This is an abridged syllabus. You can access the complete syllabus in your Canvas course.

575.734.81 - Smart Growth Strategies for Sustainable Cities

Climate, Energy, and Environmental Sustainability
Summer 2026

Description

This course addresses the concepts, practices, and tools for smart environmentally sustainable green city planning and provides an understanding of how to apply these principles to communities. The development of environmentally green cities is a pattern of using resources to meet human needs today while preserving the environment so that these needs can also be met by future generations. The course addresses many environmental design concepts for smart environmental growth and sustainable green development, including balanced land use planning principles; importance of an overall transportation strategy; providing urban tree coverage; leveraging public transportation accessibility; providing a spectrum of housing availability; integration of office, retail, and housing units; reduction of environmental footprint; use of recycled, reused, green, and sustainable products; integration of renewable solar energy and wind power into buildings and government systems; transit-oriented development; innovative low-impact storm water management practices; reduction in urban heat island effects; urban water resource management; and energy efficiency and conservation. The course has been completely redeveloped and includes five case studies of green development projects.

Instructor

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

Regional planning and mapping neighborhoods and districts
Regional transportation planning
The natural context of neighborhoods
Neighborhood components
Neighborhood structure
Thoroughfares from a network and design perspective
Public and private streetscapes
Parking strategies
Building types
Green construction



Course Goals

To examine a broad range of considerations for smart growth strategies applicable to urban development and revitalization: what they are, how they work and how they can improve the livability and resilience of urban communities. We will evaluate the use of mixed-use design, pedestrian and bike oriented transportation, public transportation-friendly systems, energy-efficiency and environmentally sensitive planning for the urban community. This will include assessments and comparisons of renewable resources, design of complete streets, form-based building codes, sustainable energy, parking policies and other strategies for smart growth. As a result of these evaluations, discussions and assessments students will gain improved insight and understanding of smart growth strategies.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

  • Assess the importance of smart growth strategies for sustainable cities.
  • Apply the principles of green sustainable city planning.
  • Apply the various tools and practices that are available to assist in the planning and development process for achieving sustainable green communities.
  • Develop a deep understanding, through case studies, of what has worked and what has not worked for a selection of different cities in applying smart green city growth strategies for community development and revitalization.
  • Evaluate the role of transportation in the development of smart growth strategies.

Textbooks

Primary textbook:
Gamble, D., and Heyda, P. (2016). Rebuilding the American City; Design and Strategy for the 21st Century. Rutledge Publishing.
Students do not need to purchase this book. Readings from this book are available electronically by selecting eReserves from the course menu.

Additional readings may be posted on a module-by-module basis.

Students will also be reading a series of academic articles as part of assignments in this course.

Required Software

Students should have a good working knowledge of word, power-point, and excel sofeware for the course. All of these are available for download from the university web site as part of 365.

Student Coursework Requirements

  • Weekly reflection and discussion activities - 20% of final grade
  • Technical article group assignments - 40% of final grade
    • This assignment runs 3 times over the semester:
      • Modules 2/3/4, 5/6/7, and 8/9/10
  • Course project interim deliverables - 15% of final grade
    • Interim deliverables for the project are due in modules 3, 5, 8, 10
  • Project report - 15% of final grade 
  • Project presentation - 10% of final grade

Grading Policy

EP uses a +/- grading system as shown below (also see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).
100-98 = A+ 97-94 = A 93-90 = A− 89-87 = B+ 86-83 = B 82-80 = B− 79-77 = C+ 76-73 = C 72-70 = C− 69-67 = D+ 66-63 = D <63 = F




Course Policies

Responding to Class Discussion Topics—Professor Roper will monitor class discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as discussions are posted. In some instances, Professor Roper may summarize the overall discussions and post the summary for the class.

Turn-around time for grade posting—Student assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar and Assignments tools. Professor Roper will post grades within one week after assignment due dates.

Student Generative AI (GenAI) Use

Generative AI
  • GenAI may be used throughout the workflow.
  • Disclosure of Gen AI use is required. Students must use appropriate citations and notations.
  • Students remain fully responsible for verifying accuracy, identifying bias, and ensuring the quality of final submissions.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course. 

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.  For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu. 

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.