This class has the double objective of, first, introducing students to sociological thinking on urban design and urban development, and second, to develop core academic skills such as article analysis and paper writing.

The class proceeds as follows: the students engage in depth with a specific sociological perspective on space and cities. This perspective is then applied to a number of case studies in order to reflect on the meaning and potential of urban design. The case studies are all concerned with key issues in urban development and urban design such as urban poverty, inequalities, housing, and urban informality.

A central feature of this class is the discussion of academic literature, drawing from the disciplines of sociology, anthropology, geography, political sciences, and planning theory.