Traning Future Urbanists: The Integration of Theory and Practice

I have been asked to talk about theory-practice linkages and in thinking about what I might say, it occurred to me that such linkages could be described in the context of educating future urbanists. Furthermore, linkages can best be understood by talking about “small” theories as opposed to “big theories” such as those reflected in the papers by Professors Choi and Sassen. My meaning of the term, small theory, is different from that attributed ti Merton (1957) and Baker (1968). Rather, my meaning is more closely associated with the ideas espoused by John Lyle when he described the concepts underlying the Center for Regenerative Studies and the practices that take place in that environment. In my paper, I present another example of a small theory and show how it links to practice. And like professor Lyle, my example, involves faculty and university students working together. As a prelude to my example, I will discuss some changes that have recently occurred in the training of urban planner and other in US ...