Calendar

SES # TOPICS CASES KEY DATES
1 Unit A. Course introduction, role and dilemmas of planning, learning from theory and context (cases) Rebuilding Los Angeles (RLA)
Discussion section Led by teaching assistants (instructors)
2 Case retrospective and "questions for reflective planners" (what's the use of theory?) RLA re-analyzed, plus planning's traditions and dilemmas overviewed, transition to briefing case and exercise 500-word writing diagnostic (essay) due
3 Unit B. Decision case and team briefings New Orleans recovery: Case introduction and teams
Communication workshop: Oral briefings
4 Case discussion, including guests
5 Case prep
Required team dry-run briefings
Final team briefings
Discussion section Preliminary debrief of New Orleans / briefing experience, preview of Unit C
6 Unit C. Planning history and theory: Planning as social reform through expert design Public housing redevelopment in Boston Guest lecturer: Prof. Lawrence Vale
7 Planning as social reform through expert design (cont.) Guest lecturer: Prof. Lawrence Vale
Discussion section
8 Planning as interest-group politics Sustainability planning and politics in Curitiba, Brazil
Debrief your briefing (6 teams)
Discussion section
9 Planning as interest-group politics and citizen participation Curitiba neighborhood planning scenario
Debrief your briefing (other 6 teams)
10 Planning as facilitation "A Towering Dilemma" (resource conflict)
Student-led discussion section Exam distributed
11 Planning as facilitation (cont.) Micro-settings
12 Planning styles in conflict Transportation planning
Discussion section Exam due
13 Unit D. Planning ethics

Land takings in fast-growing economies

Guest lecturer: Prof. Annette Kim

14 Planning ethics (cont.) Guest lecturer: Prof. Annette Kim
Communication workshop: Professional writing Types of memos, audiences, content
15 Multi-level planning: Means and ends

Case: Energy, environment, and development in modern India

Guest lecturer: Prof. Balakrishnan Rajagopal

16 Multi-level planning: Means and ends (cont.) Guest lecturer: Prof. Balakrishnan Rajagopal
Discussion section Draft decision memo due
17 Planning and cultural diversity Siting cultural facilities in Australia
Discussion section Final decision memo due the day before Ses #18
18 Planning and cultural diversity (cont.) Two cases: Culture, power and communication
19 Participatory planning revisited Redevelopment and historic preservation in Singapore's Chinatown
20 Participating the grassroots and "grasstops": Planning and civic capacity Case: Managing sprawling growth in the American West
21 Participating the grassroots and "grasstops": Planning and civic capacity (cont.) Case: Slum redevelopment in India
Discussion section
22 The planned city, 21st century style Guest Lecturer: Prof. Dennis Frenchman
23 Rethinking New Orleans recovery planning
Discussion section Observation memo due the day before Ses #24
24 Planning together debrief Assignment debrief and implications
25 Final class Course review and looking ahead (your planning education and career)