This migrant agricultural worker’s family might find participating with government difficult when daily life is a struggle. Does socioeconomic status affect civic participation? (Credit: Dorothea Lange; Library of Congress Collection)

In this course we examine the relationship between public policy and urban design through readings, discussions, presentations, and papers. We also analyze the ways in which policies shape cities, and investigate how governments implement urban design. Students gain a critical understanding of both the complex system of governance within which urban design occurs and the effective tools available for creative intervention.

Governments at every level assume a measure of responsibility for seeking good design. Some of that responsibility is exercised directly—through the design and construction of government buildings, for example. But most changes to our environments are neither designed nor built by governments. Rather, they are the result of the actions and investments of private individuals, institutions, corporations, joint ventures, or private/public collaborations. Yet, the actions of all of these actors are affected by the design policies of government and the interventions that are undertaken to implement those policies. In this advanced graduate-level seminar we will explore new ways of thinking about urban design policy in an attempt to better understand just what government does—and what it can do effectively—in the realm of design policy.

Economic, religious, gender, and ethnic differences must be negotiated every day in the urban arena. When tensions and conflict escalate into violence, the urban space becomes the battlespace in which these tensions are negotiated. This course examines urban development challenges in conflict cities through multiple disciplinary perspectives on urban conflict. This course also reviews literature that focuses on when violence and cities intersect. Students will learn about policy innovations, and study potential planning, design, and policy solutions.

A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring the lives and legacy of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson. This set also includes a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

Drawn from Wheelan's 2019 work published by Norton, this reading provides a brief and engaging introduction to economics for high school students and beyond.See bottom half of document for Spanish version. 

A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring women's suffrage in the United States. This set also includes a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

In this seminar you will learn about some of the rights of a citizen in the United States. You will think about the rights that you have as a citizen and rank their importance according to your beliefs. You will have to use the “remaining open to continuous learning” habit of mind in this seminar. Additionally, you will get to create your own Classroom Bill of Rights!StandardsSS5CG2 Explain the process by which amendments to the U.S. Constitution are made.SS5CG1 Explain how a citizen's rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution.SS5CG1.a. Explain the responsibilities of a citizen.

In this lesson you will learn about some of the rights of a citizen in the United States. You will think about the rights that you have as a citizen and rank their importance according to your beliefs.  Additionally, you will get to create your own Classroom Bill of Rights!Objectives Students will be able to use historical documents and secondary sources to determine the origin and purpose of the United States government.I can make observations about historical documents and connect my observations to secondary source material to draw conclusions about the purpose of government. StandardsColorado Overarching Social Studies Strand: SS.5.4.2: The origins, structures, and functions of the United States government. 

In this seminar you will learn about some of the rights of a citizen in the United States. You will think about the rights that you have as a citizen and rank their importance according to your beliefs. You will have to use the “remaining open to continuous learning” habit of mind in this seminar. Additionally, you will get to create your own Classroom Bill of Rights!Standards5.2.4.A - Identify individual rights and needs and the rights and needs of others in the classroom, school, and community.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Investments in renewable energy are a powerful way to fight climate change Except when they come at the cost of human lives That’s the reality currently faced by the indigenous people of Oaxaca, Mexico In arguably the richest land for harvesting wind energy in all of Latin America government and investors foresee a promising solution to climate change and a source of new jobs But their approach is proving problematic to the way of life of the native Zapotecas and Ikoots who have had to sacrifice their land, their livelihood, and even their lives to backers of wind energy projects It’s what researcher Jacobo Ramirez calls a worrying case of social turbulence where Mexico’s unpredictable political and social systems has created a situation in which laws and regulations protecting environmental justice are not observed Until government and business can learn to include collective indigenous interests in their plans environmental injustice will continue to prevail.."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.