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University of Connecticut

Course Descriptions

 

ECONOMICS

ECON 2327 - Information Technology for Economics

(217) Three credits. Prerequisites: ECON 1200 or both ECON 1201 and 1202; and STAT 1000QC or 1100QC.

The presentation of economic data and testing of economic theory through the use of appropriate computer based tools. Analysis of macroeconomic concepts such as the consumption function, influence of the money supply, budget deficits, and interest rates on macroeconomic equilibrium, and the tradeoff between unemployment and inflation. Analysis of microeconomic concepts such as demand, supply, elasticity, the achievement of equilibrium price and quantity, and analysis of several industries and the stock market. Analysis of historical data such as aggregate and specific price levels, sectoral shifts in the economy, and changes in income distribution.

ECON 2431 - Economics of Taxation and Government Spending

(220) Three credits. Prerequisite: ECON 1200 or 1201. Recommended preparation for students who have completed ECON 1201: ECON 1202.

Critical issues in taxation and government expenditures. Emphasis on institutions and public progressive taxation, reform of the tax system, Social Security and Medicare, welfare reform, defense, and fiscal federalism. policy. Topics include: rationale for and effects of progressive taxation, reform of the tax system, Social Security and Medicare, welfare reform, defense, and fiscal federalism.

ECON 2439 - Urban Development and Policy

(221) Three credits. Prerequisite: ECON 1200 or 1201.

Education, housing, anti-poverty, economic development, and transportation policies for American cities and metropolitan areas. Emphasis on different roles of policies that act upon people versus places. Analysis tools for regional economic development such as input-output matrices and cost-benefit analysis.

ECON 2456 - Economics of Poverty

(223) (Formerly offered as ECON 257) Three credits. Prerequisite: ECON 1200 or both ECON 1201 and 1202.

Analysis of poverty and income maintenance programs: theories of income distribution and comparison of public policies in the U.S. and other countries

ECON 3431 - Public Finance

(253) Three credits. Prerequisites: ECON 2201. Recommended preparation: ECON 1200, 1202 and one of: MATH 1071Q, 1110Q, 1121Q, 1131Q, or 1151Q.

Government expenditures and tax policies: theories of public choice, size and mix of government budgets, alternative tax systems, and tax reform.

ECON 3439 - Urban and Regional Economics

(259) (Also offered as URBN 3439) Three credits. Prerequisite: ECON 2201. Recommended preparation: ECON 1200, 1202 and one of: MATH 1071Q, 1110Q, 1121Q, 1131Q, or 1151Q.

Economic problems of cities and regions: urban markets for land, labor, and housing; location decisions of businesses and households; metropolitan transportation problems; urban/suburban fiscal relations; urban and regional environmental quality; and the economics of crime.

ECON 3439W- Urban and Regional Economics

(259W) Prerequisite: ECON 2201; ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800. Recommended preparation: ECON 1200, 1202 and one of: MATH 1071Q, 1110Q, 1121Q, 1131Q, or 1151Q.

 

GEOGRAPHY

GEOG 1200 - The City in the Western Tradition

(130) (Also offered as URBN 1200) Three credits.

A broad discussion of the role and structure of the city in the western tradition from the Classical period to contemporary America. Special emphasis will be placed on the mechanisms by which cities and ideas about them have been diffused from one place to another and on the changing forces that have shaped the western city. CA 1.

GEOG 3200 - Urban Geography

(233) (Also offered as URBN 3200) Three credits. Not open for credit to students who have passed GEOG 212 or URBN 212.

Analysis of the growth, distribution, and functional patterns within and among Western cities. Application of urban geographical concepts to city planning problems.

GEOG 3500Q - Geographic Data Analysis

(242Q) Four credits. Three class periods and one 2-hour laboratory. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: 1000- level STAT; MATH 1010 or equivalent.

An introduction to the use of quantitative methods in conducting research, with particular emphasis on the processing and analysis of geographic data.

GEOG 4200W - Geographical Analysis of Urban Social Issues

(280W) Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: GEOG 3200.

Analysis of socioeconomic patterns and issues within urban areas, with emphasis on applied geographical research. Policy implications are stressed.

GEOG 4210 - Urban and Regional Planning

(274) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: GEOG 2100 or instructor consent.

Urban and regional planning, with emphasis on (1) duties of local planners, especially land use planning, and (2) the political context for planners’ work. Legal and political issues in communities and organizations.

GEOG 4500C - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

(256C) Four credits. One 2-hour lecture and two 2-hour laboratory periods. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: GEOG 3500Q.

The study of the fundamental principles of geographic information systems (GIS). Topics include history of the field, components of a GIS, the nature and characteristics of spatial data, methods of data capture and sources of data, database models, review of typical GIS operations and applications. Laboratory exercises provide experience with common computer based systems.

 

HISTORY

HIST 3530 - Asian-American Experience Since 1850

(294) (Also offered as AASI 3578) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Survey of Asian-American experiences in the United States since 1850. Responses by Asian- Americans to both opportunities and discrimination.

HIST 3541 - The History of Urban America

(241) (Also offered as URBN 3541) Either semester. Three credits.

The development of Urban America with emphasis on social, political, physical, and environmental change in the industrial city.

HIST 3541W- The History of Urban America

(241W) (Also offered as URBN 3541W.) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

HIST 3554 - Immigrants and the Shaping of American History

(247) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: One course in American History.

The origins of immigration to the United States and the interaction of immigrants with the social, political, and economic life of the nation after 1789, with emphasis on such topics as nativism, assimilation, and the “ethnic legacy.”

HIST 3563 - African American History to 1865

(238) (Also offered as HRTS 3563 and AFAM 3563) Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Three credits.

History of African-American people to 1865, from their West African roots, to their presence in colonial America, through enslavement and emancipation. Adaptation and resistance to their conditions in North America. Contributions by black people to the development of the United States.

HIST 3564 - African American History Since 1865

(246) (Also offered as AFAM 3564) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

History of African-American people since the Civil war. Contributions by black people to American development. African-American activity in international arenas.

HIST 3568 - Hip-Hop, Politics and Youth Culture in America

(260) (Also offered as AFAM 3568) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

History of hip-hop, its musical antecedents and its role in popular culture. Race, class, and gender are examined as well as hip-hop’s role in popular political discourse.

HIST 3674 - History of Latino/as in the United States

(278) (Also offered as PRLS 3220) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.
Settlement and growth of Hispanic-origin populations in the United States today, from Spanish and Mexican settlement of western United States to the growth of Latino communities. Student oral history project. CA 1. CA 4.

 

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY STUDIES

HDFS 2001 - Diversity Issues in Human Development and Family Studies

(201) (Formerly offered as HDFR 201) Three credits. Recommended preparation: HDFS 1070.

Critical issues in diversity and multiculturalism in human development, family relations, and professional practice. CA 4.

HDFS 3510 - Planning and Managing Human Service Programs

(276) (Formerly offered as HDFR 276) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Planning techniques: needs assessment, data collection and analysis, budgeting, and evaluation. Management skills: decision making, management theory and organizational behavior, personnel motivation, accountability, and financial management.

HDFS 3530 - Public Policy and the Family

(274) (Formerly offered as HDFR 274) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Analysis of government programs and policies impacting the family: child care, aging, family law, mental health, family violence, income maintenance, and family impact analysis.

 

INTERDEPARTMENTAL

INTD 3584 - Seminar in Urban Problems

(211) Three credits. Hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Open to juniors and higher, open only with consent of the Director of the Urban Semester Program. Must be taken concurrently with INTD 3590 and 3594.

Discussions based upon assigned readings and led by faculty and invited speakers from outside and within the University. CA 4.

INTD 3594 - Urban Semester Field Work Seminar

(212) Three credits. Hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: open to juniors and higher, open only with consent of the Director of the Urban Semester Program. Must be taken concurrently with INTD 3590 and 3584.

Students make analytic presentations of their field experiences, relating these to the pertinent available literature. Particular issues are discussed with experts invited from inside and outside the University.

INTD 3594W - Urban Semester Field Work Seminar

(212W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher; open only with consent of the Director of the Urban Semester Program. Must be taken concurrently with INTD 3584 and 3590.

 

POLITICAL SCIENCE

POLS 2072QC - Quantitative Analysis in Political Science

(291QC) Three credits. Recommended preparation: High school Algebra II and MATH 1010 or equivalent.

Explanation of the quantitative methods used in political science. Application of these methods for the analysis of substantive political questions.

POLS 2622 - State and Local Government

(274) Three credits. The practical working of democracy and the role of state and local governments.

POLS 263W - Urban Politics

(263W) (Also offered as URBN 3632W). Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher.

Political systems and problems confronting urban governments.

POLS 3642 - African-American Politics

(248) (Also offered as AFAM 3642) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Political behavior, theory, and ideology of African-Americans, with emphasis on contemporary U.S. politics. CA 4.

POLS 3662 - Latino Political Behavior

(249) (Also offered as PRLS 3270) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Latino politics in the United States. Political histories of four different Latino populations: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central American. Different forms of political expressions, ranging from electoral behavior to political art. CA 4.

POLS 3842 - Public Administration

(260) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

The politics of public administration. Role of administrative agencies and officials in American national, state, and local governments.

POLS 3847 - The Policy-making Process

(276) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Introduction to the study of policy analysis. Consideration of description and prescriptive models of policy-making. Examination of several substantive areas of national policy in the United States.

 

PUBLIC POLICY

PP 2100 - Survey Research Methods

(Also offered as URBN 2100) Either semester. Three credits.

Theory and practice of surveys, including overall project design, questionnaire development, sampling, methods of data collection and data analysis.

PP 3001 - Public Policy

(276) Three credits.

The public policy process in the United States and frameworks for understanding and evaluating contemporary policy problems.

PP 3010 - Public Policy Research Methods I

(220) Three credits.

Research design for policy analysis, impact analysis, implementation analysis, program evaluation.

PP 3020 - Cases in Public Policy

(223) Three credits.

Exploration of policy analysis using case studies on various contemporary policy topics.

PP 3020W - Cases in Public Policy

(223W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

PP 3031 - Public Administration in Theory and Practice

(260) Three credits.

Overview of public administration theory, systems and practices as they have developed in the United States. Explores the roles of public officials in the context of a pluralistic democratic society.

PP 3098 - Public Policy Issues

(296) Three credits. May be repeated for credit with a change in subject matter.

An exploration of fundamental issues in public policy, public management and public opinion.

PP 4033 - State and Local Fiscal Problems

(274) Three credits.

Analytical tools and concepts to evaluate policies related to government revenues, the delivery of public services, and intergovernmental relations.

PP 4034 - Social Policy

(265) (Formerly offered as POLS 277) Three credits.

Examination of the concepts and principles of public policy analysis, with applications to important social issues.

 

SOCIOLOGY

SOCI 3201 - Methods of Social Research

(205) Three credits. Prerequisite: SOCI 1001, 1251, or 1501; open to juniors or higher.

Quantitative and qualitative methods used in sociological research: designs for gathering data, problems of measurement, and techniques of data analysis. Lectures and laboratory work. Majors in sociology should take this required course in their junior year.

SOCI 3425 - Social Welfare and Social Work

(285) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Social welfare needs and programs; introduction to social work as a professional service.

SOCI 3459 - Aging in American Society

(248) (Also offered as HDFS 3240) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. May be used only once to meet the distribution requirements.

Social gerontology: the role and status of older people in a changing society.

SOCI 3459W - Aging in American Society

(248) (Also offered as HDFS 3240W) Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher.

SOCI 3825 - African Americans and Social Protest

(235) (Also offered as HRTS 3825 and AFAM 3825) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Social and economic-justice movements, from the beginning of the Civil Rights movement to the present.

SOCI 3901 - Urban Sociology

(280) (Also offered as URBN 3275) Three credits.

Social and physical organization of cities and suburbs.

SOCI 3901W - Urban Sociology

(280W) (Also offered as URBN 3275W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

SOCI 3903 - Urban Problems

(281) (Also offered as URBN 3276) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Social problems of American cities and suburbs, with emphasis on policy issues.

SOCI 3907- City Life

(283) Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Ways of life in large cities and suburbs and the culture of modernism.

SOCI 3907W - City Life

(283W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher.

SOCI 3911 - Communities

(284) Second semester. Three credits. Three class periods. Prerequisite: One introductory level sociology course or instructor consent; open to juniors or higher.

Sociological analysis of processes and structures of various kinds of communities.

SOCI 2995 - Special Topics

(298) Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

A lecture course. Topics vary by semester.

 

STATISTICS

STAT 2215Q - Introduction to Statistics II

(201Q) Three credits. Prerequisite: STAT 1000 or 1100.

Analysis of variance, multiple regression, chi-square tests, and non-parametric procedures.

 

URBAN & COMMUNITY STUDIES

URBN 1200 - The City in the Western Tradition

(130) (Also offered as GEOG 1200) Three credits.

A broad discussion of the role and structure of the city in the western tradition from the classical period to contemporary America. Special emphasis will be placed on the mechanisms by which cities and ideas about them have been diffused from one place to another and on the changing forces that have shaped the western city. CA 1.

URBN 1300W - Exploring Your Community

(140W) Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

Various aspects of urban and community life emphasizing the interplay of social justice, diversity, individual and social well being. Explores theories, concepts, and methods in community studies. Includes a service learning component. CA 2. CA 4.

URBN 2000 - Introduction to Urban Studies

(230) Three credits.

Introduction to the analysis of urban development with particular stress on those problems pertinent to the American central city.

URBN 2000W - Introduction to Urban Studies

(230W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

URBN 2100 - Survey Research Methods

(220) (Also offered as PP 2100) Three credits.

Theory and practice of surveys, including overall project design, questionnaire development, sampling, methods of data collection and data analysis.

URBN 3000 - Urban Anthropology

(248) Three credits.

A general course on urbanization, emphasizing contrasts between “developed” and “developing” countries.

URBN 3200 - Urban Geography

(233) (Formerly offered as URBN 212) (Also offered as GEOG 3200) Three credits.

Analysis of the growth, distribution, and functional patterns within and among Western cities. Application of urban geographical concepts to city planning problems.

URBN 3275 - Urban Sociology

(280) (Also offered as SOCI 3901) Three credits.

Social and physical organization of cities and suburbs.

URBN 3275W - Urban Sociology

(280W) (Also offered as SOCI 3901W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

URBN 3276 - Urban Problems

(281) (Also offered as SOCI 3903) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Social problems of American cities and suburbs with emphasis on policy issues.

URBN 3276W - Urban Problems

(281W) (Also offered as SOCI 3903W) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher.

URBN 3439 - Urban and Regional Economics

(259) (Also offered as ECON 3439) Three credits. Prerequisite: ECON 2201. Recommended preparation: ECON 1200, 1202, and one of: MATH 1071Q, 1110Q, 1121Q, 1131Q, or 1151Q.

Economic problems of cities and regions: urban markets for land, labor, and housing; location decisions of businesses and households; metropolitan transportation problems; urban/suburban fiscal relations; urban and regional environmental quality; and the economics of crime.

URBN 3541 - The History of Urban America

(241) (Also offered as HIST 3541) Three credits.

The development of urban America with emphasis on social, political, physical, and environmental change in the industrial city. The development of urban America with emphasis on social, political, physical, and environmental change in the industrial city.

URBN 3541W - The History of Urban America

(241W) (Also offered as HIST 3541) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

URBN 3632W - Urban Politics

(263W) (Also offered as POLS 3632W) Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher.

Political systems and problems confronting urban governments. Political systems and problems confronting urban governments.

URBN 3981 - Internship in Urban Studies: Seminar

(232) Credits, not to exceed three, by arrangement. To be elected concurrently with URBN 3991. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Description, analysis, and evaluation of the fieldwork portion (URBN 3991) of the internship. Written reports are required. Description, analysis, and evaluation of the fieldwork portion (URBN 3991) of the internship. Written reports are required.

URBN 3991 - Internship in Urban Studies: Field Study

(231) Credits, not to exceed three, by arrangement. Hours by arrangement with hosting agency. To be elected concurrently with URBN 3981. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).

A fieldwork internship program under the direction and supervision of a member of the Urban Studies faculty. Students will be placed in agencies or industries where their academic training will be applied. One 8-hour work day per week (or its equivalent) for the host agency during the course of the semester will be necessary for three academic credits.

URBN 3995 - Special Topics

(298) Credits and hours by arrangement.
With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

URBN 3998 - Variable Topics

Three credits. With a change in topic, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

URBN 4000 - Understanding Your Community

(4000) Three credits. Recommended preparation: Three courses within the Urban and Community Studies major. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

Examination of an urban area or local community. Production of a detailed case study including historical perspective, analysis of issues and stakeholders, evaluation of internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external threats and opportunities. Proposal of strategies for addressing problems and advancing equity, growth, and development.

URBN 4000W - Understanding Your Community

(290) Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800.

URBN 4999 - Independent Study

(299) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.