Political Science 4020
Urban Politics
Spring 2013
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
John R. Todd
Office: WH159
Office hours: 10 a.m.-11 a.m. MWF; 2-3 p.m. MWF
Telephone: (940) 565-4232
Email: Todd@unt.edu
Web: www.psci.unt.edu/Todd
Blackboard: https://learn.unt.edu
TEXTS
Judd, Dennis R. and Todd Swanstrom. City Politics. 8th edition. 2012.
Urban Issues: Selections from CQ Researcher, 6th Edition. 2013 (Referred to below as Reader)
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
This course is designed to acquaint you with patterns of urban growth, the patterns and problems
of urban government, and the nature of some of the contemporary problems facing American
cities.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance is not a direct grading factor in this course. Nevertheless, regular attendance is
encouraged because it will increase the likelihood of your doing well on the tests.
Exams. There will be two one-hour examinations and a final examination. Each examination will
combine short answer and essay questions. Questions will be drawn from the assigned readings,
as well as from class lectures and discussions. The final will not be comprehensive. If you miss
an exam, you must present an excuse before a makeup will be scheduled. Makeups will be given
only if the examination is missed for good cause. The right to take a makeup exam should not be
presumed. Exam dates are given below.
Term Paper. A term paper is required. The paper should be approximately ten typed, doublespaced pages. The paper should explore some aspect of urban politics, comparing several cities.
Final topics must be approved by the instructor.
Reading Reports. Students may earn points by completing reports on articles in the Reader.
Reading reports must be turned in on designated Mondays, according to the schedule below.
Each reading report is worth a maximum of 10 points. Students may earn a maximum of 100
points by completing reporting reports. Students should normally expect to report on 10 of the 12
Page 2 – PSCI 4020 – Urban Politics – Course Syllabus
readings from the Reader. Reading reports must be completed using the form that is available on
Blackboard.
Grading
Course grades will be based on the total number of points earned in the course. Points may be
earned as follows
Exams
Term Paper
Reading Reports
Total
300 points
100 points
100 points
500 points
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale
450-500 = A
400-449 = B
350-399 = C
300-349 = D
000-299 = F
Weekly Topics and Textbooks Assignments
Dates
Topics
Reading Assignment
Jan. 14, 16, & 18
Introduction to Course –
Introduction to Urban Politics
Martin Luther King Day
Growth and Change in Cities
Old Style Urban Politics
Reform of Urban Governance
Test I
Cities and National Policy
Cities vs. Suburbs
Cities and Suburbs in National
Policy
Urban Policy and Race
Spring Break
Rise of Sunbelt Cities
Test II
Rise of Fragmented Metropolis
Governing the Metropolis
City Finances
Revival of Inner Cities
Governing the Divided City
City and Metropolis in the Global
Era
Final Exam
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 1
Jan 21
Jan 23 & 25
Jan 28, 30 & Feb 1
Feb. 4, 6 & 8
Feb. 11
Feb. 13 & 15
Feb. 18, 20 & 22
Feb 25, 27 & Mar. 1
Mar. 4, 6 & 8
Mar 11-15
Mar. 18 & 20
Mar 22
Mar. 25, 27 & 29
Apr. 1, 3 & 5
Apr. 8, 10 & 12
Apr. 15, 17 & 19
Apr. 22, 24 & 26
Apr. 29, May 1 & 3
May 10
10:30 a.m.
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 2
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 3
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 4
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 5
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 6
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 7
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 8
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 9
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 10
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 11
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 12
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 13
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 14
Judd & Swanstrom, chap. 15
PSCI 4020 Urban Politics - Course Syllabus - Page 3
Due Dates
Examinations
Exam
Exam I
Exam II
Final Exam
Date
February 11
March 22
May 10 (10:30 a.m.)
Reading Material Covered
Judd & Swanstrom, chaps. 1-4
Judd & Swanstrom, chaps. 5-9
Judd & Swanstrom, chaps. 10-15
Reading Reports
Due Date for Reading Reports
Jan. 25
Feb. 1
Feb. 8
Feb. 15
Feb. 22
Mar. 1
Mar. 8
Mar. 22
Mar 29
Apr. 5
Apr. 12
Apr. 19
Topic from Reader
School Reform
Fixing Urban Schools
Blighted Cities
Downtown Renaissance
Attracting Jobs
Rapid Urbanization
Aging Infrastructure
High Speed Trains
Police Misconduct
Domestic Poverty
Immigration Conflict
Child Poverty
Term Paper
Due: April 29
Course drop information: see schedule at –
http://essc.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/scheduleclass.html
UNT Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
http://www.vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm
Department Statement of ADA compliance
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with
disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability
Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you
with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding
your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA
notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any
delay in implementation.
Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet
with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the
Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them
by phone at 940.565.4323.
Page 4 – PSCI 4020 – Urban Politics – Course Syllabus
University of North Texas -- Department of Political Science
POLICY ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
The UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline defines cheating and plagiarism as the use of
unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying others' tests,
assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another as one's own; collaborating
without authority with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work; or
otherwise practicing scholastic dishonesty.
Normally, the minimum penalty for cheating or plagiarism is a grade of "F" in the course. In the
case of graduate departmental exams, the minimum penalty shall be failure of all fields of the
exam. Determination of cheating or plagiarism shall be made by the instructor in the course, or by
the field faculty in the case of departmental exams.
Cases of cheating or plagiarism on graduate departmental exams, theses, or dissertations shall
automatically be referred to the departmental Graduate Studies Committee. Cases of cheating or
plagiarism in ordinary coursework may, at the discretion of the instructor, be referred to the
Undergraduate Studies Committee in the case of undergraduate students, or the Graduate
Studies Committee in the case of graduate students. These committees, acting as agents of the
department Chair, shall impose further penalties, or recommend further penalties to the Dean of
Students, if they determine that the case warrants it. In all cases, the Dean of Students shall be
informed in writing of the case.
Students may appeal any decision under this policy by following the procedures laid down in the
UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
University of North Texas -- Department of Political Science
POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The Political Science Department adheres to and enforces UNT’s policy on academic integrity
(cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty and sabotage).
Students in this class should review the policy (UNT Policy Manual Section 18.1.16), which may be
located at http://policy.unt.edu/sites/default/files/untpolicy/pdf/7-Student_AffairsAcademic_Integrity.pdf. Violations of academic integrity in this course will addressed in
compliance with the penalties and procedures laid out in this policy. Students may appeal any
decision under this policy by following the procedures laid down in the UNT The UNT Policy
Manual Section 18.1.16 “Student Standards of Academic Integrity
Acceptable Student Behavior:
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students'
opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional
forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom
and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to
consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's
expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and
electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be
found at https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct.