Explore Philadelphia! It’s a city of neighborhoods, each one distinct in its own way. In this course we will visit local areas, focusing our attention on the buildings and amenities that enhance urban life.
We will observe the role of public spaces in cities – streets, boulevards, parks and squares – and consider their social uses. Following the flaneur tradition of Baudelaire and Benjamin, we will walk the city to experience and understand the myriad environments that comprise it.
Spring 2026
Philadelphia’s commitment to mending the damage wrought by 20th Century highway development has helped drive the planning and development of signature public spaces across the city from the park capping I-95 currently in construction to the Rail Park atop the Reading Viaduct. This work has required navigating complex political and bureaucratic terrain. Using the Rail Park, and its extensions as a lens, the course will help students explore the tensions endemic to urban change.
Spring 2026
The course consists of weekly 90-minute lectures on Positive Psychology: The topics include Well-Being as a Life Goal, Good Character, Learned Helplessness, Optimism, Coaching, Therapy and Prevention, Positive Education, the Positive Corporation, Agency, and Artificial Intelligence. In addition, there will be weekly recitation sessions and exercises for students to measure and to increase their personal well-being.