This course introduces students to qualitative and participatory research methods as powerful tools for investigating, analyzing, and visually communicating the complex processes that shape urban life. Emphasizing social justice, co-production of knowledge, and transformative action, the course equips students to work with oppressed, marginalized and underrepresented communities to uncover local assets, socio-spatial dynamics, and the interconnections between physical and social infrastructures, among other things. Understanding the theories, principles, and praxis of participatory action research, students explore positionality, the ethical dimensions of engagement, power in knowledge production, and the iterative process of reflection, inquiry, and action. Students learn to design inclusive, context-sensitive research methodologies—ranging from interviews, oral history, and focus groups to participatory mapping and visual storytelling. Through case studies and hands-on projects, students develop the skills to produce critical, community-informed insights that drive meaningful urban change.