This course focuses attention on the evolution of urban and suburban communities beginning with seaports of the eighteenth century and continuing to the security-conscious cities of today. Why do we live where we do? How do people interact in urban and suburban communities? What opportunities and challenges do residents and leaders of cities and suburbs confront? Especially, how are the histories and futures of cities and suburbs connected with each other?

 

This course fulfills requirements for the Digital Studies major and minor (but all are welcome to enroll; no previous technical training is necessary). Class meetings will be organized primarily as laboratory-style active learning experiences, guided by the professor.

 

Books: There are two required books for this class. Students are encouraged to shop around for used copies at the best prices; the first one on the list is expensive if new but widely available used from online sellers. There is no need to purchase new copies of these books, but they will be necessary for the class.

 

1. Chudacoff, Major Problems in American Urban and Suburban History, 2nd edition.  Make sure to get the second edition, published in 2005.

 

2. Jackson, Crabgrass Frontier.