University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Urban Studies 250 LEC 003 - Exploring the Urban Environment
Spring 2013
Syllabus
Class Meetings and Location: Online
Instructor:
Danielle Romain
Office Hours: I will be available quite regularly during normal business hours (Monday –
Friday 9:00am-5:00pm) and will return your emails within 1-2 hours during these times.
If you email me outside of these times (such as 2:30am on a Tuesday night) I will
respond to your emails during normal business hours, but within a 24 hour period.
Email: dmromain@uwm.edu
Course Description
Today’s urban environment as we know it is the result of a long progression of demographic,
social, cultural, political, and economic developments. This multidisciplinary course – Exploring
the Urban Environment - will provide a broad overview of some of these developments and
changes in American cities with a particular focus on Milwaukee. The course will have two
objectives. One objective of the course is to examine some of the basic urban theories which
will include elements of race & class, segregation and suburbanization, crime, industry and
employment, housing, and gentrification.
The second objective of the course will focus on relating these urban issues and theories to
Milwaukee – how the history of Milwaukee and current social/political and economic forces
affect residents of Milwaukee today. We will explore the intersection of historical factors,
social theories, and current forces that will provide a relevant and local perspective. By the end
of the semester every student should be able to identify the major challenges facing American
cities today in relation to issues such as urban sprawl, governance, segregation, employment,
sustainability and renewal, representation, crime, globalization, and gentrification.
Class Structure
Class will meet weekly online, be sure to check on D2L often and have access to the Internet.
Lectures will be available based on the week’s readings, any additional relevant material and
concepts, and typically there will be additional material for you to approach: films or film clips
on relevant current topics, newspaper or media articles relevant to the week’s topics, or
websites related to organizations on relevant topics. Each week you will be responsible for
reading the relevant material assigned, viewing the lectures and any additional material
presented, and then taking what we’ve gone over and applying it: writing short response
papers and participating in online discussion. It is important that you check in on the course
webpage regularly for lectures, discussions, assignments, etc.
Course Materials
Wilson, W. J. (1996). When work disappears: The world of the new urban poor. New York:
Vintage.
Zukin, S. (2010). Naked city: The death and life of authentic urban places. New York:
Oxford University Press.
And other additional readings or materials via D2L
Desire2Learn (D2L)
This course has a D2L site that will be used for communication throughout the semester. Check
in weekly for announcements, updates, and links to relevant articles and other resources.
Assigned readings will also be posted on D2L on the content page under the topic heading for
the week they are assigned. Lectures will also be posted on the content page under the
appropriate topic heading for each week. To participate in discussion: please make use of the
discussion board on D2L to post your discussion questions and respond to others’ questions.
Finally, D2L will be used to submit any written work: short weekly response papers, midterm
papers, and final papers. D2L will also be used for posting grades. If you have trouble with D2L
or have not used it yet, please see the information at the end of this syllabus on accessing and
navigating D2L. If you have any difficulties accessing D2L, please contact the IT Helpdesk (414)
229-4040. In addition, when you submit a paper/assignment via the Dropbox on D2L you will
receive an email receipt of submission. If you do not receive this email, please re-submit the
assignment and email me a copy.
Grading
Grading scale:
A
100 - 93
A92 – 90
B+
89 – 86
B
85 – 83
B82 – 80
C+
79 – 76
C
75 – 73
C72 – 70
D+
69 – 66
D
65 – 63
D62 – 60
F
59 and below
Participation/Discussion: (15%)
Also, active participation in the online discussion board is required – it is a way for you to
meaningfully engage with other students about your own experiences, thoughts, etc. on the
weekly topics. Students will be assessed on both the frequency of participation as well as the
quality of their participation. As part of your participation you will be expected to prepare 2
questions every week based on the readings addressing the readings to be used as discussion,
please post these on the online discussion board. These questions should not simply state “I
don’t know what ____ means,” or simple “yes/no” questions but should help create a
discussion regarding opinions on the readings. Grading on these questions will be based on the
quality of the question. Additionally, you will be graded on your responses to other students’
questions: please respond to 2 students’ questions each week: your responses should be
somewhat developed, such as a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) drawing on your own
opinions, backgrounds, experiences, etc. You will be graded on this portion based on meeting
the requirement of two responses per week as well as the quality of your responses – the more
detailed and in-depth, the better. Full points per week = 2 questions and 2 responses.
Short Papers/Assignments: (30%)
Each student must turn in 4 (four) assignments or short papers throughout the course of the
semester. Short papers must be 1 ½ - 2 pages double spaced 12-point Times New Roman font
and one inch margins. These papers will be due by Sunday of the weeks they are due
(marking the end of the week) by 11:59 pm in the D2L dropbox. Selected topics will be posted
on D2L for each week’s papers, which give you direct questions to respond to. These papers
are meant to not summarize/synthesize what the readings were about, but to “go beyond” by
developing an opinion on these issues (positive or negative) and analyzing some of the key
arguments of the author(s). If you state an opinion, please explain why you agree or disagree.
You may relate the readings to current events, local issues, or personal experiences. Papers
that will receive full points will likely go in-depth into one or two key issues or arguments,
providing a thorough analysis or several key examples. Papers that are too short, do not deal
adequately with the assigned topic, or are not cohesive and full of grammar/spelling mistakes
will not receive full points. If you quote a reading make sure to use proper citation (quotation
marks around the quote and cite the page number, author, and year in parentheses). Improper
citation or lack of citation can and will be considered plagiarism.
Midterm Exam: (25%)
There will be a midterm exam/paper question relating to the key concepts of Wilson’s book and
how you would apply some of his theories/policies or your own ideas of polices to Milwaukee.
The question(s) will be made available on D2L one week prior to the due date, to give you
adequate time to prepare your answer. The format will be: 4-6 pages, double-spaced 12-point
Times New Roman Font and one-inch margins. You do not need to have a cover page, but you
are required to have a references/bibliography page and to cite all material (outside material,
or other material from class besides Wilson’s book are acceptable). APA or MLA format for intext citations and your bibliography are required. Remember to use quotes if you cite directly
and to identify the page number of what you are quoting. Grading will be based on a number
of factors: coherent argument/writing style, no or few grammar/spelling mistakes (please
proofread it before turning it in), the ability to understand Wilson’s nuanced argument, and the
ability to think critically about his argument and apply it to Milwaukee. Well-written papers do
not simply identify key ideas or quote excessively, but are able to weave in the key ideas by
discussing some of these issues in-depth. Please avoid slang and colloquialisms in your writing.
The paper will be due Friday, March 14th at 11:59 pm on the D2L dropbox.
Final Project: (30%)
Each student will be assigned to a group. Each group is to write a 6-8 page research paper
double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman Font with one-inch margins on a topic selected
from a list provided by the instructor. This paper will be supplemented with a Powerpoint or
other multimedia presentation: and may include photographs, you-tube or other video clips,
news clippings, etc. The paper and presentation will be due by Friday, May 10th at 11:59 pm on
the D2L dropbox. This project will be based on avenues of inquiry for contemporary and future
solutions for sustainable development of cities. You may use assigned readings but you will
also need to use additional outside resources (Journal Articles, books, newspaper clippings,
credible websites NO WIKIPEDIA). Four to six (4-6) sources must be used for this project
(including assigned readings or outside readings). This project will allow you to pick a topic of
interest to learn more about and discover whether or not it has been implemented (or could
be) in Milwaukee.
Final Papers must be printed in Times New Roman 12 point font double spaced with one inch
margins. Please include a cover sheet with the title of your paper, your name, class number,
and due date. The writing of the body of the paper should begin on the first line of the first
page. The paper must be printed on white paper stapled once in the upper left hand corner.
Sources for the paper must include articles and readings not already covered during the course
of the class. You may use APA or MLA format for this final paper, and be sure to include a
references/bibliography at the end of your paper.
Notes on the written assignments:
Proper citation and quotation is required for all writing assignments. If you quote an author
make sure to include citation and page number, or if you use an author’s idea make sure to
include citation. Proper citation will include authors name, publication, date, and the page
number. Feel free to use APA or MLA format but make sure to include at minimum name, date,
and page number so that I can easily locate a source. All assignments are to be typed doublespaced in Times New Roman 12-point font with one-inch margins.
Please only place your name in the header. The writing for your assignments should begin on
the first line not half way down the page. If you feel the need you may include a cover or title
sheet for your assignments. Any variation from this will result in loss of points. Late papers will
receive a 10% grade reduction for each week they are late. Late papers will only be accepted
if arrangements are made with me.
Extra Credit
Students have three options to receive extra credit:
1. Attend the USP Student Forum on Saturday, April 27th at the Zelazo Center and write a
one-page double-spaced reaction paper to either a panel session you attended or the
keynote address.
2. Attend another USP-sponsored event (information will be posted on the course website
as they occur) and write a one-page double-spaced reaction paper.
3. If you cannot attend these events (due to living outside of the Greater Milwaukee Area)
you may watch an urban studies related documentary and write a one-page doublespaced reaction paper.
Classroom Civility
Students and faculty alike should strive to create a class environment that reflects mutual
respect and the importance of learning. If a student’s behavior threatens to disrupt that
environment, the faculty member has a responsibility to seek resolution of the problem.
Students are expected to be respectful of one another and the instructor when participating in
the online discussion.
Academic Conduct:
You are expected to do your own work in this class and properly cite any ideas or quotes from
other sources. Citations should follow a generally accepted format (APA, MLA, Chicago).
Plagiarism, Cheating, and other forms of Academic misconduct will be dealt with in accordance
to the guidelines of the university. Academic dishonesty includes failing to cite published work
or someone else’s ideas, purchasing a paper from another student or online, using another
student’s work as your own, directly copying from a source without quoting the author, etc.
The university’s policy on plagiarism and academic integrity can be viewed online:
http://www4.uwm.edu/osl/dean/conduct.cfm. Any student caught engaging in plagiarism will
receive a zero on the assignment/paper, NO EXCEPTIONS!
Week
Topic
1/21 Introduction
Ways to Study Cities
1/28
2/4
2/11
2/18
2/25
3/4
3/11
Milwaukee History:
German Immigrants,
Industry, Segregation
Urban Planning:
Modernism, Garden
Cities, New Urbanism
Urban Parks;
Suburbanization &
Technoburbs
Segregation: Class vs.
Race Theories
Housing: Historical and
Current Concerns
Cultural Arguments vs.
Structural Arguments
Policy Implications
3/18
3/25
4/1
SPRING BREAK
Urban Crime
Sustainable
Development
4/8
Authenticity &
Gentrification
Urban Growth & BIDs
Regulation &
Community
4/15
4/22
4/29
5/6
Work on Final Projects
Work on Final Projects
COURSE SCHEDULE
Reading for the Week
Simmel (on D2L)
Gurda selections (on D2L)
Work Due
Short Paper 1
Discussion: Introduction, 1
question & 1 response
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Le Corbusier & Howard (on D2L)
Jacobs & Appleyard (on D2L)
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Olmstead (on D2L)
Fishman & Duany et. al (on D2L)
Short Paper 2
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Wilson Ch 1 & 2
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Massey & Denton (on D2L)
Rugh & Massey (on D2L)
Wilson Ch 3 & 5
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Wilson Ch 7
Venkatesh (on D2L)
“Towards Sustainable
Development” and Wheeler (on
D2L)
Zukin Ch 1 & 2
Zukin Ch 3 & 4
Zukin Ch 5 & 6
Short Paper 3
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Midterm on Friday, March
14th at 11:59pm
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Final project topic
Short Paper 4
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Discussion: 2 Q & 2 R
Progress reports for final
project
Final Projects Due by
Friday, May 10th at 11:59
pm
Using UW-Milwaukee Desire2Learn (D2L) course web sites
Materials for this course are available on a Desire2Learn (D2L) course web site. Students may
see these materials there anytime, using a standard web browser.
Recommended browsers: For a PC-compatible computer, use either Internet Explorer or
Firefox. For Apple (Mac) computers, Safari or Firefox are recommended. The browser needs
“Sun Java Runtime Environment” (Java-scripting) enabled for a recent version of Java. (NOTE: A
complete and up-to-date list of recommended browsers and settings can always be found at:
http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=3210 Please contact the UWM Help Desk, as
described at the bottom of this page, if you have questions about these requirements.)
To find and browse the D2L course web site:
1. From to the UWM home page (http://www.uwm.edu) click on the dropdown menu to
select D2L
Course Access – OR – go directly to the D2L login page at http://D2L.uwm.edu.
2. On the Desire2Learn Welcome screen, type in your ePanther Username (your ePanther
campus email, but without the “@uwm.edu) and Password. Then hit [Login].
3. On the D2L MyHome screen, find the area called My Courses. You’ll see your active
courses here, arranged by Semester, with the newest semester at the top.
4. Click any course title to see the Course Home page. Click [Content] in the navigation bar
to begin exploring the site.
5. If you have any difficulty getting into the course web site, please close down your web
Browser completely and open it up again. Then try logging on again, using the
instructions above. If you do not know your ePanther username or password, please get
help as indicated below.
6. When you are finished looking around your D2L course sites, always click on [Logout].
This is especially important if you are in a computer lab. Otherwise, the next person who
uses the machine will be using your D2L account!
What to do if you have problems with Desire2Learn (D2L)
If you have any difficulties with D2L, including problems with your login (e.g., you forgot your
password, or if you just can’t get on), please contact the UWM Help Desk. You may do one of
the following:
 Report the problem via online web form at GetTechHelp.uwm.edu
 Call the UWM Help Desk at 414.229.4040 if you are in Metro Milwaukee (or just dial
4040 on a UWM campus phone).
 Go to Bolton 225 (this lab is not open all day or on weekends – call 414.229.4040 for
specific hours)
 From outside the 414 or 262 area codes, but from within the USA, you may call the
UWM Help Desk at 1.877.381.3459.
UNIVERSITY AND URBAN STUDIES PROGRAMS POLICIES
The Secretary of the University maintains a web page that contains university policies that
affect the instructor and the students in this course, as well as essential information specific to
conduct of the course. The link to that web page is:
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/SyllabusLinks.pdf
Students with Disabilities. Verification of disability, class standards, the policy on the use of
alternate material and test accommodations can be found at the following:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/DSAD/SAC/SACltr.pdf
Religious Observances. Policies regarding accommodations for absences due to religious
observance are found at the following:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S1.5.htm
Students called to active Military Duty. Accommodations for absences due to call-up of
reserves to active military duty are found at the following:
http://www4.uwm.edu/current_students/military_call_up.cfm
Incompletes. You may be given an incomplete if you have carried a course successfully until
near the end of the semester but, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause
beyond your control, have been unable to take or complete the final examination or to
complete some limited amount of course work. An incomplete is not given unless you prove to
the instructor that you were prevented from completing the course for just cause as indicated
above. The conditions for awarding an incomplete to graduate and undergraduate students can
be found at the following:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S31.pdf
Discriminatory Conduct (such as sexual harassment). Discriminatory conduct will not be
tolerated by the University. It poisons the work and learning environment of the University and
threatens the careers, educational experience and well-being of students, faculty and staff.
Policies regarding discriminatory conduct can be found at:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S47.pdf
Academic Misconduct. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation
of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others' academic
endeavors. Policies for addressing students cheating on exams or plagiarism can be found at
the following:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/conduct.html
Complaint Procedures. Students may direct complaints to the Urban Studies Programs Director
or the Associate Dean for Social Sciences in the College of Letters & Sciences. If the complaint
allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the Urban Studies Programs
Director, the Associate Dean for Social Sciences in the College of Letters & Sciences, or to the
appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy. Policies may be found at:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S49.7.htm
Grade Appeal Procedures. A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a
capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the
established procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course
resides or in the case of graduate students, the Graduate School. These procedures are
available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the
College/School. Procedures for student grade appeal can be found at:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S28.htm
Final Examination Policy. Policies regarding final examinations can be found at the following:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S22.htm
Update 01/25/2011
C:\Documents and Settings\beranekc\My Documents\Forms\Syllabus Dept Policy
Sheet2011.doc