CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Graduate Program in Public Policy and Administration

PPA 250 - California Land Use Policy
Fall 2000

Peter M. Detwiler
Tahoe Hall, Room 1027
Monday evenings, 6:00 - 8:50 p.m.

This interdisciplinary graduate course examines how public policies influence land uses. We will learn about the basic tools of land use planning and development. Later we will confront the issues that will dominate California's land use agenda as the new century begins: urban design, the fiscalization of land use, "Smart Growth," and the challenges of social equity. By the end of the semester, you will be prepared to cope with these issues in professional settings.

METHODS. This course offers you several ways to learn and then apply your lessons. Early in the semester, I’ll rely on lectures to explore the weekly topics. As the semester progresses, we’ll engage in seminar discussions to explore the reading assignments. The writing assignments allow you to reflect on what you've read. Three group projects give you the experience of researching, preparing, and presenting professional proposals.

OFFICE HOURS. When you need answers to questions or want some advice, you can arrange to meet me in Tahoe Hall, Room 3029 on Monday afternoons, before class. You can call me at my Capitol office (445-9748) or at home (455-4574). You can also fax material to my office (322-0298) or send me an e-mail message: detwiler@pacbell.net.

ASSIGNMENTS. The reading assignments offer you a variety of formats: journal articles that explore theories, magazine articles that offer opinions, reference works that present frameworks, and books that offer narrative interpretations. Some of these formats will be familiar from other graduate courses; others may be entirely new. Quite frankly, the readings are extensive. Based on students’ experiences in previous semesters, you should plan to spend three hours preparing for every class hour. In other words, you should expect to invest about eight to ten hours a week getting ready for the next class. The readings are always due on the dates listed in this syllabus.

You must keep up with the reading assignments to take advantage of my presentations and to participate in the class discussions. You will contribute to your colleagues by drawing on your own professional experiences, your collateral reading, and your other courses. Please come to class prepared with questions or arguments to share.

Making and implementing land use policy is rarely a solitary experience. Professionals must collaborate with one another to achieve success. That's why this course relies so heavily on group projects and class participation.

There are five writing assignments: a book review, an essay, and three group projects. Besides reviewing the papers' substance, I reward clarity, brevity, and organization. Because I place a premium on clear and lively writing, I strongly encourage you to frequently consult Hacker’s Pocket Style Manual, one of the required books. You must turn in your papers on the dates listed in this syllabus. I will penalize a late paper a full letter grade for each day that it is late.

EXTRA CREDIT. Sometimes an assignment just doesn't turn out the way you wanted: your working group flaked out, you hated the reading assignments, or the plan evaluation was a real struggle. You may write another book review to earn up to 5% extra credit. See Memo H.

COURSE READER. Besides reprinting articles, the Course Reader contains eight memos from me to you, explaining your assignments:

• Memo A offers useful advice on coping with your reading assignments.
• Memo B gives you my recommendations for successful writing.
• Memo C is a detailed explanation of the book review.
• Memo D explains the essay on scenario building.
• Memos E, F, and G describe the three group projects.
• Memo H tells you about the extra credit opportunity.

GRADES. Your semester grade will reflect this schedule:

	Assignment A	Wye Island book review	20%
	Assignment B	Art of the Long View scenario building	20%
	Group Project I	Plan evaluation project	10%
	Group Project II	Community observation project	10%
	Group Project III	Community reinvestment project	20%
	Class participation		20%
	[Extra credit]		[5%]

READING LIST. The semester's readings consist of two texts, a writing resource book, and two other books with very different points of view. The Course Reader contains other articles and the eight advisory memos.

Fulton, William. (1999.) Guide to California Planning (2^nd Edition). Point Arena: Solano Press Books.

Gibbons, Boyd. (1987.) Wye Island. Washington, D.C.: Resources for the Future.

Hacker, Diana. (2000.) A Pocket Style Manual (3^rd Edition). Boston: Bedford Books.

Pincetl, Stephanie S. (1999.) Transforming California: A Political History of Land Use and Development. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Schwartz, Peter. (1996.) The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World. New York: Doubleday.

The Hornet Bookstore stocks these books, with a good supply of used books in decent condition. They’re also available from local bookstores and even www.amazon.com. At our first class meeting on August 28, I will explain how you can obtain the Course Reader.

BACK