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Urban Studies
This certificate studies the nature and functions of the contemporary city from an interdisciplinary perspective of geography, political science, sociology and anthropology. It is suited to those contemplating careers in urban planning, governance or consulting.
Units applied to one certificate may not be applied to another 間眅埶AV certificate or diploma.
Completion is possible in one year but additional terms may be required.
間眅埶AV Requirements
Normal requirements for admission to 間眅埶AV apply. Prior to formal approval into the certificate program, students complete two of
- GEOG 100 Society, Space, Environment: Introducing Human Geography (3)
- POL 100 Introduction to Politics and Government (3) (or POL 151)
- SA 101 Introduction to Anthropology (A) (4) (or SA 150)
Program Requirements
Students will successfully complete eight courses as follows, that total 29 or 30 units. Of the eight, no more than four may be in any one department. Substitutions may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the advisor.
Students complete all of
This course will introduce basic concepts in the study of urban geography by systematically identifying and examining major components of urban structure. Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or 102 or 30 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The political process in the urban municipality from a comparative perspective. Prerequisite: POL 100 or 101W or 151 or permission of department. Breadth-Social Sciences.
An introduction to the anthropological perspective as applied to the organization of everyday life in contemporary settings. Introduces positivist, interpretive, and critical interpretive approaches to the analysis of social actions, identities, and values as enacted in space and time. Students with credit for SA 291 may not take SA 201W for further credit. Recommended: SA 101. Writing. Prerequisite: . Equivalent Courses: SA201 SA291. Writing.
and at least three of
Spaces, places, landscapes, and scales of consumption emphasizing commodity cultures, marketing, retail, ideology, subjectivity, objects, technology, and tourism. Prerequisite: GEOG 221 or 261.
Current concepts and approaches in urban geography regarding the development of built environments. Central concerns are the relationships between urbanization and the state, capital, and civil society at various scales. Prerequisite: At least 30 units, including one of GEOG 221, 241, or 261. Students with credit for GEOG 362W may not take this course for further credit.
An introduction to the major approaches and key ideas of the professions of urban governance; urban planning and urban policy. Through a focus on contemporary theory, process-based understanding, and specific issues and examples, the course examines key trends and interventions and promotes critical reflection on urban development. Prerequisite: 30 units, including one of GEOG 221 or 241 or 261; or enrollment in the Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Sustainable Community Development.
An exploration of the cultural and intellectual accomplishments of a specific city that achieved prominence in a particular time period, and had substantial impact and influence on human civilization. Examines the political, social, religious, and cultural factors that help to explain a city's significance and investigates the achievements of its citizens. This course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: 45 units.
A comparative study of local government in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto. The non partisan tradition and interest groups. Relations with other levels of government. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in Political Science or permission of the department.
A comparative analysis of regional metropolitan governance in Canada and selected other jurisdictions (such as the USA, UK, etc.). The course involves an examination of major policy dilemmas in urban development, and of the local, regional and senior intergovernmental relations within which much of the public policy making in metropolitan settings takes place. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An introduction to the political economy and culture of capitalism in relation to global problems. Case studies may focus on issues of population, famine, disease, poverty, environmental destruction, social inequality, and nation-state violence. Resistance, rebellion and social movements in response to these problems also will be addressed. Students who took SA 294 in 03-1, 04-1 and 04-2 may not take SA 302 for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
An examination of the social and political implications of the global economy. Topics to be considered include the influence of neo-liberal economics, the decline of the national welfare state, transnational political agencies and public policy, the internationalization of culture, the global labour market, the 'world city' hypothesis, ethnic resurgence and alternatives to these developments. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
Anthropological approaches to urbanization, the nature of the city as a social system, and urban cultures and lifestyles. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W. Students with credit for SA 464 may not take SA 364 for further credit.
and at least one of these four capstone seminars
An evaluation of the nature of urbanization, having specific reference to theories of urban spatial structure and to comparisons of urbanization in Canada and abroad. Prerequisite: At least 60 units including GEOG 362.
An examination of environmental processes as they influence, and are influenced by, urban development, with attention to implications for urban policy and planning. Prerequisite: Enrolment in the Post Baccalaureate Program in Sustainable Community Development or 60 units; and one of GEOG 351, 362, 383, 389 or SCD 301 (formerly CED 301).
This course will link differing theoretical perspectives and concepts currently used in public policy studies to an understanding of public policy making in urban governance. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
and at least one of these research methods courses
An introduction to basic quantitative methods and software for the solution of geographic problems. Topics include spatial data measurements, central tendency measures, simple probability theory and distributions, inferential methods, and correlation analysis. Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or 221 or 241; and 111. Quantitative.
A basic overview of Geographical Information Systems and Science; GIS software, hardware, data structures and models; spatial data, operations and algorithms; practical applications and limitations. Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or 111 or permission of instructor. Students with credit for GEOG 354 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
An introduction to quantitative research techniques in political science. Prerequisite: POL 100 or 101W or 151 or permission of department. Students with credit for IS 240 may not take POL 201 for further credit. Quantitative.
An examination of the principal methods of empirical research in political science. This course is equivalent to SA 355. Prerequisite: POL 201, or BUEC 232, or IS 240, or STAT 203 (formerly 103). Students with credit for POL 315 may not take SA 355 for further credit. Quantitative.
An introduction to the conduct of sociological and anthropological research. Topics covered include: the relationship between theory and research, concept formation, operationalization, exploratory studies, hypothesis generation and testing, data collection techniques within both sociology and anthropology, the assessment of causality, the critical evaluation of research on both theoretical and methodological grounds, the definition of research problems, and ethical issues in social research. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150. Quantitative.
An examination of qualitative field methods, including participant observation, interviewing, archival research, cross-cultural research, life histories, network analysis, mapping, and ethical problems of fieldwork. Prerequisite: SA 255. Writing.