S
-05-26
is ?
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Senate Committee on University Priorities
?
Memorandum
TO: Senate ?
FROM: John Watere
Academic
Chair, SCU
Vice-Presid
RE: Master in Urban Studies
?
DATE: ?
January 21, 2005
At its January 12, 2005 meeting the Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
recommended the following motion:
Motion
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the proposal for a
Master, in Urban Studies program in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
end.
c:
J. Driver
J. Munro
G. Nicholls
•
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
?
MEMORANDUM
TO: ?
SCUP
FROM: ?
Jonathan Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies
SUBJECT: Master in Urban Studies
DATE: ?
7th
December 2004
cc: ?
Dr. J. Munro, Urban Studies
At its
6th
December 2004 meeting Senate Graduate Studies Committee unanimously
approved the enclosed proposal for a Master of Urban Studies program in the Faculty of
Arts and Social Sciences. I am therefore forwarding this to SCUP, with the
recommendation that it be approved. In addition to the full proposal and course outlines,
I also enclose copies of relevant correspondence and external reviews of the-program.
C-^
I.
GS 2004.39
PROPOSAL FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM
IN URBAN STUDIES
11 June ?
2003 Approved "in-principle" by Senate Committee on
University Priorities
25
March
?
2004 Approved by Faculty of Arts
20 April ?
2004 Received by Dean of Graduate Studies
26 May
?
2004 Reviewed by Assessment Committee for New
?
Graduate Programs
8 July
?
2004 Received revised program proposal from Urban
Studies
19 Aug
?
2004 Sent proposal to six external reviewers by Dean of
Graduate Studies
30 September 2004 Received
5/6
external reviewers' reports by Dean of
Graduate Studies
18 October ?
2004 Sent external reviewers' reports to Urban Studies by
?
Dean of Graduate Studies
9 November 2004 Received Urban Studies' response to external
reviewers' reports
18 November 2004 Reviewed and approved by Assessment Committee
for New Graduate Programs
22 November 2004 Submitted to Senate Graduate Studies Committee
06 December 2004 Reviewed and approved by SGSC
ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE FOR NEW GRADUATE PROGRAMMES
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
COV-MURB 12/08/04
.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
?
MEMORANDUM
TO:
?
Jon Driver, SGSC
?
FROM: ?
Trude Heift, ACNGP
SUBjECr: Master's in Urban Studies
?
DATE: ?
November 19, 2004
At the ACNGP meeting of 18th November 2004 the committee unanimously
recommended that the proposed Master's Program in Urban Studies be forwarded to
SGSC, with the recommendation that it be approved, pending minor modifications.
These changes have now been made and the concerns raised by ACNGP have been
addressed.
,7
--501
/v I
EXTERNAL REVIEW FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM IN URBAN STUDIES
LI
Response of the Urban Studies Program, Harbour Centre
4.
EXT-COV3.DOC 10129/04
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
.
?
Urban Studies Program
MEMORANDUM
FROM: J.M. Munro,
Director
TO:
T. Heift, Chair,
Assessment Committee for
New Graduate Programs
SUBJECT:
Response to Reviews of the
?
M.URB. Proposal
DATE: November 18, 2004
[11
The Urban Studies Steering Committee has considered the five external reviews of the Master
of Urban Studies (M. URB.) proposal and the discussion today with the Assessment Committee
for New Graduate Programs and offers the following response.
1.
We are pleased that all five reviewers recommended approval of the M.URB. proposal.
They believed that the proposal met all four criteria set out by ACNGP in the review
request. We respond below to the major criticisms and questions raised by four of the
reviewers (Robert Lake had no criticisms or questions).
2.
Caroline Andrew (CA) is confused by the differences between M.URB. and a Master's
program in planning. Planning programs have a curriculum focussed more on the practice
of urban planning and on urban design while the M.URB. is more interdisciplinary and
focussed on social science approaches to understanding cities. CA asks whether we intend
to "form planners" - we do not, but we expect that some persons who are working in urban
planning occupations will wish to pursue the M.URB. in order to expand their
understanding of cities and how they function.
3.
CA suggests that the M.URB. should -have more program structure with area requirements
that ensure the development of core competencies for students. While there could be
some value in adding more structure, the problems in offering courses in all areas
according to a systematic timetable would be quite substantial and would increase
difficulties for what we expect will largely be a part-time student body. It is, of course,
possible that the advantages of structure would outweigh its disadvantages at some Later
stage of the M.URB.s evolution.
4.
CA suggests that we should include a course on urban diversity. This is indeed an
important area but some of this topic is already subsumed in URB 620 (Urban Communities
and Cultures). Other courses with significant diversity content include URB 645 (Urban
Sustainable Development), URB 650 (Urban Governance), URB 685 (Health Status and
Health Policy in Urban Canada) and URB 690 (The City in Art, Culture, and Politics). We
would prefer to leave the introduction of a specialized course on urban diversity to a later
revision of the program where other courses that reflect the interests of the two new
faculty that we expect to hire will likely be added to the program.
5.
CA concludes by asking for a sharper statement of the objectives of the program.
We believe that the rational statement (pages 1 and 2) identifies program
objectives such as deepening the theory, policy and resolution of the many urban
trends, problems and experiments in Canada (and internationally)..
6.
Larry Bourne (LB) says that the program needs "a distinctive culture" and suggests
that it should emphasize "sustainabitity". He bases this choice on the first course
in the List of new courses but the List is numerically ordered and the program will
also use eight courses already approved for the Graduate Diploma in Urban Studies.
Our focus on the city from a multitude of perspectives is unique in Western Canada
and draws together the diverse disciplines represented on our steering committee.
To create a multidisciplinary masters program in Urban Studies in Vancouver is
itself the creation of a distinctive culture. It may well turn out that sustainabiLity
issues will be pre-eminent in M.URB. since several of our faculty members have
this as a major interest and sustainability is an important urban policy issue
generally and especially in Vancouver. However, we are not sure that choosing a
focus is necessary or desirable, especially at the inception of a program that is still
hiring faculty and not yet able precisely to ascertain student interests.
7.
LB complains that there is no information in the proposal on the credit hour
requirements of other SFU Master's programs. This information was not included,
but when we were designing the program we used the credit hour requirements of
other professional Masters programs as a guide. These included M. Pub. - 33 hours
and M.A. (GERO) - 28 hours plus project. The 32 hours proposed for M.URB. is
similar to the requirements for academic Master's programs. The MPP and MRM
programs have substantially more credit hours than other Masters programs at
Simon Fraser.
8.
LB raises a number of other
questions
concerning the proposal.
4.
Part-time/outreach character of M. URB. should have been stated explicitly.
We are not sure what LB means by "outreach" but M.URB., while available on a
part-time basis, is not restricted to part-time students.
5.
How long to complete the program?
In a program with many part-time
students, this is difficult to estimate. A full-time student (12 hours per
semester) could complete in three semesters, but might find the required
course sequence (URB 670, 696, 697) difficult to finish in three semesters.
6.
Course sequencing not stated.
M.URB. has only a limited number of course
prerequisites and all these are associated with the research requirement. With
a limited number of course offerings per semester and a mixed full-time/part-
time student body, a complex prerequisite structure would be inefficient.
7.
Financial support not clearly stated.
The proposal could have said more
about this, but we believe the statement on page 11 is sufficient and
meaningful for internal SFU purposes.
8.
Insufficient information on the faculty complement.
The teaching
requirements of M.URB. (12 courses per year) are spelled out on pages 8-9 of
the proposal. We believe this provides adequate support for the indicated
budget.
2
3
9.
Insufficient mention
of
links to other units.
We do mention Links to the four
social science departments that "founded" graduate courses in urban studies at
the beginning of the proposal and there are discussions of the City Program on
page 2 and various SFU urban research centers on page 3. Also, page
9
notes
possible sharing of courses with the MPP program.
10.
Why two Directed Readings courses? Why two project courses?
The two
Directed Readings courses have different credit-hours. The two research
project courses
(697
and
699)
were included at the instruction of the Dean of
Graduate Studies.
11.
Why only two letters of reference? What TOEFL/7WE requirement?
We have
changed Appendix B (Proposed Calendar Entry) so that it specifies three letters of
reference. The minimum University English-Language competence requirements are
stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3.12. We intend to use these, but would
change if this standard was found to be unsatisfactory for M.URB. admissions.
9.
Anne Vernez Moudon (AVM) asks why a Ph.D. program is not part of the proposal. This
might well be a desirable evolution for the Urban Studies Program, but not at this time.
Discipline-based Ph.D. study of urban topics is available elsewhere at Simon Fraser and
the Special Arrangements Ph.D. could be used for inter-disciplinary Ph.D. study.
10.
AVM would like employment opportunities for M.URB, graduates to be spelled out in more
•
?
detail. The proposal does this on pages 1 and 2; we do not think that more is required at
this stage.
11.
The organizational structure of the Urban Studies program is unclear to AVM. The
proposal does not give a specific description of organizational structure, but the status of
the Urban Studies Program governed by an Urban Studies Steering Committee appointed
by the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences establishes that Urban Studies is a stand-alone
graduate program within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
12.
AVM recommends that the M.URB. include more "professional skill development" courses.
Actually, apart from the research course sequence, there are no skills courses in the
M.URB. If needed, these could be added, or students could take courses offered in other
programs.
13.
AVM would Like to see letters of support from the local professional community. We are in
the process of adding these, but we would note that a broad survey of the urban
professional community was carried out as part of the School of Urban Studies study.
14.
An Advisory Board for the program is suggested by AVM together with other involvement of
the professional community. The Urban Studies Program is forming such a board in
connection with the Urban Observatory project but a different board to advise on the
future development of Urban Studies is a good idea. We will move to create one once the
M.URB. is approved. We are already using local urban professionals in various teaching
roles and would expect this to expand.
.
1-
4
15.
Ian Skelton (IS) would Like the curriculum to include a survey course dealing with
Canadian cities. We do not believe this would be appropriate, in part due to our desire
not to Limit study to Canadian cities but as well to deal with comparative international
perspectives. Canadian urban material is already dealt with in several courses.
"ContextualiZatiOn° of the program will occur near its end and is one of the objectives of
URB 696 (Research Seminar) and URB 697 (Research Project).
16.
IS also (Like CA) proposes the addition of a course dealing with urban diversity. Again, this
is a worthwhile candidate for consideration when we first consider expanding the
curriculum.
17.
The emphasis on quantitative research in the Urban Research Methods course is criticized
by IS. We agree that mastery of qualitative research techniques will be important for our
students and we expect that this course will in fact have a good balance between these
two approaches.
18.
IS believes that there is insufficient diversity among our faculty and urges that diversity
also be an objective in recruiting students. The issue of diversity in faculty recruiting is
addressed by the University's Appointments Policy and we will observe the requirements of
this Policy. The flexible, part-time structure of the MURB proposal, open to working
professional students, and conveniently located in downtown Vancouver, has already been
effective in attracting and retaining a diverse student body. We would expect this to
continue to be the case without any special efforts on our part.
19.
IS makes suggestions for additional Library resources. In fact, everything that he suggests
has Long been part of the Library's collection and we believe that acceptance of the
Report from the Library on the M.URB. proposal (Appendix C) should be sufficient for the
Library resource needs of the program.
.
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• ?
COPY
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
DEAN
OF
GRADUATE STUDIES ?
MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Dr. John Munro ?
I
FROM: ?
Trude Heift, ACNGP
SUBJEcr:
Program Proposal - Master's
DATE: ?
November 18, 2004
in Urban Studies
Dear Dr. Munro:
Thank you for your presentation at today's ACNGP meeting. The committee
recommends the following modifications of the graduate program proposal in Urban
Studies for it to go forward to SGSC:
1)
In the proposal, please change the required number of letters of reference from two to
three.
2) In your response letter to the comments made by the external reviewers, please
address the following:
a)
diversity
On p.4, #16, please list the courses that deal with diversity issues, e.g.,:
"There is significant content of diversity in the following courses:..."
b) contextualization
On
p.
3, # 15, please state that contextualization of the program is achieved in Urban
Studies 696 and 697 which students are required to take at the end of the program.
Please send us a copy of the revised documents and I will forward the recommendation
to SGSC. Thank you very much for your hard work on the proposal.
Best regards,
• TK
L.r
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q.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
MEMORANDUM
TO: ?
JOCK MUNRO
URBAN STUDIES PROGRAM, HARBOUR CENTRE
FROM:
TRUDE HEIFT, ASSOCIATE DEAN
SUBJECT:
MASTER'S PROGRAM IN URBAN STUDIES
DATE ?
OCTOBER 18, 2004
CC: ?
ACNGP MEMBERS
You will find enclosed reports of five external reviewers on the proposal for the
Master's
program in Urban Studies.
Prior to meeting with the Assessment Committee for New
Graduate Programs, I would appreciate a written response to issues raised by the external
reviewers, if possible by
Monday, November 8, 2004.
For your information, the reviewers were asked to respond to the following points:
• The academic merit and structural integrity of the proposed program -
• The adequacy of the faculty and other resources available to the proposed program for
achieving its intended goals
?
V
• The demand for the proposed program among prospective students
The demand for graduates of the proposed program
.' meeting will be scheduled for further discussion of the Master's program in Urban Studies
proposal. I will ask you or a representative of the Urban Studies Program, Harbour Centre
to attend the meeting in order to answer any questions which the committee may have.
11 1vb
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10.
.
.M1
EXTERNAL REVIEW FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM
?
IN URBAN STUDIES
Dr. Caroline Andrew?
Faculté des sciences socials?
Université d'Ottawa
?
Ottawa, ON KiN 6N5
.
.
I).
EXT-CO y
10/18/04
From: ?
Jonathan Driver [driver@sfu.ca
]
Sent: ?
Tuesday, September 28, 2004 8:29 AM
To: ?
vivian_btaker@sfu.Ca
Cc: ?
Trude Heift
Subject: ?
Fwd: Review of the proposed Masters in Urban Studies
Attachments:
Review Masters in Urban Stud ies-S. Fraser U.doc
From: "Graciela Dancose" <gdancoseuottawa.ca>
To: <driver@sfu.ca
>
Subject: Review of the proposed Masters in Urban Studies
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004
09:09:55
-0400
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X-Spam-Level: Spam-Level
September 28, 2004
Jonathan C. Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC V5A 1 S6
Dear Dean Driver,
I am sending you, as an attachment, my assessment of the proposed masters
in Urban Studies program. Thank you for the opportunity of reviewing this
proposal.
Yours truly,
Caroline Andrew
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Ottawa
Graciela Dancose
Adjointe administrative / Administrative Assistant
Cabinet de la doyenne / Office of the Dean
Faculté des sciences sociales
I
Faculty of Social Sciences
Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
tel: 613-562-5800 poste/ext 1702
fax: 613-562-5106 ?
i2
.
.
9/28/2004
S
Masters in Urban Studies Program
I should start my comments right away by saying that I am favourable to the
development of this program. As the document indicates, there are few, if any, programs
similar to this proposal existing in English-speaking Canada. The French language
programs in Montreal have produced both research and skilled graduates who have added
enormously to our knowledge of urban development, policy and management, but
primarily in relation to Montreal. I would expect that the Simon Fraser program would do
this same thing in terms of expanding our knowledge about Vancouver and the
Vancouver region. Given the importance of cities to Canadian life, as argued in the
proposal, an urban studies program at Simon Fraser is timely and the proposal is
appropriate in that it both builds on institutional strengths and develops them.
Academic merit and structural integrity
S
Having stated my basic approval of the idea of the program, I do have some
questions about its nature and its structure. In terms of its basic thrust, I find that the
document is not clear in terms of the relationship of the proposed program to a planning
program. At the beginning of the rationale section, the document argues that urban
studies programs started because there were students whose interests in cities went
beyond physical planning. But then the document describes the types of student interest
in ways that relate to planning (mid-career planners or pre-planning). This confused me -
is the intention to form planners or to offer on-going training to planners? Or, as the
document also suggests, is the intent to form urban analysts, capable of working in
different sectors?
This question of the basic orientation of the program is linked to questions I have
about the structure of the program. In the proposal, the basic structure is 32 credit hours,
including three required courses oriented around research and the carrying out of a group
project and an individual project. In addition to this block of required courses, students
simply take their choice of courses.
My preference would be to have a bit more structure, by grouping courses and
making students take courses in at least two of the streams. For instance, at the moment,
the courses seem to fall into three categories; the analysis of cities and culture (610, 620,
690), urban policy (630,645, 655 according to the description, 660, 665,
685)
and urban
governance and management (640, 650, 680). I would suggest that there be a discussion
S ?
of the relationship between the specific nature of the program and the way in which this
could get translated into requiring students to take at least one course within a grouping.
13.
For instance, if the intent of the program is basically to form urban analysts, requiring
students to take a course from those on urban policy would be appropriate. Or, given the
set of required courses around research, it might be more appropriate for the goals of the
program to get students to choose a stream (urban policy, urban governance, urban
analysis) to go with the required research courses.
Leaving choice for students is a good idea but some structure would seem to me
to better reflect the idea that the goals of the program can, and should, include a vision
about core competencies for the kind of person the program wants to form.
The choice of courses offered appears to reflect a basic list that has emerged over
time, partly in relation to other programs and partly in terms of professors' areas of
research and expertise. These are legitimate constraints on developing a program but at
the same time the new program offers the opportunity of looking at the overall list in
terms of appropriate grouping of courses and core competencies in terms of program
objectives. I may well have grouped courses inappropriately as it was largely done in
terms of course titles but I think that greater precision about the nature of the program
should be linked to somewhat more structure in course groupings.
I was somewhat surprised that there seemed to be no course that looked
specifically at ethno-cultural diversity in cities, either as a governance and/or
management issue (The Management of Diversity) or as a public policy issue. Given the
multicultural aspect of Canadian major urban centres, and specifically Vancouver, a
course that deals primarily with this focus would be an important addition to the program.
There are always choices in terms of courses to be created, again recognizing the
constraints of existing expertise and links to other programs, but the question of diversity
seems to me central.
Adequacy of faculty
The faculty is certainly adequate, and much more than that, in terms of realizing
the goals of the proposed program. There are some very strong scholars in the group. One
might feel that it was over weighted to geographers but the different geographers are
quite varied in their areas and approaches. If new resources are added it would seem to
me more appropriate to go outside geography and strengthen either the policy area or the
governance area.
Demand for the program from students
I found that the proposal discussed this question thoroughly and that the argument
for student interest seemed to be convincing.
PJ
ILl.
Demand for graduates
I think that there will be a slowly growing demand for graduates of this kind of
urban studies program. I say "slow" because past experience has shown that the
understanding of the value of an urban studies program takes time to develop into
employment possibilities. But the increase in job opportunities will occur, both as public
sector analysts but also analysts with the private sector and non-profit sector. The
graduates of the program will have opportunities to do relevant work.
Conclusions
I think that the program should be approved. As is clear from my suggestions, I
think that a sharper focus (which doesn't mean a narrow program but being clear about
what the objectives of the program are) to the description of the program and some
limited additions to the structuring of the program to reflect the objectives would improve
the program. Simon Fraser certainly has the resources to support the program and I do
believe that there will be an increasing demand for the sort of graduates that the program
will produce.
.
I
EXTERNAL REVIEW FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM?
IN URBAN STUDIES
Dr. Larry S. Bourne?
Department of Geography?
University of Toronto?
100 St. George Street, Sidney Smith Hall?
Toronto, ON M5S 3G3
0,
S
1(,.
EXT-COV 10/18/04
Jonathan Driver [driver@sfu.ca
]
Wnt:
?
Thursday, September
02, 2004 11:42
AM
To: ?
vivian_blaker@SfU.Ca
Subject: ?
first review of urban studies
Attachments:
SFUReview.dOC
From: "Larry Bourne" <1arry.bourneutorOflt0.Ca>
To: <driver@sfu.ca
;>
Subject: Masters in Urban Studies review
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004
09:53:00
-0400
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200
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.
Dear Dean Driver:
Attached is a copy of my review of the proposal for the Masters of Urban Studies program at SFU.
Please let me know if you require more detailed information, or a copy printed on letterhead.
Regards.
Larry S. Bourne
Professor of Geography and Planning
University of Toronto
Jonathan
C.
Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies
Professor of Archaeology
Simon Fraser University
8888 U niersity Drive
Burnak. British Columbia
V5A ISÔ
driver ü siu.ca
IV
phone: 604-291-4255
http :!/vww.
Facsimile: 604-291-3080
1'
10/18/2004
To:
The Dean of Graduate Studies and
The Assessment Committee
New Graduate Programmes
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby BC
2 September 2004
Comments in Review of the Proposed Masters in Urban Studies Program
As requested, I have reviewed the proposal for a new Masters Program in Urban Studies
and offer the following comments under two headings: a general evaluation and then
specific comments and questions.
General Evaluation:
This programme is clearly justified. There are to my knowledge few MA programmes
explicitly in urban studies in Canadian universities, other than those at Concordia and
York, and therefore little potential competition or overlap (except perhaps with planning).
The academic programme as outlined does have internal coherence, anda logical and
well thought out structure. There also appears to be a demand for the programme, and for
its graduates, based on the recent experience of the urban Diploma programme. I also
have no doubts regarding the competence and commitment of the faculty to mount and
manage the programme. I know all but two of the contributors and have the utmost
respect for those whose work I have read. On this basis, I would recommend support for
the proposed programme, but with some minor reservations and a few technical questions
attached.
One such reservation is that I might have expected to see the programme content assume
a somewhat more specific focus, that is, a distinctive culture. That focus might be on
particular issues, or particular approaches to the study of cities, or on professional
practice, or on applied policy analysis and/or academic research. Urban studies as a
subject area is now so broad that no single programme can cover everything; nor can it be
designed to suit all users. The admission criteria suggest an emphasis on the social
sciences rather than say architecture, design, fine art, cultural studies, engineering,
environmental studies or whatever. Is the intention to emphasize a social science
approach? Also, since the first course listed is on sustainable development as an urban
policy tool, I further assume that sustainability and policy will be among the primary
subjects of interest; or will they?
If so lets put that information up front.
I
0
• ?
Second, the absence of comparable data on other similar programmes at SFU makes it
difficult to assess questions of appropriate student loads, course requirements and budget
requests.
Specific Comments and Questions:
1.
The proposal is relatively short on details and specifics.
2.
Moreover, the proposal was not written with an eye to reviewers from outside the
BC university system: for example, it is not obvious to this reviewer how many
courses are represented by 32 credit hours.
3.
How does the course credit weight assigned to the programme compare with other
Masters programmes at SFU?
4.
The programme appears to be largely an out-reach or part-time programme (at
least I draw this inference from statements on page 6 that most students will be
part-time). If so, this should have been stated at the outset.
5.
I could see no statement as to how long it will take for students to complete the
programme (particularly if they are part-time). In terms of resource implications, I
would like to have been told how long, on average and under differing
assumptions, it will take most students to finish the programme. This will
certainly influence the number and scheduling of courses and the number of
faculty required to deliver those courses.
6.
Course sequencing - in what order might (or should) courses be taken, other than
•the core courses?
?
-
7.
Student financial support - this is not clear, but I take it from page 11 that there is
none available, at least on entering the programme. For others it seems that
support might be available "once they are in the programme." Does this mean that
students will not be eligible for external fellowship support as part of the
admission process? If so, is the programme likely to attract first-class students (at
least as full-time students) without fellowship support?.
8.
Faculty complement (FTE) - without knowing how many courses are required
and how many students are likely to be in the programme at any given time it is
difficult to judge the request for new resources and faculty positions.
9.
Links to other units - I would like to have seen more discussion regarding the
potential relations (and possible collaboration) between the urban studies
programme and other cognate units in campus - specifically, parallel institutes
and other interdisciplinary programmes (eg in government). Are there any
potential cost savings here? Are there any synergies? If there are then fewer new
courses may be needed. In other words, I am not convinced by the evidence
provided to date that so many new courses are needed.
10.
Specific courses - why are two directed readings courses needed? Why is it
necessary to have one course designation for starting a research project (697) and
another for completing the project (699)? Is this an accounting issue/strategy?
11.
Application and admission: are two letters of reference sufficient (we usually ask
for three)? What TOEFL and TWE scores are required on admission (is there a
minimum)?
jq
12. Background: are there any minimum expectations regarding the backgrounds of
students? For example, should they have a minimum number of social science
courses?; a background in statistics and/or with spread sheets?
?
is
Assuming that there are reasonable answers to these questions (or they can be discounted
by the Assessment Committee because I have missed significant parts of the proposal), I
would recommend support for the programme proposal.
Larry S. Bourne MCIP FRSC
Professor of Geography and Planning
Department of Geography and Program in Planning
And the Centre for Urban and Community Studies
University of Toronto
Toronto ON
M5S 303
.
0
NO
EXTERNAL REVIEW FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM
Dr. Robert W. Lake
?
Center for Urban Policy Research
?
Rutgers University ?
33 Livingstone Avenue, Suite 400
?
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1982 U. S. A.
.
.
IN URBAN STUDIES
EXT-CO y
10/1 8/04
21.
c
FORI
Ln
September 2004
.
Dr. Jonathan C. Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Canada
Dear Dr. Driver:
I am pleased to respond to your request to review the proposed Masters in Urban
Studies program (M.URB.) at Simon Fraser University. The proposal is timely, coherent
and compelling, is based on a convincing rationale, draws on the skills of a talented
faculty, and fills a demonstrable need. On my review of the proposal, I strongly
recommend approval of the proposed program.
The rationale for a new Masters program in Urban Studies rests on two
compelling arguments; First, there is strong evidence of renewed recognition of the
importance of urban places and processes. According to United Nations projections, by
2050 some six billion of the world's then nine billion people will live in cities, involving
a tripling of the world's urban population within two generations. An adequate
understanding of economic, political, social, cultural, and ecological dynamics is not
possible without an understanding of cities. As a consequence, urban studies has
reemerged as a central focus of both academic inquiry and public policy. The new
Masters program in Urban Studies will position Simon Fraser University as a leader in
this important realm.
A second, related, and equally important rationale for the M.URB. graduate
degree program is the inherently multidisciplinary nature of urban studies. While many
disciplines include an urban focus within their purview, a comprehensive understanding
of the urban both necessitates and produces a multidisciplinary perspective that can best
be achieved through the synthetic lens of an urban studies program. Here again, Simon.
Fraser is well-positioned to draw upon faculty skills from several disciplines to contribute
to a well-rounded program, and the case for doing so is a compelling one.
The proposed program appears to be of sound academic quality. The 32 hours of
graduate course credit for the degree consist of three required core courses, focusing on
research methods and completion of an original research project, and an array of
substantive courses. These offerings are further augmented by opportunities for directed
reading and the use of up to two graduate-level courses from other departments
applicable on a permission basis. The proposed program thus utilizes an appropriate mix
THE SATE UNESETY OF NEW JEPSEY
RUTGERS j•
Center for Urban Policy Research • Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
?
Rutgers. The State University of New Jersey • 33 Livingston Avenue, Suite 400 • New Brunswick. New Jersey 08901-1982
?
Telephone: 732/932-3133 • Fax: 732/932-2363
.
.
2
.
?
of structured requirements and opportunities for individual direction and enrichment.
This flexibility is particularly appropriate given the expectation that a considerable
proportion of students likely to enroll in the program are employed full- or part-time
and/or are in mid-career. Students in such categories are likely to benefit from a
minimum of programmatic requirements and the ability to define and pursue their
particular interests. That students were involved in planning the program structure
increases the likelihood that the program as proposed will meet their needs.
There is considerable evidence that the program fills a strong and growing student
demand. As noted above, the growth in awareness of the importance of cities has been
widely remarked and will only increase in coming decades, prompting demand for
graduate-level training in urban studies. Locally, Simon Fraser has seen respectable
student interest in its Graduate Diploma in Urban Studies (GDUS) and the proposal's
authors are correct in anticipating even greater student interest in a graduate program
leading to a degree (and the credential the degree confers). The expected enrollment of 35
students in the first year and 45 students in subsequent years appears both realistic and
sufficient to fill courses and produce the critical mass necessary to create the "buzz" of
lively interaction conducive to a vibrant and enriching academic experience.
Finally, it is inevitable that growing recognition of the centrality of urban issues
and processes will be reflected in high demand for graduates of the proposed program.
Employers within the non-profit and private sectors and at all levels of government value
. ?
broadly trained individuals able to approach problems with a comprehensive and
integrative perspective. Many students who are already employed will be able to use the
degree as a credential for advancement and promotion. Within a relatively short period of
time, these individuals will constitute a network of alumni who may be called upon to
recruit subsequent generations of students as employment opportunities arise.
In light of the above considerations, I strongly support the proposal for a new
Masters in Urban Studies. The proposal makes sense in light of global trends, student
needs, faculty expertise, and Simon Fraser's longstanding commitment to the community.
Robert W. Lake
Professor
S
3.
EXTERNAL REVIEW FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM
?
IN URBAN STUDIES
Dr. Anne Vernez Moudon?
College of Architecture & Urban Planning
?
Department of Urban Design & Planning
?
University of Washington?
Box
355740
?
Seattle, WA 98195 U. S. A.
S
.
A.
EXT-CO y
10/18/04
lent:
torn: ?
Jonathan Driver [driver@sfu.ca
]
Friday, September 24, 2004 8:29 AM
To: ?
vivian_blaker@sfu.ca
Subject: ?
Fwd: Masters in Urban Studies Review
Attachments: Simon_Fraser_M Urb_Degree_Sept 04.doc
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 10:08:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Anne Vernez Moudon <moudonu.washington.edu
>
To: driver@sfu.ca
cc: Anne Vemez Moudon <moudonu.washington.edu >
Subject: Masters in Urban Studies Review
X-Virus-Scanned: by antibody.sfu.ca
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Dear Prof, Driver, please find my review attached. Let me know if you need to hard copy to be
mailed.
Anne Vernez Moudon, Dr. es Sc.
Professor of Architecture, Landscape Architecture,
and Urban Design and Planning
University of Washington, Box 355740, Seattle, WA
98195
Tel 206-685-405 ?
Fax 206-685-9597
Website: https://facy.washington.eduJmoudonI
Jonathan C. Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies
Professor of Archaeology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5A 1S6
ver@sfu.ca
ephone: 604-291-4255
btip://www.sfu.ca/dean-gT4(
stu
9/24/2004
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Box
355740 ?
SEATTLE, WA 98195
College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Department of Urban Design and Planning
Jonathan C. Driver
Dean Graduate Studies
Professor of Archeology
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC
Canada V5A 1S6
September 19, 2004
Dear Professor Driver:
I reviewed the July 8, 2004 proposal to develop a Masters in Urban Studies program at Simon
Fraser University. Overall, I am impressed with the systematic and careful approach that Simon
Fraser University has taken to developing a program of courses in urban studies. It is clear that
the faculty and the administration have had a sustained interest in the subject and have gradually
mounted a structure of course offerings that has attracted a substantial number of students. Urban
studies are likely to become increasingly popular as the world's population growth peaks and
urban migration continues. So, in general, it makes sense for Simon Fraser University to further
consolidate its urban studies program.
I have both comments and questions regarding the four areas of concern indicated in your letter.
1. Academic merit and structural integrity:
The rationale for focusing the program on urban studies as a field of study addressing issues
related to urban societies that are broader than those of urban planning is clearly explained and
convincing.
In view of the research-based structure of the curriculum, and the strong linkages to several
research centers in and out of the University, I wonder why the proposal is restricted to a
Master's level degree. A parallel doctoral degree would reinforce the program's research
component as well as insure an outreach to undergraduate students. Has a doctoral program been
considered, or is it part of a future planned growth of urban studies at Simon Fraser? The
question needs to be raised and discussed.
I see the proposed Master's degree as being similar perhaps to current Master's degrees in Public
Health (MPH). These programs are successful in attracting medical practitioners or clinicians
wanting/needing
students could come
to update
from a
or
range
redirect
of practical
their professional
experiences.
practice.
As proposed,
Likewise,
the
many
program
of the
seems
M.Urb.to
?
Is
410 Gould Hall / Telephone: (206) 685-4057
?
FAX: (206) 685-9597
EXTERNAL REVIEW FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM
?
IN URBAN STUDIES
Dr. Ian Skelton
?
Department of City Planning
?
University of Manitoba, Room 414 Architecture 2
?
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
.
.
EXT-COy 10/18/04
9/24/2004 ?
page 2
focus on students with a BA or BS, with or without practical experience. For the latter students,
employment opportunities after graduation are not clear because of the non-professional and
interdisciplinary nature of the program. Spelling out employment opportunities after graduation
would be helpful (see also point 4. below). It should be noted that MPH programs typically link
students to various funding/research endeavors, and thus allow professionals entering the
programs to have at least some on-going financial support.
The institutional structure of the program needs to be explicitly outlined addressing both the
administrative and curricular components. What happened to the proposed School of Urban
Studies made in 1995, did it become what is the Urban Studies Program established in 20029
Beyond the multi-departmental collaboration, formal linkages with research programs involving
partnership between several of the existing centers would be beneficial—insuring for example
internships for M.Urb. students, or involving regular seminars discussing on-going research,
actual applications of research methods, etc.
2.
Adequacy of faculty and other resources available to the program
The faculty listed as part of the program has excellent qualifications. Resources to administer the
program successfully seem adequate. See further suggestions under point 4. below
3.
Student demand for program
The demand seems strong, and large enough to offer courses frequently enough to insure timely
graduation rates. I wonder if the courses would be actively marketed to UBC students, especially
to those in the accredited Urban Planning program.
Regarding demand for specific courses, I suspect that students in the program will eventually
require more courses directed at professional skill development (e.g., GIS, communications,
public finance, etc.) and fewer courses focusing on research design and methods.
4.
Demand for graduates of the program:
This part of the proposal remains undeveloped—as noted in many of my comments above. I
suggest that alliances with local and international agencies involved in urban issues be formed
before the program is launched. The proposal should include letters of support from local
professional and political community. You may want to consider establishing an Advisory Board
or Professional Council to guide the program and provide further mentoring for students and
internship opportunities. You may be considering the involvement of local professionals in
teaching. And, as mentioned before, formal connections should be established with the various
research centers involved in urban studies.
I hope this is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.
Sincerely,
"
VO4
Anne Vemez Moudon
Professor of Architecture, Landscape Architecture,
ç. and Urban Design and Planning
From: ?
Jonathan Driver [dnver@sfu.ca
]
Oent:
?
Friday, October 01, 2004 8:05 AM
To: ?
vivian_blaker@sfu.ca
; trude Heift
Subject: ?
Fwd: Proposal review
Attachments:
SFUrev.doc
To: Jonathan Driver <driver@sfu.ca
>
From: Ian Skelton <iskelton@umanitoba.ca
>
Subject: Proposal review
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 22:48
:25
-0500
X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.619)
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Dear Dean Driver
Please find attached my review of the proposed Master in Urban Studies. I wish the University
every success in the new program.
..
Sincerely
Ian Skelton, PhD, MCIP
Professor, Department of City Planning
Room 414 Architecture 2
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB Canada R3T 2N2
Phone: 204.474.6417 Fax: 204.474.7533
Jonathan C. Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies.
Professor of Archaeology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5A 1S6
driver@sfu.ca
Sephone: 604-291-4255 Facsimile: 604-291-3080
hp://www.sfu.ca/dean-gis
10/1/2004
Bye-mail
30 September 30, 2004
Professor Jonathan C. Driver
Dean of Graduate Studies
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada V5A 1S6
Dear Dean Driver
Re: Review of the Proposal for a Masters in Urban Studies
Simon Fraser University
Thank you for the opportunity to review the proposed Masters in Urban
Studies at Simon Fraser University. I'm most impressed with the work that has
gone into the proposal, and find that the program has a great deal of potential.
Given the national and international attention turning to urban issues, the timing
is auspicious indeed. As requested, my review will touch in the four items in your
letter of 28 July.
Academic merit and structural integrity
The proposed program consists of 19 courses, including several existing
offerings. All students will take a methods course and two project courses
involving group and individual work, and a further five courses selected according
to interest, to complete the required 32 hours. Outlines for the new courses are
included in the proposal, and they clearly reflect the high standards set by the
instructors and the depth of their experience. Students will gain good grounding
in the aspects of urban studies covered in these courses.
It seems to me that a required course exploring the nature of the urban
problematic in Canada should be included. The proposed program rests on the
strong foundations of providing opportunities for broadening perspectives and for
specializing in existing skills. Without a course requirement that lays the basis
for a comprehensive understanding of urban issues students may specialize
without context - with the consequence of continuing the production of piecemeal
urban policies and practices. Another way of putting this is that the broad base
claimed in the proposal should be given specific content reflecting the general
orientation of the program to urban issues.
o.
2
•
??
One particular aspect of the current urban problematic, diversity issues, is
?
only weakly represented in the course offerings, although its.importaflCe is
recognized in the proposal. Topics of significance for urban Canada would be
related to immigration, Aboriginal communities, sexuality issues and many other
themes. Most reflective communities are struggling to meet challenges posed by
diversity; the curriculum of the proposed program should do so also.
Another point about the curriculum is that the methods course is
essentially in the camp of quantitative methods. One session provides an
overview of qualitative work and the session on elite interviewing might use this
branch of social scientific methodology. Some of the selected readings are
rooted there. However, most of the classes and the course description point to
quantitative methods. It has been recognized for some time now that quantitative
reasoning and measurement are poorly equipped to handle many urban issues,
and therefore the course should be broadened to embrace qualitative methods
more deeply.
Faculty
and resources
The faculty members associated with the proposed program include many
scholars and educators with distinguished national and international reputations
and thus there is every confidence in the proposal in term of the strength of the
staff. However, the faculty group is not diverse: most members are men of
•
?
?
European origin. In order to create an environment in which diversity issues are
?
fully valued and explored it will be essential to use the new positions to broaden
the composition of the faculty. It should be clear that a program designed in a
way that does not fully make use of every opportunity to address diversity would
have limited relevance to contemporary urban society.
In terms of library resources, a number of serials should be added,
including Canadian Journal of Urban Research, Journal of Planning Literature
(this contains review articles and comprehensive indexes), and serials in housing
studies, community development and public administration.
A useful resource not identified in the proposal is the Institute of Urban
Studies at the University of Winnipeg. IUS has produced considerable quantities
of research reports over the years and currently holds a SSHRC Research Chair
in Urban Studies.
Demand b
y
students
As indicated, the escalating attention to urban issues and policy should
prompt strong demand by students. The experience of the University in
attracting students in the area also gives confidence that enrolment will be
strong. However, for reasons already given, the proposal should specifically
address measures to ensure that the student body is diverse.
.
N.
3
Demand for graduates
The contemporary urban agenda should maintain strong demand for
graduates. On the question of professional accreditation, the success of Rural
Development at Brandon University, which did not pursue accreditation, suggests
that graduates will be productively engaged.
Summary
The main points:
• In my view it is an opportune moment for the development of a graduate
program in urban studies.
• The proposed program will be delivered by eminently qualified instructors
and the courses are well laid out.
• I recognize that the suggestion to strengthen the core with a course
exploring the urban problematic may have been considered and set aside
by the proponents, but in the absence of a rationale for omission, I
recommend inclusion.
• Diversity issues are poorly addressed in staffing, course content and
student recruitment. If the program fails to take these issues up - and it
can do so - it is difficult to see how it will avoid reproducing significant
elements of the urban problematic.
?
-
I trust these comments will be useful.
Respectfully submitted,
Ian Skelton, PhD, MCIP
Professor
Department of City Planning
University of Manitoba
.
31
A PROPOSAL
FOR A MASTERS PROGRAM IN URBAN STUDIES
JULY 8, 2004
A. INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE
1.
Name of Department Urban Studies Program
2.
Credential
Master of Urban Studies (M.URB.)
3.
Introduction
The University's development of urban studies programming has been an interdepartmental
initiative involving faculty from six departments. The current proposal originates with the
Urban Studies Steering Committee (USSC). This committee was established by the Dean of
Arts in 1998 to supervise the offering of Urban Studies 600 and 601 and to consider further
steps to implement the School of Urban Studies proposal (see below) after experience in
offering these two courses. The first graduate-level credential approved was the Graduate
Diploma in Urban Studies (GDUS), which admitted its first students in September, 2002.
The USSC is now proposing an expansion of graduate urban studies programming to add a
Master of Urban Studies (M.URB.) degree program. The preliminary proposal for this program
received approval from the Senate Committee on University Priorities on June 11, 2003. The
M.URB. would require completion of 32 credit hours, which includes a research project. The
curriculum would use 8 of the 10 existing graduate Urban Studies (URB) courses and add 11
additional courses. Our aim is to have the M.URB. available in January or February, 2005.
4.
Rationale Statement
The city is a central feature of modem societies and economies and the development of cities
over the past 500 years has paralleled and in fact led the evolution of the modem world.
Academic interest in urban studies spans many disciplines and is focussed on understanding
what cities are, how they function, and how they change. Focussed study of the city provides
important perspectives on many of today's social and economic problems.
The academic breadth of urban studies ranges across planning, architecture, and engineering
with important links to anthropolo
gy
, economics, political science, and sociology. Urban
studies is an especially important field in geography because the spatial dimensions of cities
are so important, both internally and in the relationships of cities in regional and national
space.
Urban Studies developed as a field of study because urban planning programs often did not
offer the range of courses demanded by students. Urban Studies provides a vehicle for
students with an interest in the city that goes beyond physical planning; they seek to broaden
their perspecti
v
e as mid-career
planners or to specialize their urban social, economic, or
environmental skills as a prerequisite to training to become planners. M.URB. students will
come from a variety of undergraduate fields. For example, students with a health sciences
background may be interested in a Master of Urban Studies degree to become urban health
policy managers. Students with a political science degree may seek a Master of Urban Studies
. ?
looking toward a career in urban government, philanthrop
y
, or non-government research and
advocacy. Other careers exist for Master of Urban Studies graduates in urban economic
3.
PA
development, housing management, cultural and social development, journalism, community
organizing, and international urban development.
? -
Canada is one of the world's most urbanized countries. Creative cities, model cities, cities-
that-work, and sustainable cities are valued parts of the Canadian imagination but all are in
need of better theory, policy, and practice. Policy makers at provincial and federal levels,
working through established channels as well as the new federal urban initiatives, are
beginning to recognize the vital need for broad-based and serious scholarly and policy focus
on Canadian cities. The economic intensity, cultural and demographic diversity, and density
of demand for housing, infrastructure and social services in Canadian cities raises a new slate
of issues that our graduates will be prepared to address.
Simon Fraser has always recognized that it is an urban university. Our Harbour Centre campus
is located in the core of British Columbia's principal urban, national and international center.
Also, the emerging Great Northern Way campus, shared with three other institutions, will
offer opportunities for activities related to urban studies. However, an urban university is
defined not only by its location, but also by its philosophy and programs, its interactive
relationships, and a commitment to intellectual participation in the community. The Urban
Studies Program provides a strong foundation in various urban-related disciplines and
emphasizes the application of these disciplines to real-world problems and situations.
The USSC believes that the M.URB. proposal is consistent with the academic planning themes
of the University as expressed over the Last decade. The 2001-04 academic plans of the
Department of Geography and the Dean of Arts include the M.URB. as an anticipated new
program. The first academic goal on the 2001-04 Plan of the Vice President, Academic is to
"reaffirm our commitment to the arts and sciences while enabling development of applied and
professional programs". One of the means to achieve this goat is the development of cross-
disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs. The M.URB., which is referred to in this section
of the University's Plan, is such a program.
B. URBAN STUDIES PROGRAMS
1. Development of Urban Studies Programming at Simon Fraser
Urban Studies Programmin
g
, 1991-2002
A Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Urban Studies and a Certificate in Urban Studies were
established in 1991 to combine undergraduate courses offered by the Departments of
Geography, Political Science and Sociology and Anthropology into a coherent programmatic
stream. Also, the non-credit City Program was established in Continuing Studies in 1992 to
offer non-credit mid-career courses for urban professionals, public lectures and short courses
and an Urban Design Certificate program which together provide a forum for the exploration
of current urban issues. The program has been an outstanding success and has served over
21,000 people. The achievements of the City Program have been recognized throughout the
urban community and have resulted in substantial contributions to the City Program
Endowment Fund from the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the Lohn Foundation,
and other donors. The City Program has won several awards for its innovative and effective
programming.
?
0
34.
0 ?
School of Urban Studies Proposal, 1994-96
In March, 1995 a proposal for a School of Urban Studies
was
completed. It included
recommendations for two Master's programs and a Ph.D. program. This proposal was
considered by the Faculty of
Arts
Graduate Studies Committee and received "approval for
further planning" from the former Senate Committee on Academic Planning in June, 1995. A
final report and recommendations were submitted to the Dean of
Arts
in March, 1996. A
decision
was
made within the Faculty of
Arts
to implement urban studies courses on an
incremental basis working in conjunction with the City Program where feasible.
Graduate Urban Studies Programming, 1998-2002
The Senate Graduate Studies Committee authorized experimental graduate urban studies
programming in May, 1998. Two courses were approved: Urban Studies 600-4 (Urban
Transformations) and Urban Studies 601-4 (Urban Issues and Solutions), which was offered
with the
City
Program. These courses were delivered in the 1999/2000 and 2000/01 academic
years to 33 students with administrative support by the Department of Geography. Three
other graduate-Level urban courses were offered to this group of students by the Departments
of Geography and Political Science during this period.
Urban Studies Pro g
ram, 2002 - present
In 2002 the University approved the establishment of a Graduate Diploma in Urban Studies
(GDUS) with a curriculum of 10 courses, appointed a Director of the Urban Studies Program,
•
?
?
and created an administrative staff position. Courses in the GDUS were
first
offered in
September, 2002. A total of 40 graduate students have taken GDUS courses.' A
Steering
Committee composed of faculty from various University departments plus two students has
guided the development and operation of the Program. The first regular faculty appointment
in Urban Studies began in November, 2003; this followed a one-year limited term faculty
appointment in 2002-03.
The Urban Studies Program also hosts
policy
forums such as the "Mayoral Visions of
Vancouver" event ((November 2002), the "Olympic Vote Town Hall 2003" ((February 2003);
and the "Gimme Shelter: Who Pays the Rent" forum on housing and homelessness (February,
2004), all co-hosted with CBC Radio One. The Program's involvement in the World Urban
Forum is discussed below.
Urban Research
Simon Fraser has over 20 faculty members with urban research interests and several research
centres in the University carry out urban-related research. The Center for Research on
Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis (RIIM) is one of four Canadian inter-university
centers studying the impacts of immigration on Canadian cities. The Institute for Governance
Studies is involved in a Large comparative project on city governance performance and the
Institute for Canadian Urban Research Studies has developed a large comprehensive GIS
database for Greater Vancouver. The Community Economic Development Centre has several
research projects that deal with urban sustainabiLity. The Urban Studies program is working
. ?
1
Thirty-one GDUS students and 9 students
from other departments, mainly Resource and
Environmental Management.
3^,
4
with the Centre for Policy Research in Science and Technology in assisting the City of Burnaby
in revising their economic development strategy.
World Urban Forum
The University
,
is a partner in the World Urban Forum (WUF) to be held in Vancouver in June,
2006. This will be the 30
th
anniversary of the 1976 Habitat Conference, which led to the
establishment of the UN Human Settlements Program. WUF will be hosted by the Government
of Canada under the auspices of the UN Human Settlements Program. Urban Studies is
involved with planning the program for this major policy and research conference and has
developed a preliminary proposal for a Centre for Sustainable Urban Environments to be
funded as a legacy of the Forum. This Centre, which would be located at the Great Northern
Way campus, would be a partnership of the Great Northern Way member institutions to
further research and education in sustainable urban development.
UniverCit
y
Project
The UniverCity project to develop a 10,000-person new urban community on Burnaby
Mountain at the University's main campus provides an excellent opportunity for study of
problems common to large-scale suburban development across Canada.
2. Other Urban
Studies Programs
Sixteen Canadian universities, including the University of B.C., have graduate planning
programs accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners
2
. All these programs have an urban
planning component and offer courses that correspond with some of the courses, existing and
new, proposed for inclusion in the M.URB. None, however, offers the breadth of approach to
study of the city or diversity of disciplinary approaches as would be provided by the M.URB.
While a few Canadian universities offer undergraduate programs in urban studies that range
across several departments, none has a stand-alone graduate urban studies program.
Urban Studies research often attracts substantial research funding from granting councils and
other research funding sources. There are several well-established and productive urban
research institutes in Canada. The Centre for Urban and Community Studies at the University
of Toronto was established in 1964 and hundreds of urban research projects have been carried
out under its auspices (http://www.urbancenter.utoronto.ca/#)
. In Quebec INRS-
Urbanisation, affiliated with the Université du Québec has sponsored a variety of urban-
related research projects.
In contrast, there are many urban studies programs in U.S. universities, often housed in units
that also offer urban planning or public policy graduate degrees. Most of these have affiliated
urban research centers - excellent examples include the Center for Urban Policy Research at
Rutgers University (http:/
/www.
rutgers.edu/cupr/indexl.htm)
and the Great Cities Institute
at the University of Illinois at Chicago (http://WWW.UiC.edU/cUPP).
2
See section H., beLow, for information concerning the accreditation and membershi
p
requirements of
the Canadian Institute of Planners.
3L.
5
0 ?
C. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE M.URB.
1.
Admission Criteria
Applicants for admission would normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree in one
of the urban studies base disciplines (economics, geography, political science, sociology and
anthropology) and to meet the standard requirements for admission to a Simon Fraser Master's
program. Applications from students with other degrees or with equivalent professional
training and experience would also be considered. Admissions decisions would be based on
undergraduate grades, a statement of the applicant's interest in the program, a sample of the
applicant's written work, and Letters of reference. Students currently enrolled in the GDUS
would be required to re-apply for admission to the M.URB.
2.
Degree Requirements
The M.URB. will require 32 hours of Urban Studies graduate course credit. URB 670-4 (Urban
Research Methods), URB 696-4 (Seminar in Urban Studies) and URB 697-4 (Research Project)
would be required. Up to two graduate-level courses from other departments could be used
towards the M.URB. with the permission of the Urban Studies Graduate Program Committee.
D. COURSE CHANGES
1. New Courses
Urban Studies 645-4
Urban Sustainable Development
Urban Studies
655-4
Global Cities
Urban Studies 665-4
Urban Housing Policy
Urban Studies 670-4
Urban Research Methods
Urban Studies 680-4
Managing Cities
Urban Studies 685-4
Health Policy in Urban Societies
Urban Studies 693-2
Directed Readings I
Urban Studies 694-4
Directed Readings II
Urban Studies 696-4
Seminar in Urban Studies
Urban Studies 697-4
Research Project
Urban Studies 699-2
Research Project Completion
0
V.
6
2.
Existing Courses
To Be Discontinued
Urban Studies 605-2 Introduction to Urban Studies
Urban Studies 698-2 Seminar in Urban Studies
URB 605 and URB 698 WILE no Longer be required courses for the GDUS.
3.
Graduate Diploma
in Urban Studies
It would be possible for the Urban Studies Program to continue to offer the GDUS once the
M.URB. was operating. Some students may prefer to study for a graduate credential that does
not involve a separate research project. Students would be able to transfer course credit into
the M.URB., once their admission to this program had been approved. Whether the GDUS will
continue WILL depend on the Level of student interest. A review of the future of the GDUS WILL
occur within two years of the start of the M.URB.
E. INNOVATIVE TEACHING IN THE M.URB.
As an interdisciplinary program, many aspects of Urban Studies courses have elements of
innovation. Most GOUS students have been part-time and combined study with work. We
expect this to continue to be the case with M.URB. students. We have offered GDUS courses
in the evening and on Saturdays, on a full, or half-semester basis. However, we plan to
provide a broader variety of Learning experiences for students in the M.URB. program.
1.
We are interested in Friday /Saturday intensive courses, which would combine team-taught
classes and guest speakers.
2.
We plan to introduce new students to the M.URB. with a non-credit all-day seminar
featuring presentations by the faculty members involved in the Urban Studies program and
offering students the opportunity to discuss their own interests and backgrounds.
3.
A co-operative education option would be considered within the first two years of the
introduction of the M.URB. This would follow the model specified in section 1.4.7 of the
Graduate General Regulations. We will also explore options for international field courses and
partnerships with urban programs at universities abroad.
4.
Field seminars will be included in courses where appropriate.
F. RESEARCH PROJECT
The program's three required courses, URB 670 (Research Methods), URB 696 (Seminar in
Urban Studies) and URB 697 (Research Project), are designed to be the major research
component of the M.URB degree. In 670, students learn how urban researchers design and
conduct research projects, from the background research that produces an hypothesis
statement to the gathering and analysis of data, to the production of a final policy, planning,
or thematic urban report. This course will prepare students for the process of urban research
that they will undertake first, in 696, in groups, and then, in 697, independently.
.
N.
7
The intent of URB 696 is to introduce students to the process of urban research through work
as a class group, under the direction of the instructor. The instructor will work with
interested Local governments non-governmen
t
and business groups to devise current and
Locally-relevant research projects for each semester that 696 is offered. Each class's final
result may be presented to the client group and contribute to the practice of urban
development in Vancouver. Students will have the opportunity to develop collaborative,
managerial, and other group-based skills in working on their project as a group and working
with a client on a short-term, time-sensitive basis. In addition to a final Live briefing to a
client, the results of 696 wiLlalso include a group-produced urban research memorandum.
The Research Project course, URB 697 wiLl allow students to demonstrate the variety of
technical and analytical skills garnered in the program. This course will give students the
opportunity to conduct independent urban research with a view to producing either a more
theoretically-Oriente
d
paper of publishable quality or a more practically-Oriented professional
decision report. Following their experience working as a group in URB 696, students will have
the option of devising a research project with a practical orientation toward a client similar
to the case in 696 or a comparative, international, or theoretical urban research issue of their
choosing. Performance in this course will be taken as a primary measure of a student's ability
to successfully complete the M.URB degree
Progress towards a high-quality, professional research project will be kept on the semester
schedule through tight step-wise timetines, including the submission of a series of draft
components: a work plan, an outline, and one or more drafts and abstracts. Students'
independent research experience in this course wilt be supplemented and kept on the
. ?
semester schedule through the use of regular research group meetings, as well as periodic
technical and strategic assistance meetings coordinated to help students overcome specific
challenges. A final colloquium for all students completing 697 in a given semester wilL allow
them to present and defend research results in front of peers and faculty. This course will be
facilitated by a faculty member, who will serve as a member of each student's supervisory
committee and each student will choose a second faculty advisor who shares his or her
interests. Together, the two faculty advisors will be responsible for each student's final
evaluation in 697.
G. STUDENT DEMAND
Despite the inherent unattractiveness of credit graduate courses that did not lead to a
credential, the experimental graduate Urban Studies courses attracted 22 students in 99/00
and 00/01. This level of interest made USSC quite confident that the GDUS would meet its
enrollment target of 20 students annually. A total of 41 students were admitted to the GDUS
in its first year and a half and 31 of these actually registered in courses. Continuing inquiries
from prospective students lead us to believe that a Master's program would have greater
demand, since the graduate diploma is a Less attractive credential for many than a full
degree- Surveys done during the preparation of the School of Urban Studies proposal lend
further support to the appeal of the M.URB.
If 20 of our current students are admitted to the M.URB. and we recruit another 15 new
students for September, 2005, we would have an active student body of 35 students in 2005-
06. We would expect to generate between 80 and 110 annual course enrollments from a
student body of this size, an average of 10i2 per course. By 2006 a small number of current
39.
8
students would have completed M.URB. requirements (probably no more than 5) and we
would admit a further 15 new students to give the M.URB. 45 students in 2006-07.
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0
H. CONSULTATION WITH INTERESTED GROUPS
1.
Students
Students currently enrolled in the GDUS have been involved in the development of this
proposal and their support and interest has played an important part in the Urban Studies
Steering Committee's decision to go forward with the M.URB. program proposal. One of our
students, a social planner with a local city government, described his experience in the urban
studies program as follows:
What I have Learned through the Urban Studies program has been very helpful,
both from a personal and professional perspective. ... the ability to understand
cities from a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary perspective has allowed me
to better contribute both in policy development and program
implementation activities.
2.
Other Organizations
With the completion of this proposal, we will again be contacting the B.C. Chapter of the
Canadian Institute of Planners, local non-governmental organizations with an interest in urban
affairs, and planning and city manager departments in local governments to obtain their
comments on the M.URB. Their input will be reported as the proposal moves through the
University's approval process.
3.
Accreditation
The Urban Studies program has no current plans to meet the requirements for accreditation
by the Canadian Institute of Planners. Also, while the M.URB. is not designed to be a
"recognized" degree as defined for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners, it would
conform to the membership category "related" degree and so M.URB. graduates who wished to
receive the designation "Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners" (MCIP) could do so,
although this would require more stringent post-degree activities than are required for
holders of "recognized" degrees. However, not all urban professionals hold the MCIP
designation.
I. BUDGET AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
1. Faculty Resources
Urban Studies currently has one FTE faculty position and the M.URB. Program would require
two more. We expect that all, faculty appointments will be joint with other departments.
However, the expected annual teaching contribution of four courses will belong to Urban
Studies and each course that a jointly-appointed faculty member teaches in another
department will provide funding for an Urban Studies course to be taught by another faculty
member either as an overload or on a secondment basis.
W
O
9
?
A schematic presentation of this arrangement follows.
?
-
Faculty Member
Courses in Urban Studies
Courses in Other
Departments
Urban Studies I
2
2
Urban Studies II
2
2
Urban Studies III
2
2
Other
Total
Other
Other
Other
Other
Other
VI
IIIIIIV
I
12
1
1
1
1
1
1
This system will allow Urban Studies to expand the number of faculty involved in teaching in
the Program each year from three to nine, increasing the diversity of teaching approaches
and emphases. This expansion will be achieved by the three faculty appointed in Urban
Studies each teaching two courses a year in the Program and six faculty from the other
departments each teaching one course per year. This teaching would be funded as
compensation for the six courses taught by Urban Studies faculty in other departments. In
. ?
practice, the Program Director would only teach two courses a year and so provision has been
made for another two Urban Studies courses to be taught by sessional instructors or faculty on
post-retire ment contracts.
2. Course Offering Plan
In steady-state, the M.URB. would offer five courses in each of the fall and spring semesters
and two courses in the summer semester. The 12 courses per year would require staffing as
outlined below. The course offering plan for the M.URB. is shown below. We would expect to
phase in this steady-state plan by offering 7-8 regular courses in the 2005/06 academic year,
9-10 in 2006/07, and 12 in 2007/08. Additional instructional resources needed for research
project supervision in URB 697/699 may have to be provided by reducing course offering
frequency. Some economies may be possible through sharing courses with the Master of Public
Policy Program.
10
M.URB. COURSE OFFERING PLAN
?
.
Course
Course Title
Frequency
Semester
Potential
No.
per Year
Schedule
Instructors
6 10
Urban Design
.5
01
Oberlander,
new, sessionals
620
Urban Communities and Cultures
1
03
Dyck, McCann
630
Urban Development, Planning and
1
03
Holden,
Policy
__________ _________
Blomley, new
640
Urban Regions and Urban Change
1
01
Evenden, new
645
Urban Sustainable Development
1
03
Holden,
Roseland
650
Urban Governance
1
01
Smith, Stewart,
Holden,
McCann
655
Global Cities
.5
02
Smith, McCann
660
Economy, Land Use, and
1
03
Munro, Gill,
Transportation
_________ _________
new
665
Urban Housing Policy
.5
1
03
01
new
Holden,
670*
Urban Research Methods
Stewart
680
Managing Cities
1
02
Stewart, Smith,
new
685
Health Status and Health Policy in
.5
01
Hayes
690
Urban Canada
The City in Art, Culture, and Politics
.5
03
Blomley,
Duguid
693
Directed Readings
694
Directed Readings
Selected Topics
1
01, 02
695
696*
Seminar
in
Urban Studies
697*
Research Project
699
Research Ioject Completion
* Required Course
Summary cvs for faculty Listed in this table are attached as Appendix D.
3. Other
Budget Requirements
Current base budget funding for the Graduate Urban Studies program includes one FTE faculty
position, a .8 FTE administrative position, 2 sessional stipends, $20,000 in non-salary
operating budget support, and a post-retirement stipend for the Program Director. The
M.URB. Program would require that administrative support increase to 1.0 FTE and the non-
salary budget increase by $20,000.
The University's Library resources in urban studies were substantially upgraded for the GDUS.
The new courses in this proposal and the increased level and breadth of student and faculty
11
use will require additional one-time and base budget funding. A report from the Library is
attached as Appendix C.
4. Tuition Fees and Student Financial Support
As of September, 2004, the tuition fee for GDUS courses will be $229.90 per credit hour. This
would make the tuition fees for the M.URB. with 32 credit hours total about $7,400. Ancillary
fees, which are assessed on a per semester basis, would be in addition.
There would be few opportunities for M.URB. students to receive financial support by working
as Teaching Assistants in undergraduate courses. However, M.URB. students would be eligible
to receive Graduate Fellowship support once in their program. Many M.URB. students will be
employed part- or full-time and in some cases their employer will reimburse them for their
tuition fee payments. Additional opportunities for student financial support will be sought as
the program develops, particularly through cooperative education opportunities and the
building of working research partnerships with Vancouver-area for-profit, non-profit, and
government agencies.
Also, there is an endowment of $120,000 attached to the former Pots-Baccalaureate Diploma
in Urban Studies. With the permission of the donors, the Downtown Vancouver Association
and the Building Owners and Managers Association, this would be transferred to the M.URB.
and its income made available for student financial assistance. We expect that further urban
program development would generate additional endowment gifts.
.
0
APPENDIX
A
COURSE PROPOSALS
1. New Courses
Urban Studies 645-4 Urban Sustainable Development
Urban Studies 655-4 Global Cities
Urban Studies 665-4 Urban Housing Policy
Urban Studies 670-4 Urban Research Methods
Urban Studies 680-4 Managing Cities
Urban Studies 685-4 Health Policy in Urban Societies
Urban Studies 693-2 Directed Readings I
Urban Studies 694-4 Directed Readings II
Urban Studies 696-4 Seminar in Urban Studies
Urban Studies 697-4 Research Project
Urban Studies 699-2 Research Project Completion
DETAILED COURSE PROPOSAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW FROM BOBBIE
GRANT, SENATE ASSISTANT, 604 291-31.68 OR EMAIL bgrant@sfu.ca
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