Welcome Letter for URB 201-80: Introduction to Urban Studies
Fall 2009
Professor |
Thomas Owusu |
Department |
Geography & Urban Studies |
Course Number & Section |
URB 201-80 |
Phone |
973 720 3655 |
Office & Office Hours |
Raubinger 424; By Appointment Only |
Hello and welcome to URB 201: Introduction to Urban Studies. My name is Thomas Owusu, Chair and Associate Professor of Geography & Urban Studies at William Paterson University. I will be your Instructor for this online course, which runs from September 2 to December 8, 2009.
Please read this letter carefully to get a better understanding of what this online course is about, what I expect from you, and what you will need for the course.
This course is designed to introduce the student to the field of Urban Studies. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary field that draws from many disciplines including geography, sociology, political science, psychology, economics, and anthropology. This combination of disciplines and perspectives will allow us to better study and understand the various aspects of cities, including their origin and growth, their importance and functions, their economic and demographic characteristics, the nature of the urban experience, the problems facing cities, and the opportunities that exist within them (see Course Syllabus below).
Expectations and Technology Requirements
Start preparing for class now. First, check to make sure your computer is in good working order, then review Blackboard usage. Make sure your computer meets the system requirements for WPU Blackboard site. Students assume full responsibility for having access to working compute with all programs needed to complete the course.
For this course, it is expected that you know how to use MS Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader, email and the web. Technical difficulties (lost documents, crashed computers, failure to use Blackboard correctly, etc), will not be accepted as excuses for late or incomplete assignments. Make sure your computer has MS Word. I will not be able to open assignments that are not MS Word. If you submit you essays or exams in another format and I cannot open or convert them you will be penalized for lateness. You may also need to download material in PDF format, so make sure your computer has Abode Acrobat Reader, Abode Acrobat Professional, or some other PDF reader.
While there are no face-to-face meetings on campus, students are required to utilize Campus resources to familiarize themselves with Blackboard usage and media technology applicable to online instruction. If this is your first online course, and you need help using Blackboard, contact student technology consultants (STCs) in the Atrium (www.wpunj.edu/stc). Students who are already familiar with on-line course formats are also encouraged to consult with STCs to improve their skills or review Blackboard usage. Consult with IRT staff at 973 720 2659, when you experience technical difficulties. You can also call the Help desk at 973 720 HELP.
Student training workshops in computer technology and multimedia applications are held in the Atrium Room 121, and at the Valley Road Campus Room 104. Blackboard’s homepage http://bb.wpunj.edu/ contains several other features designed to assist students with reporting problems, help files, and using e-mail.
On-line instructions for logging on to the course and getting started on Blackboard may be found at Blackboard Home, http://bb.wpunj.edu
You may use campus or public computers found in libraries or at other universities if you do not have a computer or if you have personal computer problems.
The only email address that you will be able to use in this class is your wpunj.edu student account. For security and privacy reasons, I will only send emails to that account and will only respond to emails sent from that account (no gmail, hotmail, etc).
You must check your Blackboard page for this course several times (at least twice) a day for announcements, assignments, and updates. Your failure to check your WPUNJ email or the blackboard site will not be an excuse for late or inadequate work.
How to Access Blackboard
To log on to Bb get online, point your browser to: htpp://wpunj.edu, and click the Login button in the upper left. Then enter your university username and password in the spaces provided and click login again – You will find your course Bb sites listed on the right.
Some things to be aware of as you work with Blackboard
You probably won’t find all your courses listed; the only ones that will appear are those that have been activated by the professor teaching the course. Professors who don’t use Blackboard will not activate their courses.
Your username is comprised of your last name and first initial, usually appended with a numeral. If you don’t know your WPUNJ system username password you can use the Username lookup link at: http://bb.wpunj.edu, or go to it directly at: https://webapps.wpunj.edu/misc/username_lookup/username_lookup.cfm
If you are already logged into the WPUNJ system through WPConnect you won’t have to re-enter your username and password—just click the first login button.
Extensive Bb documentation can be found at Bb Home, http://bb.wpunj.edu
You can always obtain Bb help by using the Problem Report form at: http://euphrates.wpunj.edu/bb/sc/
WPUNJ Student Email
To log on to WPUNJ Student Email point your web browser to: http://student.wpunj.edu and enter your username, then RETURN. A dialogue box will pop up, into which you re-enter the username and password, then RETURN.
Some things to be aware of as you work with Student email
Blackboard courses will use student email; third-party email addresses will not work with Bb.
If you are already logged in to the WPUNJ system through WPConnect you won’t have to re-enter your username and password –just click the Email tab.
Attendance
Attendance - online presence - is important and a basic requirement for this class. Your are therefore expected to log in each and everyday to check new announcements, complete assignments, examination, and participate in discussion boards within the prescribed time period. Submit work as instructed. Students will fail the course if they do not actively and consistently participate in reading, complete assignments, and participate in discussions.
You should understand that an online course is neither more difficult nor easier than the same course taught in a conventional classroom, but you must discipline yourself to do the readings and daily or weekly assignments and complete quizzes and exams within the allotted time frame. DO NOT FALL BEHIND. Assignments all have due dates and there are severe grading penalties for missing them.
I look forward to a fulfilling semester. Do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns at : owusut@wpunj.edu or 973 720 3655
Sincerely,
Dr Thomas Owusu
Course Syllabus
URB 201-80: Introduction to Urban Studies
Professor |
Thomas Owusu |
Department |
Geography & Urban Studies |
Course Number & Section |
URB 201-80 |
Phone |
973 720 3655 |
Office & Office Hours |
Raubinger 424; By Appointment Only |
Course Overview:
This course is designed to introduce the student to the field of Urban Studies. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary field that draws from many disciplines including geography, sociology, political science, psychology, economics, and anthropology. This approach is used to study and understand various aspects cities, including their origin and growth, their functions and importance, their economic and demographic characteristics, nature of the urban experience, the problems facing cities, and the opportunities that exist within them.
Required Text:
The required textbook for this course is: Roberta Steibecher, R & Benson Virginia O (2006) Introduction to Urban Studies (3th Edition). You can purchase this book from the University bookstore or from an online retailer. Be sure to buy the correct edition. In addition to the textbook, I will assign additional readings during the semester which will be found in the Course Documents folder and also may ask you to visit internet sites which will be found under External Links tab.
Grading: Grades will be based on the following:
Exams 4 @15% 60%
Assignments 2@ 10%) 20%
Discussion Paper 10%
Participation 10%
Exams and Assignments
Exams and assignments will be based on the textbook and additional readings that may be assigned.
Discussion Paper
Students will write a short paper on an issue pertaining to urban areas. Details of this paper will be provided in Course Documents in the early part of the semester.
Participation
Students are expected to participate regularly and actively in this online course. This participation is expected to promote student-faculty and student-student interaction. Class participation will be in the form of your responses or comments to discussion questions on that will I will post in the Discussion Forum during the course. A discussion question will be posted every Monday by 8 AM (eastern Time), and your response(s) will be due by 11:55pm of that day. Your grade for participation will depend on the number of your postings (at least ONE response for each discussion question) and, more importantly, the quality of your responses. Your responses should be brief (about 150-200 words), but thoughtful and substantive. Your are free to refer to any other response on the discussion board as part of your own response, as long as you respond to the question. Remember to use good ‘netiquette’ in your postings: Be courteous, professional and careful with your online interaction; Be careful not to include offensive, angry, or inflammatory materials, etc
Schedule of Exams and Assignments (Note: Submit by 11:55PM of due date)
Exam # 1 Thursday September 17
Assignment #1 Thursday October 1
Exam #2 Thursday October 22
Exam #3 Thursday November 5
Assignment#2 Thursday November 19
Exam #4 Thursday December 10
Discussion Paper Due Friday December 11
Grading Scale
A=94-100 A-=90-93 B+=87-89 B=84-86 B-=80-83 C+=77-79
C=74-76 C-=70-73 D+=65-69 D=60-64 F=below 60
Grading Policy:
Late submissions of assignments will result in a 20 points penalty per day
Important Notes about Exams, Assignments, Discussion Paper, and Readings
1. All written work will be submitted electronically. Students must use MS Word with Times New Roman 12pt font and one inch margins. You will turn in all in the electronic drop box or as an e-mail attachment
2. You are required to check the assignments folder in the assignments section of the Bb site every day during the course
4. You must complete and submit exams or assignments by the due day and time. Late submissions will result in a 20points penalty per day.
5. All exams and assignments are due by 11:55pm (Eastern Time) of the day indicated on the assignment sheet
6. All course instructions will be posted on the course homepage. Please check ’the Announcements’ folder daily for updates and instructions
Course Outline and Schedule of Readings
Please Note: I will NOT provide lecture notes in this course. You are responsible for reading all the assigned readings. You must use critical reading and thinking skills – make your own notes as you read, paying attention to key ideas, questions, issues, facts, and arguments raised in the reading.
WEEK Topic/Chapter
Week 1 The City Evolves (History), Chapter 1
Week 2 The City Relies on Its Foundations (Geology), Chapter 2
Week 3 The City Builds (Architecture and Design), Chapter 3
Week 4 The City Organizes its Space (Geography), Chapter 4
Week 5 The City Looks Ahead (Urban Planning), Chapter 5
Week 6 The City Worships (Sacred Landmarks), Chapter 6
Week 7 The City Maintains Itself (Public Works), Chapter 7
Week 8 The City Protects Itself (Environmental Studies), Chapter 8
Week 9 The City governs Itself (Political Science), Chapter 9
Week 10 The City Serves the Public (Public Administration), Chapter 10
Week 11 The City Works (Economic Development), Chapter 11
Week 12 The City Regulates Itself (Law), Chapter 12
Week 13 The City Understands Itself (Psychology), Chapter 13
Week 14 The City Confronts Social Issues (Sociology), Chapter 14
Week 15 The City encounters Diversity (Anthropology), Chapter 15
The City Unites with the World (International Geography), Chapter 16
The City Faces Its Future: Technology and the Future of the City (Future Studies), Chapter 17