for spatial data processing. Data capture, editing, geometric transformations, map projections, topology, Python scripting, and map production. prereq: [GEOG 5561 or equiv, status in MGIS program, familiarity with computer operating systems] or instr consent
GIS 5572 - ArcGIS II
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Continues GIS 5571. Raster analysis, dynamic segmentation, geometric networks, geocoding, Python scripting, and data interoperability. Substantial projects include map and poster design and production. prereq: [5571, [GEOG 5561 or equiv], in MGIS program] or instr consent
GIS 5574 - Web GIS and Services
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Plan, design, develop, publish web-based GIS solution. Build websites, prepare data for web. Commercial software, Open Source software, volunteer geographic information, open GIS standards/developing web GIS application. Hands-on experience with variety of web GIS technologies/software. prereq: [GEOG 5561 or equiv, in MGIS program] or instr consent
LA 5771 - Landscape Infrastructure and Systems I
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Basic principles, techniques, skills of creating infrastructures of built landscapes. Basic concepts of simple plant taxonomy, plant community structure, earthwork, water management, landscape structures. Small site scale design development. prereq: Master of Landscape Architecture Student, [Accelerated Track B.E.D or instr consent]
LAW 6031 - Smart Growth
Credits: 2.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This class examines emerging legal strategies to address the fiscal, environmental, and social impacts of unrestrained metropolitan regional growth (“urban sprawl”). Topics include: inequalities in access to housing, jobs, and educational opportunities; local fiscal competition; local, state & regional regulatory responses to metropolitan development; environmental impacts of metropolitan development; and evolving legal structure of regional governance in America’s large metropolitan areas.
LAW 6201 - Land Use Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Public control of land use and development and its constitutional limitations.
PA 5209 - Urban Planning and Health Equity
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
This interdisciplinary course examines the causes and consequences of place-based health disparities in cities, explores how health disparities can be mitigated and exacerbated by urban planning decisions, and introduces best practices in urban planning for achieving community health equity. The course will involve extensive readings, guest lectures, field-based assignments, data-collection activities, and local community involvement. Twin Cities has one of the largest disparities in health outcomes in the nation and local practitioners are pioneering new urban planning solutions to reduce place-based health disparities. The course will utilize this location advantage and use the region as an immersive learning environment. Students are expected to apply knowledge and skills learned in the class locally in the Twin Cities region. At the end of the course, students will be able to: Understand the historical foundations, current trends and challenges, and international perspectives in connecting urban planning to health equity issues; investigate how various planning sectors and urban environment dimensions, including land use, transportation, open space, housing, food systems, and community social capital, interact to affect health disparities in cities; critically evaluate how existing planning processes and decisions respond to the needs of vulnerable populations and contribute to health equity; and develop skills to engage communities and identifying community-sensitive solutions for reducing place-based health disparities. Fulfills a requirement for graduate Health Equity Minor (http://www.sph.umn.edu/academics/minor/health-equity/).
PA 5234 - Urban Transportation Planning and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: CEGE 8202/PA 8202
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course will integrate key theories and practices, traditional and emerging policy instruments, and techniques for urban and transportation planning. The goal is to introduce students to essential concepts, influential thinkers, and important debates associated with the land use-transportation connection as a foundation for both professional and academic work. By the end of the course, students will be able to comprehend urban transportation planning process and demand forecasting; the theories and empirical evidence on land use and transportation interactions; land use and transportation policy instruments and their effectiveness; and land use and transportation planning in developing countries.
PA 5262 - Neighborhood Revitalization Theories and Strategies
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 5262/PA 8203
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Policymaking/politics of planning in housing, community development, social policy. Connecting policy to local/regional politics. Role of institutional decision-making structures on policy outcomes. Importance of citizens, social movements, interest groups in policymaking process.
PA 5271 - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Planning and Policy Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to GIS. Applications in public planning and policy analysis. Operational skills in GIS software. Mapping analysis of U.S. Census material. Local/state government management/planning. Spatial statistical analysis for policy/planning. prereq: Major in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 5290 - Topics in Planning
Credits: 0.5 -4.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Selected topics.
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Examine energy and climate innovations at local and community scales. Understand how to implement local policies, projects, and programs with a diverse set of perspectives on energy issues. Develop professional and analytical skills that support solutions to energy and climate challenges.
PUBH 6066 - Building Communities, Increasing Health: Preparing for Community Health Work
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Taught with Powderhorn-Phillips Cultural Wellness Center. Introduction to community building/organizing. Using culture as a resource for health, reducing barriers, identifying community assets, planning organizing strategy, understanding the impact of history. Emphasizes self-reflection and skill-building for authentic, grassroots community work.
GEOG 8292 - Seminar in GIS: Spatial Analysis and Modeling
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis/modeling of human/environmental systems. Spatial statistics, modeling spatiotemporal processes, simulation techniques, visualization, complex systems/complexity. Guidance in thesis/dissertation research. prereq: 3511 [or equiv statistics course], [3561 or 5561 or equiv intro GIS course] or instr consent
PA 5113 - State and Local Public Finance
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Theory/practice of financing. Providing public services at state/local level of government. Emphasizes integrating theory/practice, applying materials to specific policy areas, and documenting wide range of institutional arrangements across/within the 50 states.
PA 5114 - Budget Analysis in Public and Nonprofit Orgs
Credits: 1.5 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 5111/PA 5114
Prerequisites: PA 5003
Typically offered: Every Spring
Techniques, terminology, concepts and skills for developing and analyzing operating and capital budgets in public and nonprofit organizations. Budget analysis using case studies, problem sets, and spreadsheets. Time value of money, cost-benefit analysis, break-even analysis, sensitivity analysis, and fiscal analysis. prereq: PA 5003
PA 5231 - Transit Planning and Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: CEGE 5213/PA 5231
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
Principles/techniques related to implementing transit systems. Historical perspective, characteristics of travel demand, demand management. Evaluating/benchmarking system performance. Transit-oriented development. Analyzing alternative transit modes. System design/finance. Case studies, field projects. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5233 - Sustainable Transportation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
This course emphasizes the theories and practices associated with a sustainable transportation system, especially pedestrian and bicycle transportation. It covers key concepts of sustainable transportation, climate mitigation and adaptation, and planning for pedestrian and bicycle transportation. The specific topics regarding pedestrian and bicycle transportation include benefits and advocacy, data collection and performance measures, demand forecasting, behavior and its connection with neighborhood design and zoning, safety, planning, design principles of facilities, equity, and innovations.
PA 5234 - Urban Transportation Planning and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: CEGE 8202/PA 8202
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course will integrate key theories and practices, traditional and emerging policy instruments, and techniques for urban and transportation planning. The goal is to introduce students to essential concepts, influential thinkers, and important debates associated with the land use-transportation connection as a foundation for both professional and academic work. By the end of the course, students will be able to comprehend urban transportation planning process and demand forecasting; the theories and empirical evidence on land use and transportation interactions; land use and transportation policy instruments and their effectiveness; and land use and transportation planning in developing countries.
PA 5290 - Topics in Planning
Credits: 0.5 -4.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Selected topics.
PA 5880 - Exploring Global Cities
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Spring & Summer
Study abroad offered in cities across globe. Opportunities to study policy/planning issues in varied contexts from comparative/inter-cultural perspective. Study/work with practitioners/peers in field. Tanzania odd years/Austria even years. Additional countries may be added in future.