Course Descriptions

The following directory draws from the official course catalog for the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. New and one-time courses offered since the last publication of the catalog may not be included here. Visit Testudo for a list of current course offerings.

Key: # Alternate MRED Core, + Required Certificate

• Real Estate Development

• + RDEV 630 Fundamentals of Real Estate Development and Finance (3)

  An introduction to real estate development and the foundational concepts of finance and particular financial measures in underwriting  real estate.  Quantitative analyses and financial modeling comprise  the main focus of this course.
  

  
  

• RDEV 635 Capital Markets & Real Estate Investments for Developers (3)

  An advanced course in real estate finance focussing on capital markets and complex financing mechanisms in the public and private markets for raising capital for development of public, private and public/private projects.  Prerequisite:  one of the following:  URSP 664 or RDEV 688B/RDEV630
  

  
  

• + RDEV 650 Essentials of Design and Construction Management for Development Professionals (3)

  Essential terminology, processes, and substantative knowledge needed by development professionals to effectively move a project through the design and construction of a real estate development project; includes environmental and ethical considerations throughout the process
  

  
  

• + RDEV 688A Development Law, Process, and Ethics (3)

  Provides basic foundational understanding of the applicable areas of law, including real property, contracts, administrative law and constitutional law as they relate to real estate development. The process of development will be covered to provide a “scaffold” for many of the other courses.  This course will also deal with ethical reasoning skills.
  Syllabus

• RDEV 688C Essentials of Design and Construction: Management for Development Professionals (3)

  The core business of real estate development is the design, construction, and delivery of buildings and improvements to real property.  This course presents the fundementals of (i) project delivery methods; (ii) preconstruction services and contractor procurement; (iii) field and project management processes; (iv) construction materials, equipment and systems; (v) design and construction contracts; (vi) technology tools, sustainability and trends in construction; and (vii) ethical considerations.
  Syllabus

• + RDEV 688D Principles of Property Management for Developers (3)

  This course is designed to familiarize students with the financial, regulatory, and issues of managing multi-family and properties.

  Class 1:  Principles of Property Management

  Class 2:  Dollars and $ense Property Economics 

  
  Syllabus

• + RDEV 688E Resolving Conflict and Negotiating Agreements (Also PUAF 752) (3)

  This is a course in negotiating theory and practice and is the one required "skill" course in the curriculum, as negotiation is at the very heart of virtually all aspects of development.

  
  Syllabus

• + RDEV 688I Capstone Project Course (3)

  The capstone of the MRED degree is the project course, an opportunity for students to apply their new classroom education in finance, law, design, construction and property management to actual problems for real-world clients.  Students individually develop, address, analyze, and resolve a concrete development issue or develop a portion of a project.  A written case study of a completed development project is also an option, provided it is of publishable quality. Students are expected to develop clear and succinct oral and written deliverables that communicate the results of their project  effectively.

  
  

• + RDEV 688J Principles of Urban Design (3)

  Principles of Urban Design is a course  taught by an architect where the objective is to raise the consciousness of students to the architectural and urban design aspects of development and assure that students have an ability to understand how their architect thinks and operates, including the ability to read various iterations of architectural and engineering plans. This course will be taught jointly for urban planners and there will be h a focus on sustainable planning as well as building design and site plan development.

  
  Syllabus

• RDEV 690 Capstone Project/Thesis in Real Estate Development (3)

  This is the culminating course styled as an independent study course, directed by a faculty member, that will provide two alternative options; a) Practice Based - marketing feasibility analysis of a proposed project, its schematic design and cost estimation and complete financial analysis that may be in a stuido group format or independent study, or b) Research Based - an approved analytical or theoretical paper to explore relevant development topics or problems.

  
  

• Architecture

• ARCH 461 Sustainability In Architecture (3)

  Prerequisite: ARCH 401 and ARCH 410 or permission of department.  Strategies of sustainability as related to the broader context of architectural problem solving.
  

• ARCH 654 Urban Development and Design Theory (3)

  Advanced investigation into the history, and practice of urban design, planning, and development.
  http://www.arch.umd.edu/ARCH654/index.html |

• ARCH 655 Urban Design Seminar (3)

  Prerequisite: ARCH 654 or permission of department. Advanced investigation into problems of analysis and evaluation of the design of urban areas, spaces and complexes with emphasis on physical and social considerations; effects of public policies through case studies. Field observations.
  
• Business

• BUMO 712 Leadership Development (3)

  Focuses on developing skills to inspire, influence and organize others to accomplish key goals. Building on leadership theories, course includes assessment & role-playing activities, discussions, cases, and exercises to assess and develop personal capabilities. 
  

• BUSI 610 Introduction to Financial Accounting (2)

  Overview of financial accounting, periodic financial statements and the financial reporting process. Importance of financial statements as information source for creditors and investors and as a means by which managers can communicate information about their firms.
  

• BUSI 611 Managerial Accounting (2)

  Use of accounting data in corporate planning and control. Cost-volume- profit analysis, budgeting, pricing decisions and cost data, transfer pricing, activity-based management, performance measures, and standard costing. Non-majors should review their registration eligibility in the statement preceding the BUSI courses.
  

• BUSI 771 New Venture Financing (3)

  Exploration of various funding sources. Criteria used in evaluation and decision process, including commercial banks, venture capital companies, small business investment companies, underwriters, private placement-financial consultants, mortgage bankers, and small business innovative research grants (U.S. Government). Topics will include: methods of financing, techniques for valuing new businesses, financial structure, and evaluation methods used by investors and lenders.
  
• Civil Engineering

• ENCE 620 Risk Analysis for Engineering (3)

  Sources of hazards, definition of risk, system analysis, functional modeling and analysis techniques, probabilistic risk assessment procedure, risk methods, risk acceptance, assessment of failure likelihood, consequence assessment, risk benefit assessment, uncertainty sources and types, modeling uncertainty, risk analysis and decision making under uncertainty, collection of data, expert-opinion elicitation, human-machine interface and human factors engineering.
  

• ENCE 626 Web-based Project Management (3)

  This course examines the use of Internet and Intranet based project management in the context of collaboration, decision making and information exchange, and presents a systematic understanding of the principle issues in Web based tools- ease of use, efficient decision making, and cost effectiveness. The course will use project case histories as part of a team project.
  

• ENCE 661 Project Cost Accounting and Finance (3)

  This course reviews the fundamentals of accounting; examines project cost accounting principles, applications, and impact on profitability; examines the principles of activity based costing; covers the elements involved in cash management; introduces the framework for how projects are financed and the potential impact financing has on the projects; and a framework for evaluating PC based systems and what resources are needed for an effective project cost system.
  

• + ENCE 662 Introduction to Project Management (3)

  Introduction to project management including: overview and concepts of project management (principles, body of knowledge, strategies); planning successful projects (defining, specifying, delivery options, scheduling, budgeting); implementing (organizing the team, work assignments, team building, effective leadership); executing (performance measurement, maintaining the schedule, adjustments/mid-course corrections, record keeping, status reporting, communications, managing conflict, time management); and closeout(performance measurement, maintaining the schedule, adjustments/mid-course corrections, record keeping, status reporting, communications, managing conflict, time management).
  
  

• ENCE 664 Legal Aspects of Engineering Design and Construction (3)

  Examines ways in which the legal system affects the design and construction process. Focuses on contract types and the relationships between the parties in different delivery systems. Covers basics of procurement protocols along with negotiating techniques and strategies. Topics include contract law, the relationships between the parties, tort and negligence law, and the statutory principles affecting construction.

  
  

• ENCE 665 Management of Project Teams (3)

  This course examines the utilization of human resources at the individual, small group, and project team levels. It also examines the multiple modes of effective communications, both human and graphic.
  
• Historic Preservation

• HISP 619M Special Topics in Historic Preservation: Case Studies in Adaptive Reuse (3)

  This course explores adaptive use projects, one of the most common types of historic preservation activity, from several different perspectives. The primary goal of the course is to convey the general principles and current practices in the field, so that each student can form a set of criteria for guiding and evaluating reuse projects.
  
  
• Landscape Architecture

• LARC 440 Urban Studio Design (5)

  The landscape architect's role within the interdisciplinary urban design process, focusing on urban site design issues. Pedestrian friendly site design and the future of sustainable development will be studied
  
• Public Affairs

• PUAF 670 Finance (3)

  Introduction to principles of resource allocation over time, role of debt in context of changing sources of governmental revenues, long- and short-term debt instruments, analysis of mixed public-private economic development projects, leasing, and the impact of borrowing devices.

  
  

• PUAF 698 Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations (3)

  This course takes a thorough look at the non-profit sector, including the internal workings of the non-profit organization.

  
  

• PUAF 712 Analysis of Fiscal Conditions (3)

  This is a public finance course that provides a methodology for evaluating the fiscal strengths of state and local governments. It would be most suitable for real estate development students intending to work in state or local government.

  
  

• PUAF 734 Foundations of Social Policy (3)

  Provides an overview of government's role in social policy and the history of the development of federal and state policies with respect to welfare, aging, education, and housing. Analyzes current federal institutions and legislation in the same policy areas and the demographic history of the United States. Develops skills in analytic writing and presentation of descriptive data.
  

• PUAF 734 Foundations of Social Policy (3)

  Provides an overview of government's role in social policy and the history of the development of federal and state policies with respect to welfare, aging, education, and housing. Analyzes current federal institutions and legislation in the same policy areas and the demographic history of the United States. Develops skills in analytic writing and presentation of descriptive data.
  

• PUAF 737 Strategies of Equality (3)

  Concentrates on the institutional and political means by which disadvantaged segments of the United States population have sought to enhance their social, economic and political prospects. Race, gender and disability are the substantive focal points. Also explores legislation, litigation, administration, agitation and constitutional reform.
  

• PUAF 740 Public Policy and the Environment (3)

  Surveys of major federal environmental legislation; the development and implementation of laws, and alternative ways of thinking about the relationship between humans and the environment.

  
  

• PUAF 741 Global Environmental Problems (3)

  Suitability of analytic tools for examining global environmental problems, human overpopulation, land abuse, ozone depletion, climate change, acid rain, loss of biological diversity, the scarcity of food, fresh water, energy and nonfuel mineral resources, and health hazards of pollutants toxic metals and radiation.
  

• PUAF 744 Environment and Development (3)

  Analyzes sustainable development and its conflicting interpretations. The dominant view, as expressed in the World Bank's 1992 World Development Report, is studied, along with some critical responses. Further readings on issues of population, consumption and development indicators.
  

• PUAF 752 Managing Differences: Resolving Conflict and Negotiating Agreements (3)

  Enhances the student's negotiation and leadership skills for managing differences between individuals and groups. Students study the nature of conflict, learn how to handle two and multiparty conflicts, exerting leadership where there are no hierarchy leaders, and explore the impact of facilitators and mediators on the negotiating process. Blends skill building exercises and theory discussions about the behavior of groups and individuals in groups to understand negotiation dynamics.
  

• PUAF 770 Housing and Community Development (3)

  This course examines issues and strategies affecting  affordable housing and community development in urban, suburban and rural settings, utilizing case studies.

  
  
• Urban Studies & Planning

• URSP 606 Urban Economics and Public Policy (3)

  Resource allocation in a market economy, the nature of market failures, and the justification for public sector intervention. The limits and possibilities for planning in a market economy.
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• URSP 632 The Urban Neighborhood (3)

  Urban neighborhoods as physical, socio-political and geographic entities. Residents' perceptions, urban/suburban differences, neighboring behavior, organization, planning concept.
  Syllabus

• + URSP 640 Growth Management and Environmental Planning (3)

  The course deals with policies and strategies by which governments attempt to control the amount, location, pace, pattern and quality of development within their jurisdictions. This is a foundational course frequently taught by one of the experts on faculty at the Center for Smart Growth.  Environmental requirements relative to brown fields, asbestos and lead paint are anticipated to be addressed in this course as well.  One or more other planning courses offered at the School may be substituted for this core course with approval of the director.

  
  Syllabus

• URSP 660 Function and Structure of Metropolitan Areas (3)

  Prerequisite: URSP 606 or equivalent. Structural shifts m the national economy and their impact on urban areas. Theory and empirical evidence on the inter- and intra-metropolitan location and movement of population and employment.
  Syllabus

• URSP 661 City and Regional Economic Development Planning (3)

  Also HISP 620.  Prerequisite: URSP 606 or equivalent. Causes of urban and regional growth and decline. Focus on application of economic theory and urban planning techniques. Analysis of local economic development planning potential. Strategies for urban and regional revitalization.
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• URSP 673 Community Social Planning (3)

  Analysis of social influences on community well-being. Research, organizing, and planning methods for designing programs and policies for community development.
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• URSP 688C Designing for Community (3)

  What are the characteristics of residential settings that can get residents to interact, develop common ties, and feel a sense of community? Which of them can be changed through the professional services of architects and planners? Is it possible to arrange the streets, buildings, open spaces, and overall appearance of residential areas in such a way as to induce residents to cooperate with one another, and possibly develop feelings of attachment and belonging? Can we say with confidence that this arrangement of houses represents a community and that one does not?   Can designers really design community? These are some of the questions we will address in this class.  We will start by discussing the essential nature of community, and the state of community in the United States. Using case studies of designed and self-generating communities we will look for design elements that are said to serve the cause of community, and we will examine these in the light of social science research. We will use this information to develop design principles and indicators of community.
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• URSP 688F Urban Transportation Planning (3)

  Transportation planners are responsible for estimating where future travel will occur, by what means, and on what routes. What tools are available for planners to evaluate the future demand for travel in our communities? This course introduces the student to transportation planning and provides an understanding of transportation planning models, including travel demand models of trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice, and traffic assignment. The course will also discuss data collection processes and limitations, new approaches, and the land use and transportation interactions. Guest speakers will be called upon to discuss how these concepts are used in practice.
  Syllabus

• URSP 688T Introduction to Transportation Planning and Policy (3)

  This course serves as an introduction to the transportation planning process and serves as the gateway course for the transportation planning track. The content will cover the role of the government in the transportation policy making and the various levels of decision making involved in transportation planning for urban areas.
  Syllabus