URBS 437/ 537Heritage Preservation
Fall 2011, 2:00 – 4:45
AH 322
Course Syllabus

Prof. Beth Wielde Heidelberg

Office: 106 Morris Hall

Office Phone: 507/ 389-1714

Office Fax: 507/ 389-6377

E-Mail:

Office Hours:

Monday, 8am – 2pm

Tuesday, 8am – 2pm

Course Description

Historic preservation is more than the act of keeping old houses looking nice. It is a coordinated effort between local, county, state, and federal officials and citizens using planning, policy, construction management, civil engineering, and a host of other disciplines to preserve a community’s historic integrity while encouraging growth and development to compliment, not contrast with, the older districts.

This course is the first in a two-part series (and don’t worry – each semester is 3 credits, it’s not 3 credits spread out over the whole academic year). When dealing with historic preservation policy, a city needs to understand its historic resources. Without that understanding, they cannot properly plan or prepare documentation for historic resources.

This course will focus on the identification of historic resources, being able to identify them by sight, being able to look beneath modern modifications, and being able to put the resource in its proper historic context.

Next semester’s course will focus on applying the resources into public policy.

D2L Use

All students are expected to have an active D2L account. You will be expected to take online quizzes throughout the semester. Be sure you check D2L at least once or twice a week for announcements and other course information. If you have not yet activated your D2L account, you must do so during the first week of class. If you experience problems activating your account, contact IT Services at Jeff Henline, , 507-389-2323, or Desire2Learn Support, , 507-389-3295.

Books and Materials

There is one book required for the course. I recommend locating books used online at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com to save some expense.

McAlester, V. & McAlester, L. (2002).A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. I have tried to keep the style names close to the names given in McAlester, so you can look up the chapters that accompany the class discussion.

Next semester (spring 2012), those of you who continue with the series will use Tyler, N. (2000). Historic Preservation. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. If you purchased it for this semester, you can hold on to it for spring, or return it while the bookstore is accepting returns for full price (check the deadline for that).

Course Grades

Grades for this course will be simple. For undergrads, there will be two ways to earn points in this class – quizzes and participating in the Downtown Walk. Because we are learning architectural styles and style taxonomy, the crux of your work will be identifying style variations on quizzes. It’s a lot like a first year med student’s anatomy lab.

Grads, you have an additional responsibility; I want you to become an expert on at least one style. I want you to research the evolution of the style, and major architects responsible for developing and broadening the style. You will select a high style form, since most vernacular forms are the product of pattern books. And no Frank Lloyd Wright or Daniel Burnham. I’m covering those guys (and calling professor’s privilege). And, by the way, no Wikipedia. It’s a good place to start research, but it is not considered a credible source for academic material.

Due Date / Quiz/ Assignment / Points / What It Covers
Aug 29 / Quiz - What do you already know? / 10 / Nothing you need to study for– This gives me a baseline understanding of the class’s knowledge before we even begin. Don’t study for this one!
Sept 19 / Quiz 1 / 30 / Intro session to Federal Styles
Oct 3 / Quiz 2 / 30 / Colonial to Railroad Era
Oct 17 / Quiz 3 / 40 / Colonial to Victorian 2
Oct 31 or Nov. 7* / Downtown Walk / 10 / Meet downtown Mankato at 2:30 pm, Mankato Place (the plaza outside BW-3)
Nov 7 / Quiz 4 / 40 / Colonial to Frank Lloyd Wright
Nov 21 / GRAD – Style Investigation / 30 / See assignment sheet
Dec 5 / Quiz 5 (FINAL) / 60 / Comprehensive (all sessions)

There are 220 points available for undergrads, 230 points for grad students. I use a shaded grading scale (below). Your quiz points will be kept up to date with automatic quiz grading on D2L, so you will always know your standing in the class. Grads, you will need to give me about 2 weeks to post grades for your style investigation assignment.

Grading Scale

Percentage
A+ / 97 - 100% / C+ / 77 - 79%
A / 94 – 96% / C / 74 - 76%
A- / 90 – 93% / C- / 70 - 73%
B+ / 87 – 89% / D+ / 67 - 69%
B / 84 - 86% / D / 64 - 66%
B- / 80 - 83% / D- / 60 - 63%
F / 59% ↓

Late Course Tests and Assignments

I have a standard policy for late assignments and quizzes: -3 points off per day late, and I don’t ask questions about why it’s late. There may be instances (like final quizzes) where the point deduction is greater. But be aware that when the points run out, you cannot submit the quiz or assignment for any points.

I understand that sometimes there are legitimate reasons for turning in late work. Be prepared to show documentation of your emergency in order to turn in the assignment late. If you have documentation that can be verified (i.e. military orders, an insurance form, a hospital admittance form), I may even toss out the point deduction. But without documentation, be prepared to take the deduction.

Extra Credit

This is an upper-division class, and as such, students are expected to earn their points during regular class work. There are no extra credit opportunities available in URBS 437 or URBS 537.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Because each lesson builds on the one before it, it is especially critical. Attendance includes actually participating in the course, not just sitting in the session and spending the time on Facebook or texting friends. Not only is it impolite, it’s basically the same as not attending at all.

If you miss a class, be sure to get notes from a classmate. If you want clarification of points made on your borrowed notes, please visit me during office hours and we can discuss them. You must bring borrowed notes – I will not re-lecture for you.

Enrollment

You must be enrolled in the course during the semester to earn a grade. I will not “hold over” a grade, allowing you to take the class one semester and officially enroll in another. This sometimes happens if the tuition bill cannot be paid, or there is another dispute on student status. Basic rule: if you don’t have D2L access, you cannot participate in the class.

Students with Disabilities

MSU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities, or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participation in class activities or meet course requirements should first register with the Office of Disability Services, located in 0132 Memorial Library, telephone 507/ 389-2825, TDD 711, and then contact me as soon as possible.

Cheating, Plagiarism, and Other Academic Fraud

Simply put, don’t do it, even for extra credit. The worst original work is better than the most perfectly plagiarized. It’s okay to insert other people’s ideas, just make sure you cite them; after all, you would want credit for an idea you had, right? And remember, I’ve read and seen a lot of stuff; they actually pay me to do it, so do you want to take the odds that it’s a paper I’ve used for my dissertation research?

Cheating is not tolerated in any case. If you are caught cheating!), you will receive an automatic ‘F’ for the class and your case will be handled according to University policy.

URBS Major/ Minor Requirements

URBS 437 fulfills an undergraduate major and minor elective.

URBS 537 fulfills a graduate elective.

This course does not fulfill an undergraduate General Ed requirement.
Tentative Course Schedule

REVISED 8-9-2011

Date / What’s Due
Aug 22 / Intro/ Reason for Preservation
Aug 29 / Preservation in the U.S. / Pre-Quiz – What do you already know? (no-fail, if you do it)
Sept 5* / Styles – Native American and Early Colonial
Sept 12 / Federal Styles
Sept 19 / Railroad Era / Quiz 1 (30 points)
Sept 26 / Victorian
Oct 3 / Victorian 2 / Quiz 2 (30 points)
Oct 10 / Early 20th Century
Oct 17 / Early 20th Century 2 / Quiz 3 (40 points)
Oct 24 / Frank Lloyd Wright
Oct 31 / Downtown Walk Group A
Nov 7 / Downtown Walk Group B / Quiz 4 (40 points)
Nov 14 / Bridges
Nov 21 / Mid Century Modern / GRAD PROJECT; Style Investigation
Nov 28 / Reading Ghosts & Where do we go from here?
Dec 5 / FINAL / Quiz 5 (60 points)

***NOTE: The Downtown Walk is weather dependent on the weather. Nov. 8 is the alternate date.