The City and You: Find Your Best Place from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Why Cities Matter

This session will help you to understand the importance of cities for both the economy and society, as well as, you and your family. Today, more than three and a half billion people live in cities, which is more than half of the world's population. That figure is projected to rise to as many as 10 billion people or 85 percent of the world's population over the next century. Cities are our premier platforms for generating new innovations, higher levels of economic growth, and new and better jobs. We will discuss why and how cities are important, and why picking the right city to live is important to your career, well-being, and life.

A World of Cities

This session will help you understand the opportunities and challenges of urbanization around the world. Global urbanization has the power to lift living standards, create economic opportunity and jobs, reduce pollution, improve energy efficiency, and make the world safer. But, many cities in the developing world remain poor, with millions of people crowded into global slums.

The Creative City

Cities have been the fonts of creativity since the dawn of civilization. The clustering of creative people in them and the diversity they bring is what drives key advances in arts, culture, and technology. These wellsprings of human progress have always occurred in our great cities from Athens and Rome to London, New York, and the emerging economies in Asia. This session will help you better understand how the clustering of diverse groups of creative people in cities spurs artistic achievement, scientific and technological advance, and human progress.

The New Urban Crisis

This session will help you better understand the New Urban Crisis and the growing economic divides that challenge cities today. In the second half of the 20th century, society was divided between poorer cities and richer suburbs. But, over the past decade or so, affluent and educated people have flocked back to urban centers pushing poverty out to the suburbs. Today, middle-class neighborhoods are in decline and our societies are defined by small areas of concentrated advantaged surrounded by much larger areas of concentrated disadvantage spanning the city and its suburb alike.

Cities and the Covid-19 Crisis

This session will help you better understand how the Covid-19 crisis will change cities and their recovery challenges. Covid-19 is not the first pandemic to strike our cities, nor will it be the last. Over the long course of history, cities have often been hotbeds of contagion and infectious disease. But no pandemic, plague, or natural disaster has ever managed to stifle their growth. When this pandemic is over in a couple of years, maybe less, New York and London will still be the world’s great financial centers; the San Francisco Bay Area its hub of high technology; and Los Angeles its center for entertainment and film. Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, Toronto, and Sydney will all continue to be great global cities. But change will come to how and where we live and work. Our cities and society as a whole are likely to grow even more unequal than they are today, as both the disease and its economic fallout hit hardest at the least-advantaged. While some of these changes will prove to be evanescent, others may be permanent. Ultimately, the pandemic will be less of a break point or disruption, and more an accelerant to changes already afoot in our working and living patterns.

Find Your Best Place

This session will help you understand the importance of where you live to your life and career. We each make three big decisions in our lives: our career, our choice of life-partner, and the place (city and neighborhood) where we live. We get lots of advice on the first two, but little on the third. Yet, choosing where to live is the most important decision of all. It shapes and influences the kinds of careers that we pursue and the kinds of people we will meet. This session provides you with the tools and a framework for choosing the place that is best for you and your family.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the importance of cities for both the economy and society, as well as, the individual

Teaches the opportunities and challenges of urbanization around the world

Develops an understanding of how the clustering of diverse groups of creative people in cities spurs artistic achievement, scientific and technological advance, and human progress

Examines the New Urban Crisis, including the growing economic divides that challenge cities today

Helps learners understand the importance of where they live to their life and career

Provides learners with the tools and a framework for choosing the place that is best for them and their family

Reviews summary

Valuable insights for urban planning

Learners say that this engaging course on urban planning provides valuable tools and insights for making decisions about where to live based on personal preferences and factors that may contribute to economic growth and creative livelihoods. Taught by an enthusiastic instructor, this course encourages students to critically analyze the influence of city planning on urban development and city economics. The course is structured around five key modules that are easy to follow. While resources and readings are abundant, some may require additional subscriptions or purchases. Overall, learners find this course practical and recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about urban planning and how to find the best place to live.

The interactive exercises and lectures are highly engaging.

"The interactive exercises and the instructor’s teaching style were very engaging and helped me learn a lot about cities and how they affect our lives."

"Richard Florida and his topics / content is very interesting."

"I really enjoyed the reading materials as well as the lectures"

The course encourages practical application of urban planning principles.

"I very much liked applying the tools and resources to what I valued to determine the best place for me to live"

The course provides valuable insights on city planning and economics.

"Insights, Insights, and Great Insights!"

"The course raises and enhances the understanding of the interrelation impact of economy and society on urban planning trends and approaches."

Some resources and readings require additional subscriptions or purchases.

"not all of the links were available (i.e.: articles in the Atlantic and the Globe and Mail had been archived) and some of the resources required subscriptions or purchases"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The City and You: Find Your Best Place with these activities:

Read a book about cities

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This activity will help you learn more about the course material and explore different perspectives.

View The Rise of the Creative Class--Revisited on Amazon

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Choose a book about cities
Read the book and take notes
Discuss the book with classmates or online

Find a mentor to help you with your career development

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This activity will help you develop your career and connect with professionals in your field.

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Identify your career goals
Research potential mentors
Reach out to potential mentors and introduce yourself
Build a relationship with your mentor
Seek advice and guidance from your mentor

Join a study group to discuss course material

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This activity will help you learn from your peers and improve your understanding of the course material.

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Find a study group or start your own
Meet regularly to discuss course material
Share notes and resources
Help each other with assignments and projects

One other activity

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Show all four activities

Create a portfolio of your work on cities

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This activity will help you showcase your skills and knowledge to potential employers.

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Choose a theme for your portfolio
Collect your best work related to cities
Create a digital or physical portfolio

Career center

Learners who complete The City and You: Find Your Best Place will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Urban Planner

Urban Planners create and implement plans for the development of cities and towns. They work with architects, engineers, and other professionals to design and build new neighborhoods, parks, and other public spaces. This course can help Urban Planners understand the economic and social forces that shape cities, and how to plan for sustainable growth. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with diverse stakeholders and to create plans that are both feasible and desirable.

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Real Estate Developer

Real Estate Developers acquire, develop, and manage real estate properties. They work with architects, engineers, and construction professionals to plan and build new homes, offices, and other commercial properties. This course can help Real Estate Developers understand the market forces that drive real estate development, and how to identify and acquire the right properties for development. It can also help them develop the skills they need to manage the development process and to create properties that are both profitable and sustainable.

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City Manager

City Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of cities and towns. They work with elected officials, department heads, and other stakeholders to develop and implement policies and programs that improve the quality of life for residents. This course can help City Managers understand the complex challenges facing cities, and how to develop and implement effective solutions. It can also help them develop the skills they need to manage city budgets, negotiate with unions, and work with the media.

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Public Policy Analyst

Public Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues and recommend solutions. They work with government officials, elected representatives, and other stakeholders to develop and implement policies that address a wide range of issues, such as education, healthcare, and environmental protection. This course can help Public Policy Analysts understand the policy-making process and how to develop and implement effective policies. It can also help them develop the skills they need to research and analyze complex issues, and to communicate their findings to a variety of audiences.

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Economic Development Specialist

Economic Development Specialists work with businesses, governments, and other organizations to promote economic growth and development in their communities. They develop and implement strategies to attract new businesses, create jobs, and improve the overall economic climate. This course can help Economic Development Specialists understand the factors that drive economic growth and how to create and implement effective economic development strategies. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a variety of stakeholders and to build consensus on economic development initiatives.

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Housing Counselor

Housing Counselors provide guidance and assistance to individuals and families who are buying, selling, or renting homes. They help clients understand the home buying process, qualify for mortgages, and avoid foreclosure. This course can help Housing Counselors understand the complex housing market and how to provide effective counseling to clients. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a diverse range of clients and to navigate the often-complex world of housing finance.

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Community Organizer

Community Organizers work with community members to identify and address issues that affect their lives. They organize meetings, develop campaigns, and advocate for policies that improve the community. This course can help Community Organizers understand the social and economic forces that shape communities and how to develop and implement effective community organizing strategies. It can also help them develop the skills they need to build relationships, mobilize volunteers, and work with the media.

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Urban Designer

Urban Designers plan and design cities and towns. They work with architects, engineers, and other professionals to create public spaces, streets, and buildings that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This course can help Urban Designers understand the principles of urban design and how to create cities that are livable, sustainable, and beautiful. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a variety of stakeholders and to design public spaces that meet the needs of the community.

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Environmental Planner

Environmental Planners work with governments, businesses, and other organizations to protect the environment and natural resources. They develop and implement plans to reduce pollution, conserve energy, and protect wildlife. This course can help Environmental Planners understand the environmental challenges facing cities and how to develop and implement effective environmental plans. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a variety of stakeholders and to navigate the often-complex world of environmental regulation.

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Transportation Planner

Transportation Planners plan and design transportation systems for cities and towns. They work with engineers, architects, and other professionals to create transportation systems that are efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly. This course can help Transportation Planners understand the principles of transportation planning and how to design transportation systems that meet the needs of the community. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a variety of stakeholders and to navigate the often-complex world of transportation funding.

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Social Worker

Social Workers help people overcome personal and social challenges. They provide counseling, support, and resources to individuals and families who are struggling with mental health issues, addiction, poverty, and other problems. This course can help Social Workers understand the social and economic forces that shape cities and how to provide effective services to clients. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a diverse range of clients and to navigate the often-complex world of social services.

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Teacher

Teachers educate and inspire students in a variety of settings, from preschool to high school. They develop and deliver lesson plans, assess student learning, and provide support to students both inside and outside the classroom. This course can help Teachers understand the importance of cities for education and how to create a positive learning environment for students. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a diverse range of students and to navigate the often-complex world of education.

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Journalist

Journalists research, write, and report on news and current events. They work for newspapers, magazines, television stations, and other media outlets. This course can help Journalists understand the role of cities in the news and how to cover urban issues effectively. It can also help them develop the skills they need to research stories, conduct interviews, and write compelling articles.

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Nonprofit Administrator

Nonprofit Administrators manage the operations of nonprofit organizations. They are responsible for fundraising, budgeting, and staffing. This course can help Nonprofit Administrators understand the role of cities in the nonprofit sector and how to manage a nonprofit organization effectively. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a variety of stakeholders and to navigate the often-complex world of nonprofit funding.

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Politician

Politicians represent the interests of their constituents in government. They develop and pass laws, set budgets, and oversee the operation of government agencies. This course can help Politicians understand the role of cities in government and how to develop and implement effective policies. It can also help them develop the skills they need to work with a variety of stakeholders and to navigate the often-complex world of politics.

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