Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - URB 696 G100

Seminar in Urban Studies (6)

Class Number: 3951

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    16 units of course work, including URB 670. If the grade received in URB 670 is lower than A-, supervisor permission is required. This may require completion of remedial work.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

In-depth study of two or three areas of urban studies with particular attention to (1) the contributions of various disciplines and (2) the development of a proposal for research to explore a suitable area of particular interest to the student. Where feasible, students will be involved with external organizations in developing their research proposal.

COURSE DETAILS:

   URB 696 launches students on the research and writing of an original and independently executed M.Urb. project by seeing them through the development of a research proposal or prospectus. This prospectus will form the foundation for their M.Urb. projects.

Please note. By the beginning of URB 696 students are expected to have worked with their senior supervisor to develop a research topic and preliminary research question that is appropriate and doable for a M.URB thesis. This topic and question will evolve over the semester, but experience has shown that students who have done the necessary legwork before the beginning of URB 696 have an easier time and more success in this class than those who are less prepared.   

   While there is no assigned reading for this course, students will be required to do a considerable amount of independent library research and reading specific to their project topic and question, as well as other challenging intellectual work involved in developing an independent research project. During the first half of the semester, they will also have to budget time to read and comment on other students’ work. Hence, this course will most likely require students to devote more time to it week to week than their previous URB classes.

   Students will be evaluated based on a number of writing assignments, including their evaluation of fellow students’ written work. Each student will also be required to make a class presentation on their prospectus, which will then be submitted in written form as a ~30-page document on the last day of class.

Grading

  • Reverse engineering of a M.URB thesis 10%
  • Critical assessment of other students’ research prospectus components 15%
  • Review of key literature 20%
  • Presentation on research topic and methods 10%
  • 30-page research prospectus 45%

NOTES:

Five draft writing themes and submission of project for research ethics approval are also ungraded but required assignments for this class.

Note: Students must submit all graded and ungraded assignments in order to pass URB 696.

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.