Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Instructor Name: Dr. Abdulmueen Bogis
Official Title: American School Fellow in Landscape Architecture
Department: Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design
Office Hours: By appointment
Phone: (217) 819-8702
Email: bogis@ou.edu
Live Session: Wednesdays 1:30 PM - 4:20 PM
Course Description
The goal of this course is to provide students from design-related disciplines with a foundational understanding of theories of the physical environment. Specifically, the course will explore both historical and contemporary trends in social theory as a means of encouraging students to think more critically about the physical design of the built environment. Students will complete this course with an increased ability to engage and analyze the form, function, and meaning of the physical landscape.
Readings, assignments, fieldwork, and discussion will be employed to enhance student comprehension of the traditional foundations of urban design theory as well as emerging ideas about the contemporary experience and prospects of the environment. Students are encouraged to identify approaches that suit their capabilities and interests; improving upon the methods presented to illustrate important concepts from a chosen subfield of planning, landscape architecture, or architecture.
Modifications to the material and schedule may occur at the discretion of the instructor to better accommodate student performance, progress, and professional goals.
Learning Objectives
After completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Reflect on the historical context of urban design;
• Interpret a variety of perspectives on the relationship between the environment and society;
• Synthesize theoretical ideas to explain contemporary landscape and planning practice; and
• Generate solutions to emerging landscape, planning, and land use dilemmas.
Additionally, this course is designed to prepare students to address the following goals:
- General knowledge: The comprehension, representation, and use of ideas and information in the planning and landscape architecture field, including appropriate perspectives from history, social science, and the design professions. Students will:
- appreciate why planning is undertaken by communities, cities, regions, and nations, and the impact planning and landscape projects are expected to have;
- appreciate the behaviors and structures available to bring about sound planning outcomes; and
- understand the relationships between past, present, and future in planning and landscape architecture domains, as well as the potential for methods of design, analysis, and intervention to influence the future.
- Planning skills: The use and application of knowledge to perform specific tasks required in the practice of planning and landscape architecture. Students will enhance their ability to:
- prepare clear, accurate and compelling text, graphics and maps for use in documents and presentations.
- Values and ethics: Values inform ethical and normative principles used to guide planning in a democratic society. Students will gain:
- an appreciation of key issues of planning and environmental ethics and related questions of the ethics of public decision-making, research, and client representation;
- appreciation of economic, social, and cultural factors in urban and regional growth and change; and
- appreciation of equity concerns in planning.
Course Materials
Readings for this course will be provided digitally. General interest and topic-specific books for this course can also be found both physically and electronically through the university library system. Please ask a librarian or search the library catalog to explore these resources.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1- Exercises |
Each student will create four, 4- to 6-page assignments. Each assignment will utilize written and visual material to explain the answer to a question related to urban design theory. Assignments must incorporate material from the course as well as examples from everyday life or ongoing creative work and should be completed using a standard 12 pt. font with one-inch margins in APA citation style. Exercise 1: What is urban design? |
60% |
| 2- Discussion Questions | Each student will submit at least two questions about the material by Tuesday 5:00 pm, the day before class. Questions should come from at least 2 readings from each week and should reflect an effort to synthesize individual articles around a common theme of interest to the student. | 30% |
| 3 - Participation | Each student is expected to participate in the class discussion and share their discussion questions | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Policies
Communication
Students can contact the instructor by email.
Feedback
Students should expect feedback and grades on their activities and assignments around a week from the due time.
Late Policy
Students are expected to be on time.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important within this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events.
If you are experiencing a disability, a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|