BSLW 2207 Urban Design: Introduction to Contemporary Issues
The course explores the changing demands on urban environments in the twenty-first century and the latest policies, technologies, and design approaches being developed to address them. Topics will include analyses of the factors that shape cities' physical form, including zoning and regulatory contexts, real estate development patterns, transportation infrastructure, environmental challenges, and aesthetics. The material will be introduced as case studies and surveys, with presentations by design professionals, city officials, and real estate developers. Students will gain literacy in zoning, real estate metrics, planning, and issues related to architectural design and large-scale urban design. The semester will conclude with a final project synthesizing many of the topics covered.
Course overview
- Department
- Business Law and Society
- School
- CSOM
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- Open to Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.99 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.08 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Matthew Littell | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 22 of 25 |
| Fall 2024 | Matthew Littell | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 16 of 18 |
| Fall 2023 | Matthew Littell | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 of 21 |
| Fall 2022 | Matthew Littell | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 15 of 23 |
| Fall 2021 | Matthew Littell | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 14 of 22 |