Description of Must Courses Provided by Department of City and Regional Planning

 

2023-2024/ Spring Modules of Elective Courses

 

CRP333 Introduction to Urban Design 3(3-0)

Urban design has become increasingly important in cities and in the field of city planning. It is important for students of city planning to be aware of urban design literature, current discussions in the field of urban design and the major policies, strategies and guidelines of urban design. This course carries out this task by introducing students the nature, concepts, concerns and dimensions of urban design and by making them familiarized with the literature of urban design. It aims to help students to gain a rapid overview of the large span of urban design issues and to offer them a guide to urban design that is comprehensive, accessible and practical. The objectives of the course are therefore:

a) to introduce the origins, challenges and purposes of urban design and bring the more detailed discussions which urban design contains into the class;

b) to introduce basic notions and dimensions of urban design, such as morphological, perceptual, social, visual and functional dimensions;

c) to provide students with an introduction to the basic themes and topics that are fundamental to an understanding of the urban design process.

 

CRP407 Principles and Approaches of Ecology in Planning 3(3-0)

To work at any spatial scale, planners need to have some basic knowledge on the principles and approaches of ecology. The debates such as environmental conservation, ecological planning, renewable energy, protected area management, sustainable waste and water management, climate change relate to a wide interdisciplinary area of city and regional planners, architects, biologists, engineers, economists, administrative scientists, sociologists. Ecology as a science of nature is a crucial element of planning for sustainable development, healthy environments and conservation. Urban sustainability approach became a widespread approach in planning and design of urban areas all around the world. Planners are increasingly discussing how to integrate the ecological thinking in planning and policy making processes; reserve a room for the wildlife in urban areas protecting rare and endemic species; apply renewable energy use in urban areas; and raise public awareness and involvement in environmental conservation.

The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge on basic ecological principles and approaches that should be paid attention in planning practices; dimensions of sustainable urban development, climate change, energy efficiency in urban areas.

 

CRP 414 Urban Project Management 3(3-0)

This course basically aims to enable the student to scrutinize a problem, organize its solutions, budgetize and program its implementation within a project through introducing concepts and terms relevant implementation of Urban Project Management. The context of the projects differ according to the interest area and working subjects of students which varies from urban gentrification  to transport planning, from regional development to gender equity projects.

 

CRP 433 Economics of Development and the Economy of Turkey 3(3-0)

This course aims at introducing students with different theories of social and economic development with a special emphasis on the developing countries experiences. This theoretical background is used in evaluating the social, economic history of Turkey with a special focus on the spatial development of the urban areas beginning from the foundation of the Republic up today. 

 

CRP 440 Regional Planning Workshop 3(1-4)

This course aims to equip students with appropriate methods of data collection and analysis in a regional planning study, for the purposes of developing a regional planning strategy.

Each year small group field work will be introduced for applying principles and techniques of economic development planning and policy analysis to specific problems in selected regions, or sub-regions. It may focus on different planning issues and problems that combine several of the topics.

 

CRP445 Artificial Intelligence in Urban Planning and Design 3(2-2)

The course presents a thorough examination of the intersection between Artificial Intelligence (Al) and urban planning principles and practices. It is aimed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how Al techniques can be applied to address challenges and opportunities in urban planning and design. Participants will learn the evolution of Al and its core elements, with a particular focus on its integration with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), urban growth modelling and visual representation tools. By practical applications, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary capabilites and limitations of Al tools in analyzing and decision-making processes in urban development as well as urban design visualizations. Overall, the course aims to equip students with the basic knowledge, skills, and critical thinking about Al tools and techniques in the context of urban planning and design. By the end of the course, students should be able to analyze urban datasets and growth simulation models, apply basic visualization skills of Al through theoretical lectures and discussions, realworld case studies, hands-on exercises and assignments. In addition, students will gain ability to critically evaluate the ethical and societal im lications of Al-driven approaches.

 

CRP446 Climate Responsive Urban Design 3(2-2)

At the end of this course, the students will 

• understand the fundamental principles of climate-responsive urban design
• apply sustainable design strategies to enhance urban resilience to climate change
• explore innovative technologies and green infrastructure for climate-responsive urban development
• analyze case studies of successful climate-responsive urban design projects
• develop practical skills through hands-on design workshops and projects.

 

CRP 447 Critical Discussionson Planning and Development 3(3-0)

The course is divided into four parts. The first one aims to bring together the theory and approaches that contribute to the growth and development of contemporary cities. A historical outline of the transition from modern to postmodem city will be provided by focusing on changing economic, social and cultural aspects of urban daily life. In the second part, the focus will be directed to the planning and development issues. Reading materials will be provided to discuss the paradigm shift within planning and development facing with previously mentioned economic, social and cultural changes. After establishing the background with the first and second parts, the course will focus on some contemporary issues in the third part. Urban policies and planning implementations, some producing negative outcomes others carrying potential to overcome experienced problems will be the subject matter of this part. The fourth and the final part of the course will consist of student presentations that are related to the analysis of national and international policies contributing to the development and planning of contemporary cities. Case studies from Turkey and international contexts will be guestioned with the help of framework provided at the beginning of the course.

 

CRP448 Urban and Rural Foodscapes through Time 3(3-0)

Food is our fuel for existence and the symbolic center of our lives. Food is not only a bare necessity, it is also the medium through which knowledge, tradition and even history are transmitted, known and shared by all. The concept of ?foodscapes? emerged in the 1990s within the context of studies of social and spatial inequalities in public health and food systems. Since then, it has incorporated the study of the entire chain of food from its production to consumption especially in the context of changing notions of landscape and space. This course intends to introduce the term 'foodscape' as a part of urban studies. The term and its connotations will be explored through various aspects of urban and rural life; it is not just a material space, but includes socio-political processes. The course aims to investigate how food shapes and is shaped by the spatial characteristics of urban and rural environments, considering the historical, cultural, and socio-economic factors that contribute to the diversity of food experiences in places. Different approaches, such as analytical, systematical, or phenomenological, will be explored to develop a holistic spatial approach to urban and rural foodscapes. Each week, examples from around the world will be presented around specific themes to enrich the understanding of general concepts. Throughout the course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the spatial intricacies that define a city's culinary identity. The course encourages a critical examination of the role of food in shaping the urban experience whereby the students will critically analyze the spatial dimensions of urban foodscapes, gaining insights into the interconnectedness of feasting, market spaces, and broader spatial dynamics that shape the culinary landscapes of cities.

 

CRP454 Urban Transport Systems: Planning and Design 3(3-0)

At the end of this course, the students will have technical knowledge and design skills regarding urban transport systems. Its main objective is to improve urban planning and design skills through reinforcing students’ knowledge of form, capacity, magnitude, and design of transport systems, modes, stations, and other mobility related urban elements. The course also aims to support and integrate into teaching projects in Planning Studio classes of the Department of City and Regional Planning.

 

CRP 479 Implementational Aspects of Urban Planning 3(3-0)

At the end of the course the student will learn

• current issues and debates on the planning legislation and  zoning procedure
• implementational issues
• zoning tools,
• urban regeneration,
• urban design,
• conservation areas, rural areas,
• ublic (urban) services,
• and similar subjects all of which are closely attached to the implementation of plans and the practice of planners involved in professional life

 

CRP 486 Urban Regeneration: Strategies, Policies, Organization and Design 3(3-0)

This course aims to help students gain a rapid overview of the enormous span of urban regeneration issues and activities and to offer them a guide to urban regeneration that is comprehensive, accessible and practical. The objectives of the course are therefore:

i) to introduce the origins, challenges and purposes of urban regeneration, and bring the more detailed discussions that urban regeneration contains into the class;

ii) to introduce basic notions and dimensions of urban regeneration, such as partnership, strategy and the lessons that may be gained from the case studies;

iii) to provide students with an introduction to the basic themes and topics that are fundamental to an understanding of the urban regeneration process;

iv) to introduce students to the issues that govern the ways in which urban regeneration proceeds and how it is organized;

v) to offer the experience of urban regeneration in the world and Turkey;

vi) to distil the significant lessons from the past and present experience of urban regeneration to identify the future role of and prospects for urban regeneration in Turkish cities.