The curriculum effective in the Fall 2017 consists of eight core courses required for the major (28-29 credits), and six courses in the student’s area of concentration within the major (18-24 credits). Following standard university requirements, a minimum of 120 credits are needed for the Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Community Development (45 credits in residence at UMass Amherst). To graduate, students must also have completed nine General Education courses, accounting for at least 33 credits, and elective courses for between 34 and 41 credits.

The Core Curriculum will broadly expose students to the theories and techniques of planning and landscape design.  Core classes prepare students to be engaged in envisioning a more socially and environmentally balanced world through both environmental 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.

Core Classes for all Sustainable Community Development Majors

^E/O      Take one of the two History courses – either SustComm 543 or SustComm 544
^GE       General Education Requirements:

• SustComm 110        (SBU)
• SustComm 140        (AT) –  course usually also offered online in the summer
• SustComm 232        (HS-G)
• SustComm 314        JYW – students must have completed the College Writing (CW) requirement to enroll in this course
• SustComm 394RI     IE – GenEd requirement for Juniors or Seniors
• SustComm 543        (AT)

Concentrations

In addition to the Core Curriculum, students will select six courses in the student’s area of concentration within the major (18-24 credits).  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: are Landscape Design and Build (formerly Horticultural Studies), Built Environment, City and Society (formerly Urban Studies), and Climate Change and Green Infrastructure (formerly Landscape Studies). With approval of the Program Director, cross-scale interests may be pursued with an Independently Designed concentration.  Students should decide on their Concentration by the end of their Sophomore year.

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.

General Education requirements

In addition to departmental degree requirements, the University requires students to take a number of classes across a range of academic disciplines.  As of 2010, these University General Education requirements also include one upper-division Integrative Experience class, a General Education class with a focus on the major.  For more information regarding University General Education requirements go to their website: http://www.umass.edu/gened/forStudents/indexForStudents.html

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).  For more information regarding departmental computer requirements refer to our website.