Laura Schmahmann
Assistant Professor
Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning
Texas A&M University
laura.schmahmann at tamu.edu
Courses
City Form and Function
The purpose of this course is to provide a basis for understanding the forces that have created, and continue to create, cities — in particular, American cities. In other words, we want to understand why cities look the way they do, and how they work. The course covers major behavioral theories regarding the internal spatial arrangement and functioning of cities, theories of inter-urban development and functioning, and major policies shaping urban form. Through readings, discussions, case studies, and applied analysis, the course equips students to critically analyze how economic processes, policy decisions, and social forces interact across global, regional, and neighborhood scales to shape inequality within and between cities and regions.
View syllabusUrban and Regional Economic Development
This course introduces urban planning students to foundational theories and frameworks for local and regional economic development, techniques of regional economic analysis, and strategies for implementation. During this semester, we explore contemporary challenges and debates in both academia and practice across urban and rural contexts. Perennial questions in economic development include why some regions forge ahead while others do not, why certain industries are attracted to some regions and not others, whether regions should specialize or diversify, whether jobs follow people or people follow jobs, whether policy should focus on helping struggling places or encouraging people to move into thriving regions, and what role city and regional governments — and planners — should play in addressing these economic development challenges.
View syllabusApplied Planning
This course combines elements of lecture and practice. It is aimed at providing students an opportunity to apply lessons learned in the planning program and identify new opportunities for professional growth. Students gain hands-on experience with planning at the community level, gathering data to illuminate issues and opportunities in targeted communities, and then identifying promising strategies to address them. Students sharpen assessment, facilitation, and verbal and written communication skills throughout the course, and develop presentation skills through preparing and delivering presentations to LAUP faculty, Texas Target Communities staff, and community members.
View syllabusUrban Issues
According to the United Nations, 55% of the world's population currently live in urban areas, and by 2050 it is estimated that this will reach almost 70%. While urbanization provides a variety of opportunities for people, it can also pose a variety of challenges. Many of these challenges are associated with population growth, however some urban areas are faced with the challenge of a declining population. In this course, we cover a wide variety of urban issues including access to housing, racial tension, unemployment and poverty, environmental impacts, traffic and congestion, crime, public health-related problems, the impact of automation and AI, and other quality of life issues.