Individual Study Plan

CEP Class of 2019

Oskar A. Abian
Spring 2019
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Table of Contents

Letter of Introduction --- 3

Visual Map --- 5

Quarterly Plans --- 6

Extracurriculars --- 12

Internship --- 14

Senior Project --- 14

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Letter of Introduction

A college education is one of the greatest opportunities that a person can receive in their
lifetime. However, without intentionality, organization, and hard work, the full potential of the college
experience is difficult to achieve. I will be going through the next two years of my college career through
the context of a CEP education. However, this does not mean I will no longer be in charge of
determining my academic path through the courses I take, activities I participate in, and people I meet. I
have two main focuses for the next two years. I want to study the subjects I am passionate about: urban
planning and public policy, with the understanding of each as a tool that can help solve structural
problems of inequality and inefficiency within our cities. Secondly, I intend to develop the skills and
experiences that will allow me to successfully translate my knowledge and motivation into real action.

My interest in urban planning stems from my experience growing up in Seattle. I have lived here
in Seattle for my entire life. Throughout that time, the city has changed drastically. Seattle has
experienced unprecedented growth and success but also increasing problems of inequality and
accommodation. In my view, the planning of Seattle did not properly prepare the city for this huge influx
of new residents and businesses. There seems to be no overall vision for the planning of Seattle, with
changes coming in a piece-meal, reactionary fashion. Meanwhile gentrification remains a major
problem, continuing to displace lower-income populations within the city. Seattle’s homeless population
is one of the largest in the country, another tragic reminder of the inequity that plagues our society.
While I understand that a lot of successful planning has taken place in the city, the failures of the past
ten years can provide valuable lessons for future policymakers on how to plan for rapid growth. I have
decided to be a part of the solution to the problems Seattle and countless other cities face and feel that
becoming an urban planning is my best option for contributing.

Over the next two years, my first major focus will be on developing my knowledge in the key
areas I wish to study. CEP plays a significant role in achieving this. CEP provides a series of core classes
based around the philosophy behind community and planning. This theoretical underpinning will serve
as the basis of my study into urban planning and policy. CEP’s flexible academic structure allows me to
focus on the topics I am truly passionate about through opportunities like an internship or the senior
project. Within both classes and governance, I will build connections with the other students of my
cohort, each of which share my values and interest around issues of community and planning. Working
with my peers should serve just as valuable a role as my classes. One main goal I have within the
academic realm is to develop my critical thinking and analytical capacities. I want to become well-versed
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in the real-world issues that I care about and understand how to do research into ones I am less aware
of. CEP teaches practical skills on top of general knowledge that will serve me well in the future. These
include discussion facilitation, presentation, organization, professionalism and overall leadership.
Through participation in the headlights committee, I will develop my skills of policy formulation,
implementation and evaluation. I hope to also take up more of a leadership role in my classes and
committee and CEP offers many opportunities to achieve this goal.

My second major focus for the next two years will be developing the skills and gaining the
experiences that will help me translate my studies into real world action. My methods courses center
around this focus. I plan on learning GIS using both the classroom and real-world application, drawing
upon my passions for geography and planning. I hope to market this skill while applying for internships
and continue to develop it in a professional setting. My other methods classes introduce and develop
skills like statistical analysis, policy implementation and evaluation, and the planning process through a
combination of academic and hands-on learning. These classes not only teach me these skills but also
provide the opportunities to apply them in the real world and gain valuable experience. This is where my
extracurricular come into play, allowing me to build competencies and experiences in topics I’m
passionate about away from the classroom setting. Participating in programs such as Wind Ensemble,
Model UN, or study abroad broadens my perspective on the world and allows me to apply my
knowledge in unique and valuable ways. These activities also provide me the opportunity to develop
connections with people I might otherwise not interact with and learn more about the knowledge and
perspective they bring to the table.
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Visual Course Map

CEP Requirements CEP Year 1
Core 30 Credits (5 per quarter) AUTUMN WINTER SPRING SUMMER
Governance 6 credits (1 credit CEP 400 per quarter) Course Credit Course Credit Course Credit Course Credit
Retreat 4 credits (1credit CEP 300 Fall and Spring)
2-6 credits CEP 490 and CEP 491 (1-3 variable
CEP 301 5 CEP 302 5 CEP 303 5
Senior Projectcredit/qtr) CEP 300 1 CEP 400 1 CEP 300 1
Internship 5 credits -120-150 hour internship with CEP 446 CEP 400 1 CEP 498 5 CEP 400 1
Methods 25 credits of upper-division coursework ENVIR 280 5 GEOG 461 5 GEOG 326 5
Diversity 5 Credits at any level PUBPOL 201 5 GEOG 342 5
TOTAL 77-81 Credits Quarter total: 17 Quarter total: 16 Quarter total: 17 Quarter total: 0

CEP Year 2
AUTUMN WINTER SPRING SUMMER
Course Credit Course Credit Course Credit Course Credit
CEP 460 5 CEP 461 5 CEP 462 5 Study Abroad 0
CEP 300 1 CEP 400 1 CEP 300 1
CEP 400 1 CEP 491 1 CEP 400 1
CEP 490 1 ACCTG 219 4 GEOG 471 5
CEP 446 5 GEOG 315 5 URBDP 561 4
RE 510 3
Quarter total: 16 Quarter total: 16 Quarter total: 16 Quarter total: 0
TOTAL CREDITS 98
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Autumn 2017

CEP 301- The Idea of Community

Introduced the philosophical underpinnings of community through critical reading and discussion. This
course helped me build my analytical reading skills through the sheer volume and depth of text. Weekly
patterns of discussion and facilitation helped foster the growth of this skill through consistent practice.
In addition, it introduced me to the works number of foundational philosophers and helped me develop
an interpretation of each of their philosophies. Culminated in a final paper which synthesized learning
from each philosopher in a cohesive product. Beginning phase of building a community with fellow CEP
students.

CEP 400- Governance

I became a member of the headlights committee this quarter and worked on a subcommittee tasked
with researching and compiling CEP historical documents for use on the strategic plan and website.
Headlights is responsible for directing and reviewing policy within the CEP major. My interest in policy
and desire to shape the major led me toward joining the committee.

PUBPOL 201- Introduction to Public Policy and Governance

Public Policy is a topic that interests me academically and could play a role in my future career path.
PUBPOL 201 was my introduction to public policy at an undergraduate level. Introduced and explored
several key policy concepts that are important in comprehending the current political and governmental
system. The class centered around lectures and sections in which we explored various issues and policy
tools to help solve them. Students were introduced to policy memo writing, which we were able to
apply to a variety of interesting topics. The knowledge I obtained from this class helps put urban
planning into context within the larger framework of public and private interaction.

ENVIR 280- Natural History of the Puget Sound Region

A departure from the subject matter of the other two Fall Quarter classes, focusing on the natural world
rather than human societies. ENVIR 280 provided a more in depth look at the natural forces that shape
and define our region, drawing from geology, ecology, climatology and anthropology to do this. It also
taught a unique skillset of careful observation and meticulous documentation of life in this region that
creates connections with the natural environment and builds an appreciation for it. The class featured
exploration of the natural world, with excursions to Ravenna Park, Union Bay Natural Area, Nisqually
Wildlife Refuge, and Mt. Rainier. Recognizing the natural element of our region is key to figuring out
how human society can most sustainably live within it.
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Winter 2018

CEP 302- Environmental Response

CEP 302 picked up where ENVIR 280 left off by focusing on the connection and possible conflict between
human society and the natural environment. Introduced me to the history of scientific knowledge and
the role it plays in informing both planning and policy. This was accomplished through interactive
projects including a NEPA review and presentation, and a final group presentation on a relevant
environmental topic. Much more classroom based learning, but still allowed students the flexibility to
explore topics that interested them.

CEP 498- Special Topics (M)

When first exploring urban planning as an area of interest, I found that being exposed to real, hands-on
learning was the best way for me to grow. CEP 498 was an amazing opportunity for obtaining real-life
professional planning experience within an academic context. I worked on a team of CEP students for a
client in my home neighborhood of Beacon Hill. We were tasked with creating a business inventory and
comparing it to other neighborhoods in the area. We were also responsible for creating a scope of work
and establishing the specific direction of our project with the instructor and client. Because of the
unique opportunities and the skills that can only come with hands-on experience, I have included CEP
498 as one of my methods courses.

GEOG 461- Urban Geographic Information Systems

Technology skills are more important than ever in today’s job market. I would like to develop these skills
in the context of subjects I am passionate about. For this reason, I decided that learning and mastering
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a valuable pursuit. I chose to develop this ability through the
geography department, focusing on a subject in which I am well versed and have significant interest.
GEOG 461 taught the more complex aspects of GIS, expanding upon the base of knowledge the intro
class, GEOG 360, provided me. At the same time, it focused on applying and using GIS in the context of
urban systems and planning, issues I am passionate about and will likely interact with in a future career.
This was evident in the final project, which was a collaborative group effort in which we were allowed
great flexibility in selecting a topic and investigating it through GIS.
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Spring 2018

CEP 303- Social Structures and Processes

CEP 303 is the first class in the CEP series to focus on planning, the field of study I am most interested in
within the major. This course explored the fundamental social structures that underlay the discipline of
urban planning. It continued the emphasis on analysis and critical thinking that are at the core of CEP
301 and 302. For me it served to synthesize the information I gained from studying community and the
environment and contextualize it around the study of planning. By working on real world projects and
grappling with real issues, it provided a much more holistic approach to planning than a simple
classroom setting could offer. This class helped me improve important skills including observation,
technical writing, and GIS data visualization, which I applied in the overarching project we worked on.

GEOG 326- Quantitative Methods in Geography (M)

One of my focuses of the ISP is learning hard skills that can complement my CEP education. This
objective is one I hope to achieve by taking a variety of classes covering different topics. Geography 326
teaches several statistical methods that are commonly used in the field of geography. This basis of
knowledge can be applied to several other topics, such as public policy and urban planning, to allow for
more rigorous analysis that provides a deeper understanding of the issues. The class not only focused on
teaching the statistical methods but also on explaining how they could be applied to real world issues
for analysis and greater understanding. The technical skills this class taught me are the reason I included
it as a methods credit.

GEOG 342- Geography of Inequality (D)

No matter what future career I end up in, I want a major focus of mine to be reducing inequality within
our society. This goal can only be achieved by truly understanding the inequalities that already exist and
the reasons why they do. This course analyzed inequality within American society from multiple angles
including class, race, gender, and political ideology through the lens of geography. It drew upon a variety
of outside sources to provide perspective and opportunities for comparison to better understand key
concepts like status, power, authority and unequal opportunity. It also drew on outside sources,
involving a book reading and report aspect that greatly expanded the scope of the lessons learned in the
class. Because of its comprehensive approach and focus on issues that are not commonly covered in-
depth at the undergraduate level, I have decided to include this course as my diversity requirement.
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Autumn 2018

CEP 460- Planning in Context

Building off CEP 303, this class allowed me to put the skills I had learned and developed into practice
through a real planning project. I was assigned a collaborative group and we were tasked with
developing and completing a project for the City of Bellevue. With a somewhat larger group of 5 and an
entire quarter to focus solely on the project, the expectations were greater for the level of detail of our
final report. This was an extremely important workshop in developing a project idea, working with a
client, communicating with relevant stakeholders, and distributing group work evenly. Our project
consisted of many different moving parts, which each group member contributed to in a different way.
Through a variety of methods of information gathering and analysis, we were able to write up a final
report that met our clients’ expectations as well as those of our instructors.

CEP 400- Governance

In my second year of governance, I took more of a leadership role within the Headlights committee. In
the Fall, I worked to see through a project that had been begun the year prior, building off the work that
had already been completed. In Winter, I served as a point for the first time and began working on a
new project, as well as several independent efforts which I then carried into Spring.

CEP 446- Internship (I)

This class helped me reflect and build upon the skills I received from my summer internship, which I
discuss in detail below. I decided to take the class in fall quarter when it is less in demand and can be
met as a valuable learning experience rather than a requirement.

RE 510- Introduction to Real Estate (M)

This class interested me for two main reasons. The first is that it provided an introduction into the world
of real estate, a subject I feel is extremely important to understand. Real estate markets serve as one of
the primary factors in the urban economy and play a major role in shaping the overall urban form. RE
510 also gives me the opportunity to experience a graduate level course, which will help me make a
more informed decision into my future studies. Because of its usefulness in accomplishing these two
factors and introducing me to a completely new field, I included the class as one of my methods courses.

GEOG 465- GIS Database and Programming

Geography 465 combines the GIS understanding I have gained at this point with the practicality of the
programming skills it offers. I intended to develop my programming ability to be more competitive in
the workforce while approaching this skill through a topic I am comfortable with, GIS. A rudimentary
understanding of programming and database structure was the next step in building my ability in GIS.
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Winter 2019

CEP 461- Ethics and Identity

This course allowed me to revisit and expand upon the concepts explored in CEP 301. It built on the
philosophical underpinnings of planning through in-depth analysis of more specific issues. The course
operated in the same way as CEP 301, relying heavily on discussion and independent reading. However,
it was more focused, with an expectation on students to develop more in-depth arguments on issues
related to ethics and apply them to real-world examples. The class structure was much more flexible,
with more leeway given to students in facilitation, assignments, and developing a final paper. The class
also revisited many authors from 301 but also expanded to new voices, which provided a more
comprehensive understanding of foundational philosophical thinking.

ACCTG 219- Accounting Essentials (M)

The decision to take this course stemmed from a desire to add new practical skills to my wheelhouse. I
had no previous introduction to accounting but believed that it would be an important concept to
understand and would serve as a widely applicable skill in a future career as well as life in general. The
course was split into two sections, financial and managerial accounting, and offered a well-structured,
in-depth exploration of each. While the course concepts were not explicitly related to planning, I believe
the skills I learned were valuable enough to include this course under my methods credits.

GEOG 315- Explanation and Understanding in Geography

Geography 315 is the bedrock course for any upper level geography track. It offered a basic set of tools
and practices for understanding geography which I intend to be my second major. More importantly, it
centered around the research proposal process, explaining in detail why and how to create an
introduction, literature review, methodology, and all other aspects of a proposal. Lecture focused
mostly on developing geographic understanding and learning information gathering techniques that
could be applied to research projects, while section allowed us to work on our own research proposals
on the topic of our choice in a step by step method. This course was extremely important in offering the
skills and understanding needed to develop a research project and was extremely helpful in informing
my senior project. I wish I had taken it even sooner.
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Spring 2019

CEP 462- Community and Environment

This course effectively rounded out my CEP education. Through guided but flexible class time, I was able
to make a huge amount of progress on my senior project through its final stages of implementation. It
provided me to prepare for my senior project presentation, poster, and final write up in a collaborative
and guided setting. The numerous resources available to me during this class led to my success in closing
my CEP career. By revisiting and finalizing the E-portfolio and ISP, I created a record of my educational
journey through CEP which will serve me well in any future endeavors.

GEOG 471- Methods of Resource Analysis (M)

This course paired nicely with URBDP 561 by explaining the use of location optimization and resource
analysis technology, effectively applying the location theories learned in 561. The class had a strong
geographic focus, bringing in concepts from GIS and spatial analysis, which complemented the more
economic focus of 561. The concepts learned expanded on those I learned in previous GIS and
Geography classes including 326, 461, and 465. Because of its emphasis on learning and applying
locational theory and techniques, I included the course as part of my methods credits.

URBDP 561- Urban Economics and Public Policy (M)

In taking a second graduate level course, I decided to explore a subject in more detail than the simple
introduction I had received in RE 510. I settled on URBDP 561 due to its focus on urban economy, an
understanding of which is crucial to effective planning decisions. This was a topic I also felt I was lacking,
as CEP focused more on the theoretical, political, and social forces that inform urban planning. This
course also focused on policy’s role in reacting to and determining urban economy, which allowed me to
build off my knowledge from PUBPOL 201 to apply an understanding of policy to urban issues. The class
focused heavily on theories of economics and spatial location, which I can believe I can apply in my
future studies and career, the reason I added the course to my methods credits.
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Extracurriculars

Model United Nations

Model UN is an academic and social club that focuses on international relations and policy. Participating
in this club has given me a more global perspective on current issues while emphasizing collaborative
and diplomatic means to achieve solutions. The academic aspect of this club shows through its emphasis
on policy writing in the form of position papers written before each conference and resolutions which
are written collaboratively during conferences. There is a high standard of professionalism and
preparedness that each delegate is expected to meet, which has helped me develop skills that are useful
in any professional setting. Finally, there is the social aspect to the club. Each conference provides the
opportunity to work with people of all sorts of backgrounds and interact both professionally and
casually. The relationships built and connections made through Model UN serve as valuable networking
tools in any field, but especially within foreign service and public policy.

Wind Ensemble

Music is an important part of my life that expands my perspective and on the world and provides
countless unique opportunities and experiences. I play clarinet in the UW Wind Ensemble, the
university’s highest-level concert band, but have also been involved with smaller chamber groups and
individual lessons and study. The wind ensemble holds its members to a high level of professionalism
and musicianship. Regular practice is expected both individually and within sections. The ensemble
meets two times a week to prepare repertoire for a series of concerts, usually two per quarter. The wind
ensemble also offers unique opportunities through its connections with university ensembles
throughout Asia. In March 2019, I participated in a tour of China with the wind ensemble, an incredible
opportunity to experience a different culture, make connections, and play music.

Internship: City of Seattle IT

I worked as a collaborative GIS intern for the City of Seattle IT Department. In practice, this internship
involved working with a small team to support SDOT functions using geospatial analysis tools. I applied
for this internship due to the opportunity it provided to both work in a professional public sector setting
and develop my GIS skills on projects that interested me. This opportunity allowed me to develop skills
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in self-directed work, organization, and communication. I leveraged my skills and experience from CEP in
the application process, which helped me significantly in obtaining this opportunity.

Senior Project

The three principal areas I will be focusing on during my time in CEP are urban planning, public policy,
and GIS. As such, I would like to craft a senior project that brings together these different interests. My
senior project focuses on the topic of municipal annexation through the process of creating an
informational report on the impacts of the potential incorporation of North Highline by Seattle. I began
by investigating the political and planning framework behind municipal annexation in the Seattle Area.
Looking through resources already available, I determined that there was a need for more detailed and
up-to-date information for residents of proposed annexation areas. North Highline stuck out as a perfect
opportunity to develop this project for, as the area had long been under consideration for annexation by
the City of Seattle. Despite the process stalling in the past couple years, the large amount of previous
work on this issue provided a great basis for developing my project. I worked with Kenny Pittman from
the City of Seattle to explore all the potential impacts associated with annexation and create a product
that would best explain them.