Urban Affairs

• MET UA 300: Applied Social Science Theory
  Applied Social Science Theory introduces students to major authors and seminal works that continue to inform theory and research in social sciences. The focus is on reading primary source materials to examine not only the major conclusions of these authors, but the arguments they use to justify those conclusions. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Social Inquiry II
• MET UA 301: Introduction to Urban Affairs
  This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to urban affairs and urban problems, including an overview of prominent theories about the nature and causes of urban problems. We will examine the metropolitan area as a complex system with interdependent institutions and problems and consider present as well as future urban policy options in areas such as housing, transportation, crime, education, environment and economic development.
• MET UA 403: Boston Urban Seminar
  An opportunity to explore general issues of urban affairs and planning in seminar. Theme changes, but each seminar focuses on Boston. Prominent scholars and professionals active in city and regional issues are invited to participate.
• MET UA 409: Urban Affairs Senior Project
  Required of undergraduate urban affairs majors. Students complete a senior project in their field of interest. Individual faculty supervision arranged by the department; project topic and approach arranged between student and advisor.
• MET UA 501: Undergraduate Directed Study
  Limited to a maximum of 8 credits toward degree requirements. Approval by program director required prior to registration. Study of urban and public affairs individually arranged between the student and an appropriate instructor to provide training opportunities not available elsewhere.
• MET UA 503: Housing and Community Development
  Surveys the factors affecting supply and price of urban housing. Examines federal, state, and municipal programs, as well as future policy options, from the standpoint of housing quality and community development goals. Analysis of selected international comparative experience.
• MET UA 505: Urban Management
  Examination of selected cases in municipal and public management. Organization, financial management, personnel relations, program planning and budgeting, and issues of public and private sector relations. The administration of municipal functions, including health, police, schools, and housing.
• MET UA 508: Real Estate Development
  Various factors affecting location, construction, financing, and marketing of real estate in metropolitan areas. Studies the relationship of public policy to the activities of the private sector, market analysis techniques, evaluation of development projects, and problems of real estate investment.
• MET UA 510: Selected Topics in Urban Affairs
  Graduate Prerequisites: (METUA301 & METUA701) or consent of instructor. - UA510 is the designation for "Special Topics in Planning". The subject matter for UA510 courses changes from semester to semester, and more than one UA510 can be offered in a given semester.
• MET UA 521: Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice
  This course is designed to present a comprehensive approach to environmental law, policy, and justice at all levels of government, including federal, state, and local governments. Principles and status of environmental law for pollution control and environmental improvement. Impact statements, resource conservation and protection, growth management. Emphasis on air, water, land, and hazardous waste issues, environmental, economic, and other policy relationships. Case materials and court decisions will be used.
• MET UA 527: Feeding the City: Urban Food
  Examines historical and contemporary issues involved in providing food to cities and metropolitan areas. Tracing the routes that food takes into the city and the major sources of food, the course looks closely at the accessibility of food, especially in poorer urban neighborhoods. Among topics covered are obesogenic neighborhoods, food deserts, gentrification and foodie culture, public school food nutrition, attempts to minimize food waste, and immigrants and ethnic foods in the city. The course also considers recent attempts at food production in cities, including urban agriculture, vertical farming, and craft production of food products. After closely looking at the history and current status of food programs, the course concludes with a consideration of urban food policies.
• MET UA 551: Policy Responses to Urban Issues
  Exploration of major urban challenges in the U.S., with some focus on global issues. Students will examine the causes, nature, and consequences of these problems, considering their interdependence and complexity. The course focuses on U.S. policy formulation, encouraging students to analyze how public and private responses can address urban issues. Through case studies and research, students will deepen their understanding of urban problems and develop skills to critically analyze and propose effective policy solutions.
• MET UA 579: Urban Economics and Public Finance
  Comprehensive understanding of how economic principles can be applied to urban planning and policymaking. Exploration of microeconomic theories and models to learn how cities and regions function, analyze urban problems, and evaluate urban policies. Economic, social, and political dimensions of state and local government finances, including revenue generation, expenditure management, and budgetary processes will be explored. Key topics include public finance theory, municipal budgets, property taxes, and economic incentives.
• MET UA 589: Research and Evaluation
  Research methods are essential in urban planning and policy, where professionals must critically evaluate and apply research to program and policy development, implementation, and assessment. This course takes students through the research process, from formulating questions to reporting findings, with a focus on applied research and program evaluation. Students will explore quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies, along with various data collection methods such as interviews, observations, focus groups, surveys, content analysis, and secondary data sources. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to design, assess, and implement research-based solutions to urban challenges.
• MET UA 591: Applied Analytical Methods
  Evidence-based and data-driven approaches to urban problems are the industry standard among municipalities, agencies, and non-governmental organizations. This course will cover a variety of statistical "tools" from three broad areas: (1) descriptive statistics, (2) inferential statistics and hypothesis testing, and (3) measures of association. Students will learn how to develop research questions, describe, and draw conclusions from quantitative data, and interpret statistical research findings, and be able to present these findings to a variety of audiences in a clear and accurate way -- to be able to "tell a story" with numbers. In addition, students will develop a proficiency working with large data sets and conducting analysis with a critical lens, using the analytical software -- Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) -- commonly used in urban planning and related fields.
• MET UA 598: Foundations of GIS and Spatial Analysis
  Foundations of GIS and Spatial Analysis provides an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specifically with a focus on applications in urban planning. The role of spatial analysis in local, state, and regional planning has steadily increased over the last decade with the infusion of windows-based GIS software such as ESRI ArcGIS. The class focus is to prepare students to feel comfortable communicating with other GIS users, research spatial data, and produce high-quality digital maps in an applied learning environment.
• MET UA 604: Urban Political Decision-Making: Citizen Participation in the Planning Process
  Case studies of political decision-making roles in urban conflict management and resource allocation. Community power distribution, factors influencing change, leadership styles, and relationships to administrators and planners. Selected policy issues, such as redevelopment, education, crime, and service delivery.
• MET UA 617: Actionable Sustainability
  Sustainability generally refers to the ability of "systems" to be maintained such that they remain viable over long periods of time. As much as achieving the perfect sustainable equilibrium may be the ideal, it is important to recognize that there will be competing and conflicting interests, especially within complex hierarchical social, economic and ecological systems, particularly in light of ongoing climatic change. This field intensive course draws on the practices and theories of sustainability and climate change to understand what sustainability can mean in different contexts, and, more important, how nuanced, sustainable solutions can be achieved under varying conditions and in different systems. With an emphasis on the urban environment, the course will consist of projects in which students will identify, analyze, and develop practical proposals to real world issues. This course is intended for a wider audience from a range of disciplines.
• MET UA 619: Urban Transportation Policy and Planning
  This course will provide students with a broad introduction to important concepts and policy issues in transportation, principally at an urban and metropolitan level. In addition, the course will explore methods planning practitioners can use to analyze transportation problems and propose solutions. The course will use specific examples of planning initiatives (both operations and capital) from transportation agencies within the Boston Metropolitan region. Guest speakers from local, regional, and state transportation agencies within the Greater Boston Metropolitan area will supplement the instructor's lectures and assigned readings.
• MET UA 642: Geospatial Intelligence
  Prerequisite: MET UA 598 or consent of instructor. Studying Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) for Urban Analysis equips students with the analytical tools and methodologies to understand and solve complex urban challenges. This knowledge is crucial for making informed decisions related to urban planning, infrastructure development, disaster management, and sustainability efforts. Through practical applications and real-world case studies, the course prepares students to contribute effectively to the development of smarter, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable urban environments.