Urban Design Seminar
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this advanced seminar from the Urban Design Certificate Program, examining what makes urban design successful and how cities are likely to change. The first half surveys contemporary practice, looking at projects considered at the leading edge of the field, while the second half asks students to project forward, tracing how physical and social trends might reshape the role of the urban designer. Discussion centers on two linked questions: what forces will shape the future form and function of cities, and how will those forces change what urban designers actually do. Materials include the syllabus, readings, and assignments as posted on MIT OpenCourseWare, free to access under MIT's open license, with no certificate offered. The course suits students who already have some grounding in planning or design and want to think critically about where the field is heading.