University of Oregon
Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management
PPPM 445: Green Cities
Fall 2013 (CRN 15933)
Adjunct Instructor Ric Stephens
Office: 13 Hendricks Hall
Office Hours: Thurs 3:00-4:00pm and by appointment, 119 Hendricks
Phone: 503.501.7397
Email: ric@uoregon.edu
Class Time: Tues/Thurs 4:00-5:20pm Room 250 Clinical Services Building (CLS)
Course Description
Examines the history and future of the interface between urban growth and
environmental concerns, and the technological, social, and political forces that continue
to shape it.
Course Website
The course website is located on the University of Oregon’s Blackboard system
(https://blackboard.uoregon.edu). The class syllabus, announcements and other
materials will be posted on the blackboard site. Please check the course website
frequently for updates. In addition, make sure that the University registrar has your
correct email address.
Required Reading
There is one required textbook: Sustainable Urban Development Reader. “Topics
covered include land use and urban design, transportation, ecological planning and
restoration, energy and materials use, economic development, social and environmental
justice, and green architecture and building. All sections have a concise editorial
introduction that places the selection in context and suggests further reading. Additional
sections cover tools for sustainable development, sustainable development
internationally, visions of sustainable community and case studies from around the
world.” http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415453820/
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 Wheeler, Stephen, M., Beatley, Timothy, Sustainable Urban Development
Reader, Second Edition, Routledge Urban Reader Series, London, 2008. (ISBN
978-0-415-45382-0 paperback).
In addition to the textbook above, students are required to read all assigned materials
posted on the course blackboard site.
Assignments and Course Grades
The course grade will be based on the following components:
Class Participation
25%
Midterm Exam
25%
Research Paper
25%
Final Exam
25%
Class participation
Students are expected to have obtained, read, and retained the readings for each week
and to come to class prepared to discuss their content and implications. Reading
assignments and discussion questions will be on Blackboard.
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Fall 2013 Course Schedule
Class &
Date
1A TUE
Oct 1
1B THU
Oct 3
2A TUE
Oct 8
2B THU
Oct 10
3A TUE
Oct 15
3B THU
Oct 17
4A TUE
Oct 22
4B THU
Oct 24
5A TUE
Oct 29
5B THU
Oct 31
Lecture Topic
Introduction
Green Cities
Environmental Ethics
Garden Cities
Sustainable
Urbanization
Global Sustainable
Urban Development
Eurasian Sustainable
Urban Development
Student Topics & Case
Studies
Sustainability Planning Exercise 1
Green Cities Planning [infographic]
“Environmental Justice and Social Equity” [textbook]
Environmental Ethics [infographic]
“Origins of the Sustainability Concept” [textbook]
Garden Cities of To-Morrow [blackboard]
Sustainability Topics – Guest Speakers: Gwen Buckley, Ben
Farrell, Manly Norris
“Sustainable Urban Development Internationally” [textbook]
Globalization
European Spatial Development Perspective [blackboard]
Global Eco-Cities [infographic & spreadsheet]
“Case Studies of Urban Sustainability” [textbook]
Sustainability Planning Exercise 2 [blackboard]
Midterm Exam
Land Use & Urban
Design
6A TUE
Nov 5
Energy & Resources
6B THU
Nov 7
7A TUE
Nov 12
Transportation
7B THU
Nov 14
Materials [See Blackboard “Assignments” for required
reading]
Urban Ecology, Urban
Agriculture, &
Ecotourism
Implementation Actions
8A TUE
Nov 19
8B THU
Nov 21
Resiliency
9A TUE
Nov 26
9B THU
Nov 28
10A TUE
Dec 3
10B THU
Dec 5
Final THU
Dec 12
Student Topics
Regeneration and
Regenerative Design
“Land Use and Urban Design” [textbook]
Sustainable Urban Design [blackboard]
Sense of Place [blackboard]
“Energy and Materials Use” [textbook]
Eco-Industrial Development [blackboard]
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Neighborhood
Development (LEED ND) [blackboard]
“Transportation” [textbook]
Green Streets, Metro, [blackboard]
“Urban Ecology and Restoration” [textbook]
Ecosystem Services [blackboard]
Urban Agriculture [blackboard]
“Tools for Sustainability Planning” [textbook]
Cool Planning: A Handbook on Strategies to Slow Climate
Change, Oregon Transportation and Growth Management
Program [blackboard]
Disaster Response and Recovery [blackboard]
Urban Resiliency [blackboard]
Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development [blackboard]
Urban Change: The Prospect for Transformation [blackboard]
Revitalization [blackboard]
Sustainability Planning Exercise 3 [blackboard]
Thanksgiving Holiday
“Visions of Sustainable Community” [textbook]
Green Cities of Tomorrow [blackboard]
Memo & Final Exam Review
Trends and Projections
Research Paper Due & Final Exam
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PPPM 445/545 Green Cities Grading Rubric: Research Paper
Criteria
Unsatis
-factory
Needs
Signif.
Improv.
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Comments
CONTENT: 70% of grade
Content criterion #1
 Introduction / Background
 Relevance
 Application / Replication
Content criterion #2
 Conclusions and/or
 Recommendations and/or
 Further Study
WRITING: 30% of grade
Logical structure
 Introductory section to orient reader
 Clear sequence of sections
 Clear structure to sections
 Uses subheadings effectively
 Uses paragraphs to support
structure
 Clear topic sentences
 Links between paragraphs
 Links within sections
Professional approach
 Objective: avoids bias & prejudice
 Assertions supported by evidence
(references, clear information,
citations) and not just opinion
 Uses high quality sources
Appropriate voice
 Appropriate use of active and
passive voice
 Awareness of audience
Grammar
 Noun verb agreement
 Correct use of tense
 Complete sentences
 Appropriate punctuation
 No run on sentences
 Other grammar issues
Referencing
 In text references (author date,
page) or footnotes
 Reference list (or footnotes) using
proper citation format
Professional Presentation
 Don’t overuse bullets
 Professional format (page #s, clear
print, clear graphics)
 Free of handwritten edits
 Use graphics to support text, but
not replace it
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Research Paper [PPPM 545] 3-5 pages / 1,200-2,000 words
Topic
Students should select a research topic with the following attributes:
1. Related to “green cities”
2. An area of study that the student feels passionate about
3. Relevant to the student’s professional interest
4. Feasible within the constraints of the assignment format
If you are concerned about the appropriateness of your topic, please contact the
instructor.
Format
Students are free to format their papers however they chose. If there is concern about
an unusual format, please contact the instructor or graduate teaching fellow. A hard
copy must be submitted unless the student has a valid reason for not attending class on
the assignment due date.
Length / Size
The paper must be between 3 and 5 pages total. This is approximately 1,200–2,000
words including references. Shorter or longer papers will not receive full credit.
References
Research papers must have a minimum of 10 references which may include interviews
and digital media.
Group Paper
If desired, students may collaborate on a paper. The above criteria still apply. The grade
will reflect higher expectations for content and quality.
Late Paper
[see Late Assignment Policy]
Grading
[see Rubric]
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Classroom Environment
In order to create a classroom in which students are comfortable expressing their
opinions and perspectives, please approach the readings and others’ contributions with
both an open mind and a willingness to question one’s own assumptions and biases.
Professional Practice
This course is a core course in the PPPM undergraduate pre-professional degree
program. As such, students are expected to behave in a professional manner at all
times.
 Students should treat each other and the instructor with the professional courtesy
and respect expected in a workplace.
 All communications relating to this course and all work turned in for this course
should reflect professional standards in tone, presentation, formatting, and
spelling.
 The classroom is a place of focused learning. This requires that students arrive
on time, stay until the end of the class period, do not disrupt the class by leaving
the room temporarily, and refrain from non-learning activities. Students who fail
to adhere to these guidelines will be asked to leave for the remainder of the class
session.
 All course assignments are to be completed using a word processor.
Course Workload
A general rule of thumb for the expected workload for a graduate level class is
approximately 3-4 hours/week per credit hour. Thus, a four credit course will require
approximately 12-16 hours of effort per week. Our class meets for three hours each
week, so students should expect to spend an additional 9 to 13 hours per week studying
for this course.
Writing Lab
This is a writing intensive course. If you struggle with writing, I strongly encourage you
to use the services of the Writing Lab: The Writing Lab begins week two of the term
and closes at 5:00 pm the Wednesday of finals week. Free tutors are available. Upperdivision and graduate student tutors are available on a drop-in basis or by appoint.
Documented Disabilities
Students who have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in
this course should make arrangements to see the instructor as soon as possible. They
should also request that the Counselor for Students with Disabilities send a letter
verifying the disability.
Email
Typically you receive a response to all email within 48 hours of receiving them. Please
review Blackboard and the syllabus prior to sending a note about course logistics.
Please do not email if you need to miss a class for a routine matter, like a doctor
appointment or job interview.
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Late Assignment Policy
If you are unable to make it to class on the day an assignment is due, you may mail or
email your assignment prior to the class time and date that assignment is due. Late
assignments receive only partial credit.
Missed Class Policy
If you miss a class, please arrange to get class notes from a classmate. Instructor
lecture notes are not available.
Incomplete Policy
Students are expected to behave in a professional manner and to turn in all materials at
the designated time. In accordance with university regulations, an incomplete will only
be given when “the quality of work is satisfactory but a minor yet essential requirement
of the course has not been completed for reasons acceptable to the instructor.”
Academic Misconduct
You are expected at all times to do your own work. Copying content from other
students and submitting it as your own work is grounds for failing the class. The
University Student Conduct Code (available at conduct.uoregon.edu) defines academic
misconduct. Students are prohibited from committing or attempting to commit any act
that constitutes academic misconduct. By way of example, students should not give or
receive (or attempt to give or receive) unauthorized help on assignments or
examinations without express permission from the instructor.
Plagiarism
Students should properly acknowledge and document all sources of information (e.g.
quotations, paraphrases, ideas) and use only the sources and resources authorized by
the instructor. If there is any question about whether an act constitutes academic
misconduct, it is the students’ obligation to clarify the question with the instructor before
committing or attempting to commit the act. Additional information about a common
form of academic misconduct, plagiarism, is available at:
www.libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/plagiarism/students.
Make up Exams: Midterm Exam
Students who miss the midterm exam will receive a grade of zero for that exam unless
there is a legitimate reason for missing the midterm exam (e.g. serious illness or family
emergency). If the midterm exam is missed for a legitimate reason, the final exam
weight will be increased by the amount of the midterm exam weight. This must be
arranged prior to the scheduled midterm exam time.
Make up Exams: Final Exam
Students must take the final exam to receive a grade in the course. The date and time
for the final exam will not be changed to accommodate scheduling conflicts. Final
exams will not be given early under any circumstances. A makeup final exam will be
scheduled for students who miss the regularly scheduled final exam due to serious
illness or family emergency.
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Inclusion Statement
The School of Architecture and Allied Arts is a community that values inclusion.
We are a committed to equal opportunities for all faculty, staff and students to
develop individually, professionally, and academically regardless of ethnicity,
heritage, gender, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic standing, cultural
beliefs and traditions. We are dedicated to an environment that is inclusive and
fosters awareness, understanding, and respect for diversity. If you feel excluded
or threatened, please contact your instructor and/or department head. The
University Bias Response Team is also a resource that can assist you. Find more
information at their website at http://bias.uoregon.edu/index.html or by phoning
541-346-2037.
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