PL599
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PL599 : Syllabus : Syllabus

Syllabus - Communities and Public Planning

PL501 Communities and Public Planning (WEB BASED)
Dr. Hawley SWFS 204
phone 520.523.1251 e-mail d.hawley@nau.edu fax 520.523.1080
(e-mail preferred)


This course has been designed for seniors, graduate students, and others interested in knowing more about public planning or reviewing over basic concepts, actions, and current situations. There are three modules or sections students are expected to complete. Each module will have related topics that will be introduced by the professor and will be expanded on by the assigned readings, questions, and current issues files. Topics include planning history, basic models and theory, the planning process, documents, and players, growth and community values, economics, growth control methods and efforts, public participation, and community determination. Much of the class content is interrelated. A common theme will be the rural-urban interface and landscape change/impacts.

Objectives: Students will:
· have a basic understanding of the history of planning, models, and theory;
· be able to diagram the planning process and discuss the various scales, roles, and strategies used;
· be cognizant of community values, economic trade offs, and the impacts of growth on social and natural systems;
· be able to discuss methods of growth control, legislative efforts, and realities;
· investigate efforts by communities in maintaining, changing, or creating character, and involving the public

Because this is a web-based class, there is no set meeting time. All class assignments are available at this site. If you would like to interact, however, the site is equipped with a virtual conference center (there is some required communication). This will allow you to post questions or interact with other students easily. Part of the assignments will be the posting of brief opinion papers by those in the course and responses to those papers by the other students.. Please check the VCC occasionally as the professor will post "thoughts" there.

Unless otherwise specified (such as posting at the conference center), all written assignments are to be e-mailed or faxed by the time specified to the professor.

Assignments:
This is a graduate-level course. Reading assignments will consist of required text readings, articles, chapters, news clippings, and information available at additional web sites ( See the topics for each module). Writing assignments will consist of module questions and current issues, opinion questions, and a topic paper on a planning subject. For additional information on the assignments, click on the individual links. Please be aware that some subject readings are fairly lengthy- plan your time accordingly and use the lighter weeks for "reading ahead." Note that weeks 5,6,and 7 include 2 OPs and and a MOD. The course is designed to lighten during your paper writing time later in the course.

Required texts:
1)Planning in the USA by Cullingworth and Caves ( a general and intro text), 2)Design Professionals and the Built Environment by Knox and Ozolin, and
3)Holding Our Ground by Bowers and Daniels

These are texts that cover many parts of the course. Even though the course will not read all of each text, these should be in your personal library for reference.

Electronic Reserve Readings: Direct Link-option 2
Readings other than those in the required texts are either on the web (addresses given) or on electronic reserve at Cline. Above are two links to Cline, and ways to get to the readings. THIS IS IMPORTANT SHOULD A LINK GO DOWN WITHIN THE READINGS LIST HERE IN THE CLASS LIST- YOU HAVE OPTIONAL WAYS OF GETTING TO THE READINGS. BOOKMARK THESE. (Each reading is also linked to the individual reading in the library. If for some reason the individual links to each reading go down, you can still find the readings in Cline's electronic reserves under Hawley) . Please inform the professor immediately if you note that a link has gone down. Some of the articles may have become blurry when being scanned at Cline. Please let me know if you are having problems with viewing or readability.

Module questions and current issues (MOD):
The module questions and current issues will consist of questions pertaining to the subjects covered in each section and issues the students feel are related. There will also be a more flexible section for students to relate events to the topics covered. These will be answered by the students in brief written papers (limit 3pp. single-spaced) Students will be expected to keep a folder of news clippings or notes on news coverage or personal knowledge of planning situations they feel fit with the course topics. When in doubt, cut it out or document it so you can possibly use it in your discussion. These assignments will be due via e-mail or fax by 5 pm on Monday of the week it appears due in the syllabus (normally the Monday a new Module begins) or at the identified final time. (see schedule).

Opinion paper (OP):
On the Thursday of weeks identified with an OP, an opinion "paper" is due. These are to be posted by the student at the virtual conference center by 5 pm. Students will have a choice of at least threequestions. They are to select two and write four or fiver paragraphs stating and justifying their opinion on the topics, tying in readings if relevant, personal experiences, and any solutions if warranted. This is to enhance critical thinking and to promote discussions with classmates. You are expected to respond to at least one other student's OP each time these are posted. Respond by the end of the day on Friday of those weeks.

Topic paper (TP):
Specific instructions will again be posted at the virtual conference center. The topic paper is a research paper of 7-9 pages (not including graphics) single-spaced in 12 pt. font. The topic chosen should be of interest to the student and will be approved by the professor. Possible topics include growth issues, public participation/techniques, sustainable growth, design such as neotraditional trends, growth management, and cultural impacts on planning….
A bibliography of at least 10 references is required. Web sites count as references, but please be cautious when selecting items from the web. Not all sites are equal! Students are required to have their topics chosen and approved by the date listed on the syllabus. Two weeks in the schedule are given for research and writing. The paper is due the Monday of week 15 by 5 pm (Reading week). This is a great chance to explore a topic of interest to you and maybe get a head start on your thesis.

Note the Schedule is heavy at the beginning. It lessens toward the end as more time will be spent on your papers and some of the readings become optional based on your interests..

Schedule: (subject to change as needed)

Week
Topic Due
1

Course Introduction, Module 1: Planning Basics Introduction

  
2 Planning Basics Introduction  
3 Planning History OP1 due Thursday
4 Theory/Models  
5 Planning Processes OP2 due Thursday
6 Module 2:Growth and Communities, Urban-Rural Interfaces and Change MOD1 due Monday
7 Personal and Community Values, Needs OP3 due Thursday
8

Natural Systems Interfaces and Concerns Paper topic idea due (e-mail to professor)
9

Growth Management: Methods

 
10

Growth Management: Methods
OP4 due Thursday
11 Topic Paper - Student Research Week  
12 Module 3 Character: Public Participation and Self Determination (Choices in area of interest) MOD2 due Monday
13 Creating and Maintaining Character with Focal Points (Tourism, Historic, Cultural, etc... Choices in area of interest)  
14 Topic Paper - Research/Writing  
15 Creating and Maintaining Character with Focal Points (Tourism, Historic, Cultural, etc... Choices in area of interest) TP due Monday
16
 Finals MOD 3 write up due by 5 pm Monday December 13
     
     
     

Grading:
4 OP @ 20 pts each =80 pts
MOD 1 and 2 @ 60 pts each =120 pts
Mod 3@ 45pts =45pts
1 TP @ 100 pts =100 pts
total =345pts

A=90-100% B=80-89% C=70-79% D=60-69% 59% and below = fail

Please note: The University's self insurance policy does not cover students. You are urged to provide your own insurance.

Assignments are due on time.

University policies may be found here. http://www.cet.nau.edu/~apr/policies.html

Once you have finished reading the syllabus you should:

Go on to Planning Basics
or
Go back to Communities and Public Planning

E-mail Dr. Hawley at D.Hawley@nau.edu
Call Dr. Hawley at (520) 523-1251

NAU

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