Curious about what shapes your lifestyle, health, job opportunities, and how long you�ll live? Your zip code! This course introduces the dynamics of American cities by investigating our country�s built, social, and natural urban environments through a critical and applied lens. With engaging class exercises and independent local field trips, you�ll explore how urban (re)development is a contested, socially and spatially uneven process. As a group, we will unpack how structural axes of power and privilege literally shape cities and create highly unequal opportunities for health, wellbeing, and opportunity. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyze urban spaces and apply insights to fields like urban planning, public health, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Whether pursuing further academic research or engaging in community-based work, students will gain practical skills in spatial analysis, policy evaluation, and the design of more equitable urban spaces.
