The content of the class itself is pretty interesting, but sitting through the class can be quite boring. However, Professor Beatley is a pretty pleasant guy, and not a very strict grader. Readings aren't super helpful (besides the book Walkable City), and just make sure to be detailed and thorough when writing your final paper. Exams aren't too difficult, focus on knowing a few things really well and you'll do fine.

Beatley is beat

Warning - trap class! Seriously though, if you are looking for a joke of a class to take for an elective, look elsewhere. While easy to get a good grade in, Beatley is a long and annoying lecturer and makes each class drag on and on. Focus most of your work on the planning analysis, and for the tests study a smaller group on terms than he recommends, but know them dead. I took this class because I was interested in sustainability and urban spaces, but this class was ultimately unsatisfying to me because it never went deep into the material and talked about the same ideas over and over again.

Borderline communist in approach, but then again it's a pretty easy A. If you treat it as an easy A though, you probably won't get one. He's a really cute guy who is really passionate about the field of urban and (especially) environmental planning, but as long as you agree with him in your essays, you'll secure an A without breaking your back. Pro tip on the midterm and final: Don't go a mile wide and an inch thick; study some of the terms a little deeper and forget the rest. His midterms will give you a list of 20-30 terms and ask you to write about 7-10 of them. His review sheets will have a lot of very specific things (such and such a building in the Bronx) and some general ideas (adaptive reuse); the specific things probably won't be the terms on the exam. He's more likely to put more general items like adaptive reuse, green roofs, community gardens, etc. and you HAVE TO know at least one example on each topic you choose to write about (a city that has a community garden). Follow these tips and should be a pretty easy class

Great class if you're interested in urban planning, super easy

Professor Beatley is SUPER adorable, but kind of dull. You can tell that he is very passionate about Urban Planning, which I respect. I just took this class because I needed an elective and he got a lot of nice reviews on rate my professor.
There are only three assignments total: the midterm, the 15 page paper, and the final. I went to only about half the classes and got a low A as my final grade. As long as those three things are studied for (he gives review sheets) then that's all the class is.

Really boring class, but pretty easy to do well in. Pay at least moderate attention in class (especially to his anecdotes), form study groups before exams (to fill in the gaps you missed), and its easy to do well.
There is a big paper at the end of the semester, but again, as long as you take time on it, you can do well within breaking your back.
Nice teacher, boring lectures, easy enough class.

You do not have to go to class, although I highly recommend do so. The teacher is great and very enthusiatic. He gives out study guides for both the midterm and the final. Its mostly remembering terms. Good intro course. Easy, very easy

Professor was enthusiastic about the topic, but you didn't learn anything new and the class was so, so, so boring. Not worth it at all.

Beatley is kind of boring, but he's enthusiastic about the material. Reading is unnecessary; tests are really easy.