Lecture/Community-engaged learning About this course
Cities are ever evolving. This is our premise: rather than study what cities are, we will focus on what cities have been and what they can be. Building on the theoretical foundations gained in URB235, we will concentrate on what drives urban and neighborhood change, identifying the factors and spaces at the heart of the evolution of cities.
You should be ready to do your own city building: one of the key features of the course is a community-engaged learning opportunity in which you will be placed within a community organization at the forefront of urban change.
What you’ll learn
- Gain the tools to better understand the processes of urban change.
- Be inspired to develop a personal vision of the possible futures of Toronto and other cities.
- Have an opportunity to collaborate with a community organization, learning about and contributing to community-driven city building.
Course highlights
This is the second of two introductory Urban Studies courses (required for minor, major, and specialist programs). As part of the course , you will work in a 12-hour placement with a community organization involved in city building. This placement forms the basis of your final paper and research poster.
Many students find that this first experiential learning placement has a significant impact on their future career. Learn about one student’s placement in U of T News. You can also read more about community-engaged learning within Urban Studies here.
Meet your instructor
I am excited to teach URB234, Cities in Popular Culture, primarily because it gives me a chance to meet you – our students. I approach this course having researched popular culture through a transnational lens that emphasizes geography and local contexts. Through this course, we will be studying the relationship between cities and popular culture and how they inform our understanding of each other. Prepare to engage your critical voices by linking theory to popular culture and everyday experiences.