This class was relatively unique in that, prior to it, I had never had any exposure or training in its subject matter, sociology and urban planning. This foray into the major issues and practices of this field has been eye opening insofar as I am now familiar with the modes and topics of inquiry which merit study and practice if one is to excel as a sociologist. From exploring the intricate bureaucracy of zoning politics to the interpersonal dynamics among neighborhood business, from learning about major infrastructural issues to trouble-shooting possible solutions (these latter topics were heavily underscored in the common event, and it was illuminating to learn about New York transportation issues such as traffic and train congestion, and hear constructive responses to these things), I have enjoyed becoming mildly seasoned in tackling the material presented, material that, even if not relevant to me professionally, is worth knowing about as a citizen of a functioning society. By far my favorite part of the course was experiencing the pathos of interacting with local business owners– it gave the course a whole new dimension of meaning that served to greatly enrich the abstract theory and logistics discussed. As such, for future courses I would highly recommend incorporating more interviews and field work in order to connect students to the material they are studying. Doing so is also just a great opportunity to refine professional social skills, get to know your classmates, retain information through experiential practice.
Thank you for an informative and pleasant course!
–Elijah
