The Major

Students are expected to complete 16 classes for the Environmental Design major, 7 of which are core classes required for all Environmental Design students, regardless of their concentration.

The Core Curriculum will broadly expose students to the theories and techniques of planning and design.  Core classes prepare students to be engaged in envisioning a more socially and environmentally balanced world through both design and planning.  These courses provide the academic background for understanding a wide range of cultural and ecological aspects of the built environment, past, present and future.

Of the 16 classes to fulfill the Environmental Design degree requirements, 7 are Core Classes required of all Environmental Design majors.

The following five Core Classes are required:

EnvirDes 205    Dynamics of Human Habitation (spring semester)

EnvirDes 394A  Writing in Environmental Design (spring semester)

EnvirDes 574    City Planning (fall semester)

EnvirDes 591B  Sustainable Cities (spring semester)

LandArch 547   Landscape Pattern and Process (fall semester)

 

Select two of the following three landscape design history Core Classes:

EnvirDes 291A  Introduction to Environmental Design (spring semester)

EnvirDes 543    History I (fall semester)

EnvirDes 544    History II (spring semester)

 

Concentrations

In addition to the Core Curriculum, students will select 9 classes that allow them to focus on a particular area of study within environmental design and planning.  The four areas of Concentration within the major allow students to focus on particular issues and scales of planning and design.  The areas of Concentration are: Urban Studies, Landscape Studies, Horticultural Studies, and Built Environment Studies.

Through the four concentration options, the program provides historical, theoretical, and professional perspectives from a variety of disciplines.  This curriculum enables graduates of the program to make informed and effective planning and design decisions that contribute to creating environments that are sustainable economically, environmentally, and socially.

All coursework for the major (core and concentration classes) must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Computer requirement

All students are required to have a laptop computer, equal or greater to the specifications provided by the department.  The department will also provide a list of required software (including version).