USP 233 Real Estate Principles - Surveys the legal, physical, and economic structure of the real estate market and the characteristics of real estate resources. Develops basic real estate valuation procedures and provides an overview of market analysis and real estate production, marketing and finance methods. Prerequisites: EC 201. Last taught Spring 2014.
USP 386 Portland Past and Present (4) - Begins with the geological/geographical foundations of Portland then briefly explores Portland's original inhabitants, early exploration and commercial growth. Particular attention is paid to the 20th century and the plans and projects that have guided Portland's development over the past 100 years. Considers the shaping of Portland as a regional city, examining the evolving cityscape, architecture, land use, and transportation, and its development from political, social, economic, and cultural perspective. Last taught Summer 2015.
USP 429 Poverty in the Urban Community (3) - This is an introductory course about the nature, extent, and causes of poverty in the United States. It covers a brief historical overview, demographics and trends, explanations of poverty, and anti-poverty policies. Questions of race, gender, and the spatial manifestation of poverty will be addressed. Syllabus. Last taught Fall 2016.
USP 431 Urban Economics (4) - Functions of the urban economy: the market sector and the public sector. Economics analysis of issues such as land use, environmental quality, transportation, housing, income distribution and financing of urban public services. Prerequisite: Ec 201. Syllabus. Last taught Summer 2012.
USP 439/539 Workforce Development (3) - Introduction to policies and practices for workforce development. Topics discussed include labor market dynamics, failures and inequities; tools and methods for urban labor market analysis; and workforce development policies for skill investment, job matching and career development toward goals of household, business, community and regional economic development. Syllabus. Last taught Winter 2019.
USP 457/557 Information Cities (3) - Focuses on the political, social, and cultural impacts of mass media and information technologies within the urban matrix. Contextualizes the "information society" in historical, institutional, political, economic, and global settings. Topics include flexible production, the segmentation of consumption, alternatives to mass media, the Web, the reorganization of work, the transnationalization of culture, commercial and political surveillance, and the development of urban information infrastructure. Last taught Spring 2011.
USP 480/580 Political Economy of Nonprofit Organizations (3) - Considers theories of altruism, trust, and social capital. Examines the connections between wealth and social responsibility and between elite status and social reproduction. Explores the broad scope of nonprofit activity in the economy, the interdependence of government and nonprofit organizations in the modern state, and the role of think tanks in shaping public policy. Surveys the dramatic rise of non-governmental organizations in developing countries and the future of nonprofits in a global economy. Syllabus. Last taught Fall 2012.
USP 493/593 Public Participation GIS (3) - Offered as a studio-based GIS class. The objective is for students to apply GIS skills acquired in previous GIS courses to a specific real-world spatial problem. Tasks will involve problem definition, primary data collection, advanced GIS analysis, and presentation of results. This format will give students practical experience in implementing GIS technologies with specific emphasis on planning problems. Students will be required to work in small groups in a simulated professional planning practice environment. Expected preparation: USP 531 and USP 543 or USP 591 and 592. Syllabus. Last taught Spring 2019.