Ph.D. in Urban Studies: Core Curriculum and Field Areas
Core Curriculum
- USP 613 Urban Economic and Spatial Structure (3)
- USP 614 History and Theory of Urban Studies (3)
- USP 617 Sociology and Politics of Urban Life (3)
- USP 630 Research Design (4)
- USP 634 Data Analysis (4)
- USP 683 Qualitative Analysis (4)
- USP 697 Urban Studies Seminar (4)The first three courses listed introduce the student to the basic ideas, concepts, and theories about urban development and urban life. This helps students position their own interests within the larger field of urban studies. The following three courses introduce the student to the range of methods appropriate to the field and serve as a starting point from which the M.U.S. and Ph.D. student is expected to take advanced courses in quantitative and qualitative methods. The Urban Studies Seminar, taken in the beginning of the second year, engages the student in hands-on social science research, producing a research design proposal appropriate for the student's interests and degree.
USP 613 Urban Economic and Spatial Structure (3)
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the economic and spatial aspects relevant to the field of urban studies. The course provides and overview of existing theories and empirical evidence relating to urban spatial and economic relationships. Examines the impact of federal, state, and local government policies, and changing economic conditions on these relationships.
USP 614 History and Theory of Urban Studies (3)
Leading thinkers and milestones in the analysis of urban development and urban life. Complementary theories and models of social sciences. Postmodern approaches. Visionary and critical responses to the possibilities of metropolitan life.
USP 617 Sociology and Politics of Urban Life (3)
A survey of important theories and empirical research about the social structure and political dynamics of urban areas. The impacts of globalization on urban social and political life, the changing nature of community and social relations within cities and suburbs, and evolving patterns of intergovernmental cooperation and conflict within metropolitan regions will be analyzed.
USP 630 Research Design (4)
Principles of research design, including philosophical bases of scientific research, problem identification, problem statement, development of research questions, development of research of hypotheses, and the relationship of research hypotheses to modes of data gathering and analysis. The laboratory section (USP 630L) must be taken concurrently.
USP 634 Data Analysis (4)
Application of multivariate statistical analysis in an urban context. Emphasis on applications of various techniques within the general linear model. Recommended prerequisite: USP 632, The laboratory (USP 634L) must be taken concurrently. Recommended prerequisite: USP 430.
USP 683 Qualitative Analysis (3)
Study of a variety of qualitative methods of analyzing social science problems, with an emphasis on applications to urban studies. Students study the philosophy of academic inquiry, understanding and interpretation of social action. Specific techniques include content analysis, participant observation, field observation, ethnography , interviewing and focus groups, among others. Organization, coding and analysis of qualitative data. Recommended prerequisite: USP 630
USP 697 Urban Studies Seminar (4)
Research seminar required for second-year students in the urban studies Ph.D. and M.U.S. programs. Students apply their substantive background and methodological training to develop all the components of a social science research paper: statement of focused research question, literature review, development of hypotheses, definition of appropriate methodology, design of data acquisition, and pilot testing of data acquisition strategy. Prerequisites: USP 630, USP 613, USP 614, USP 617
Ph.D. Field Areas
Specializations are available in the following areas of advanced interdisciplinary study: Planning (Ph.D. only), Community Development, Policy Analysis, Gerontology and Social Demography. Each doctoral student offers two fields of specialization, at least one of which should be chosen from among those listed above. M. U. S. students offer one field. A student-nominated field, developed in conjunction with School faculty, may be offered as a second specialization by doctoral students and as the one required field by M. U. S. students. Faculty groups work closely with students to develop coherent specializations that prepare each individual to do research in that field. Doctoral students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination over their two fields.
Planning
Community Development
Economic Development
Gerontology
Social Demography
Transportation
Regional Science
Planning
Planning focuses on the development and implementation of mechanisms for organizing social, economic, political and environmental change at the local, state and regional levels. The field includes study of the relationships and interactions among public and private institutions, organizations, citizens, and landscapes, the design of processes for facilitating dialogue among public actors, and the tools for planning analysis and evaluation.
Required Courses:
- USP 540 History and Theory of Planning I
- USP 541 History and Theory of Planning II
- USP 607 Planning Theory Seminar
- USP 616 Cities in the Global Political Economy
- USP 689 Advanced Urban Politics and Sociology
- Appropriate methods courses
Community Development
Community Development deals with the dynamics of neighborhood and community formation and change and with public policies that address the needs of groups and places within contemporary society. Within the broad field of Community Development, students can address such topics as ethnic and neighborhood history, housing and economic development, the roles of public and nonprofit institutions in community building, mediation and conflict resolution, changing patterns and systems of communication, and the changing meanings of place.
- USP 528 Concepts of Community Development
- USP 607 Community Development Seminar
- USP 616 Cities in the Global Political Economy
- USP 689 Advanced Urban Poltics and Sociology
- Appropriate methods courses
Economic Development
Economic Development is concerned with the factors that lead to differential rates of economic development at various spatial scales: within and between nations, states, regions, cities, and neighborhoods. In analyzing these differences, issues such as the meaning of economic development, who gains and who loses from various changes, as well as analysis of policies to promote economic development, are addressed. The Center for Urban Studies and Institute for Portland Metropolitan Studies offer research opportunities in this field.
Required Courses:
- USP 517 Urban Economic Development Policy
- USP 615 Economic Analysis of Public Policy
- USP 672 Regional Economic Development
- Choose One:
- USP 591 Geographic Information System I
- USP 654 Data Analysis II
- Choose Two:
- USP 510 Urban Labor Markets
- USP 546 Real Estate Development II
- USP 551 Community Economic Development
- USP 569 Sustainable Cities and Regions
- USP 578 Impact Assessment
- USP 579 State and Local Public Finance
- USP 588 Sustainable Development Practices
- USP 590 Green Economics and Sustainable Development
-
USP 616 Cities in the Global Political Economy
Gerontology
Gerontology addresses the social issues, problems, policies, and programs that affect the quality of life for our rapidly aging population. Students have the opportunity to work directly with faculty on publicly and privately funded research at the College's highly regarded Institute on Aging. Adult development and aging is approached from a multidisciplinary and collaborative perspective.
Required Courses:
- PHE 558/658 Perspectives on Aging (3)
Aging-specific electives (five required if Gerontology is 1st field; four if 2nd field):
- PHE 510 Business and Aging
- PHE 510 Families and Aging (discrete number being applied for this fall)
- PHE 556 Health Aspects of Aging (4)
- PHE 557/657 National Long-Term Care Policy (3)
- PHE 559/659 Economics of Aging (3)
- PHE 560/660 Mental Health and Aging (3)
- PHE 562 Global Aging (3)
- PHE 563 Service Learning in Nicaragua: Enhancing Communities for an Aging Society (3) - (Must apply and be accepted into Education Abroad Nicaragua program)
- PSY 562 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging (4)
- SOC 569 Sociology of Aging (4)
- SW 544 Midlife and Beyond (3)
- SW 569 Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care (3)
- SW 574 Social Work with Frail Older Adults (3)
- USP 564 Political and Administrative Issues in Aging (3)
- USP 585 Housing and Environments for the Elderly (3)
Social Demography
Social Demography provides training in the tools of demographic analysis, with particular attention to the methods of data collection, techniques of demographic analysis, and the interpretation of research findings. Social demography involves the use of the principles and methods of demography in decision making and planning in both public and private settings. Graduates in the field of social demography use demographic data to identify and analyze important population trends and their consequences while working in government agencies, research organizations, and corporations.
For information on the Social Demography field area, please contact Professor Connie Ozawa, 503-725-4045 or ozawac@pdx.edu.
Transportation
The Transportation field includes planning, policy, forecasting, measurement and evaluation of multimodal transportation infrastructure and systems. The multidisciplinary field covers all modes of passenger and freight transport and includes the holistic study of relationships and interactions of the transportation systems with land use, the region, the economy, the environment, institutions, the community, and people. Students can address topics such as impacts of transportation on land use and land values, the relationships between urban form and travel behavior, the costs and benefits of transport facilities, the operation of transportation facilities, equity impacts of transport and the effects of transportation plans and policies, among others. There are opportunities to work on research through the Center for Urban Studies and the Center for Transportation Studies.
Required Courses:
- USP 537 Economics of Urban Transportation
- USP 544 Urban Transportation Planning
- USP 556 Urban Transportation: Problems and Policies
- USP 570Transportation and Land Use
- USP 654 Data Analysis II
- Choose One:
- USP 510 Discrete Choice Modeling
- USP 610 Econometrics for Public Policy
- USP 655 Structural Equation Modeling
- USP 656 Multilevel Regression
- Choose Two:
- USP 510 Sustainable Transportation
- USP 543 Geographic Applications to Planning
- USP 565 Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning
- USP 578 Impact Assessment
- USP 579 State and Local Public Finance
- USP 587 Travel Demand Modeling
- CE 550 Transportation Safety Analysis
- CE 553 Freight Transportation and Logistics
- CE 555 Intelligent Transportation Systems
- CE 558 Public Transportation Systems
- CE 559 Transportation Operations
- Approrpriate Additional Methods Courses
