Urban Slums and Sustainable Housing in Rapidly Growing Cities

Rapid urbanization is transforming the global landscape, creating complex challenges for housing, infrastructure, and human settlements. This text-only course provides a comprehensive introduction to urban planning, focusing on the social, economic, and spatial dynamics of informal settlements and slums. You will explore how cities grow, why housing deficits occur, and how modern planning frameworks can address these critical issues. Through structured readings and case studies, you will learn to analyze urban policies and design strategies that promote equitable development. What you'll learn: - Understand the core terminology, history, and structural drivers of rapid global urbanization. - Analyze the economic and social factors that lead to the formation of informal settlements and slums. - Evaluate housing policies, land tenure models, and infrastructure development strategies. - Apply modern sustainable development goals to local urban planning scenarios. - Explore participatory planning approaches that involve communities in upgrading initiatives. - Examine the impact of climate resilience and green infrastructure on vulnerable urban populations. The course begins with foundational concepts in urban geography and land use, establishing a solid theoretical base before moving into practical policy analysis, modern sustainable planning frameworks, and real-world upgrading strategies. This course is designed specifically for beginners, students of urban studies, and aspiring policymakers with no prior background in urban planning or human geography. Gain the critical insights needed to understand and shape the future of sustainable cities today.