Professor Michael A. Krassa, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair Emeritus of Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems (HDES), and
Professor Emeritus in SDEP, Political Science, and the Center for Global Studies at the University of Illinois
tel  217.300.4337
fax  217.244.5712

Classes I soon will be teaching.


Summer 2017 Course Offerings.

These opportunities will remain available through the Summer term of 2017.
Information about availability after Summer 2016 will be posted soon.

  • Neighborhood and Community Organizing. Credit for this course is earned thorough NYU. Non-NYU students should check with their home institution regarding transferability of NYU credit. University of Illinois students may earn independent study credit for this course as the NYU class does not transfer automatically. The course is focused on several research sites in Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, and Massachusetts. Students learn the basic theories of community organizing in the first three weeks of classroom-based work, and then undertake six weeks of fieldwork.  Grades are based on performance in two quizzes during the first three weeks, evaluations from fieldwork supervisors, and a final paper submitted at the end of the semester.

  • Lobbying Internship. Paid internship. Students may earn experience and possible course credit by working with registered lobbyists for Sealand Chemical Corporation or Blue Cross typically from 18 May to 18 August.  See Professor Krassa by January 1, 2017 if you are interested in applying. University of Illinois students may earn credit via independent study (PS 490); students from other universities should enquire about possibilities that may be available arranged for credit through their home university, the University of Illinois, or the University of Cambridge. Enrollment limited to US Citizens.

  • Malta Research and Education Exchange.  (Pending EU Funding.) Organized by the University of Cambridge to provide interdisciplinary social scientific coursework and research on methods, modeling, the EU, economics, architecture, art and society. Special use is made of the location in Malta by the courses in legislatures, elections, multicultural society, historic preservation, and architecture. Undergraduates participate in course work at the University of Malta; graduate student do supervised independent research in Malta. Arrangements for archival access, interviews with public officials, or permission to enter restricted sites should be made through Professor Krassa at least two months in advance. Contact Professor Krassa for details on this program.  Students at the U of I now must receive credit through the University of Cambridge or make arrangements for credit as an independent study through a professor in your home department. Students at Purdue may receive credit directly though the university if desired, or they may elect for U of Cambridge credit, but not both.

     Important Note: Due to safety concerns in parts of the Middle East, the portions of the Malta Summer Program that take place in Libya and Tunisia have been cancelled indefinitely.

  • From Constantinople to Poundbury: Planned communities in comparative perspective.  In this class we examine the design and purpose of the planned community across eras and cultures. We assess how the design influenced the behaviors and beliefs of its citizens as well as its other purposes (such as defense or creating "community"). Course will involve regular travel to Poundbury; course also will require two five day trips to examine the remnants and ruins of two sites besides Poundbury.  Course is open to University of Cambridge faculty and students, as well as to interested practitioners (those without a current Cambridge affiliation will be assessed an auditor fee required by the University).  Runs for seven weeks, May 1-June 17, 2017.