CED 318Municipal Governments: Finance, Planning & Impact

3 credits · Community Environment and Development · Penn State

Understanding local government is critical for professionals in community and economic development, as well as those working in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Local governments influence everything from housing affordability and transportation access to environmental sustainability and economic opportunity. In this course, you'll learn how local governments are structured and function, including how they raise and allocate revenue, manage expenditures, and make land use and zoning decisions. You'll explore public safety, infrastructure investment, housing, and the economic role of land. You'll analyze how public finance and planning tools influence development patterns, equity, and sustainability - real-world challenges faced by community planners, policymakers, and CSR professionals.