Environmental Design (BA/BS)

The College of Design at the University of Oregon provides undergraduate students with a design school experience supported by the resources and benefits of a large research university.

The Environmental Design program is a multidisciplinary BA/BS focusing on visual and spatial design skills applied to the context of environmental sustainability. This degree combines coursework from landscape architecture; architecture, interior architecture, planning, public policy, art, product design, and historic preservation.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Content Knowledge
  • Dissemination

Environmental Design Major Requirements

Required Core Courses
ARCH 201Introduction to Architecture4
IARC 204Understanding Contemporary Interiors4
LA 301Environmental Design Careers2
LA 260Understanding Landscapes4
LA 289Landscape Architectural Design (Repeatable course, only one term required)6
LA 337Landscape Field Work: [Topic]4
PPPM 205Introduction to City Planning4
PPPM 321Inclusive Urbanism4
PPPM 445Green Cities4
Contextualizing Courses (Choose two courses)7-8
Introduction to Historic Preservation
Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture
Human Context of Design
History of Design
Introduction to Visual Culture
Drawing I
Introduction to Product Design
Concentration24
Total Credits67-68

Design Technology Concentration

Required Courses
LA 451Landscape Media I2
or LA 352 Digital Landscape Media
LA 452Landscape Media II2
LA 453Landscape Media III2
Electives18
Computers in Landscape Architecture
LA 423
Advanced Landscape Media: [Topic]
Landscape Technology Topics
Urban Geographic Information Systems
Drawing I
GIScience I
GIScience II
Remote Sensing I
Remote Sensing II
GIScience: [Topic]
Advanced Cartography and Geo-Visualization
Total Credits24

Landscape Design Concentration

Required Courses
LA 289Landscape Architectural Design6
LA 451Landscape Media I2
or LA 352 Digital Landscape Media
LA 452Landscape Media II2
LA 453Landscape Media III2
Electives12
Plants: Fall
Spring Plants
Experimental Course: [Topic]
Analyzing Landscape Systems
Computers in Landscape Architecture
LA 423
Landscape Architectural Design and Process
Introduction to Landscape Planning Analysis
Landscape Technology Topics
Landscape Architectural Theory: [Topic]
History of Landscape Architecture I
History of Landscape Architecture II
Arts and Visual Cultures of Climate Change
Contemporary Art: [Topic]
Total Credits24

Urban Sustainability Concentration

Required Courses
PPPM 434Urban Geographic Information Systems4
PPPM 440Land-Use Planning and Policy4
PPPM 442Sustainable Urban Development4
Electives12
Global Sustainable Development and Policy
Workshop: [Topic]
PPPM 432
Transportation Issues in Planning: [Topic]
Natural Resource Policy
Collaboration
Introduction to United States law
Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy
Environmental Regulation
Community Design
Principles of Urban Design
Sustainability
Sustainable Agriculture
GIScience I
GIScience II
Remote Sensing I
Remote Sensing II
GIScience: [Topic]
Advanced Cartography
Total Credits24

Resilience and Advocacy Concentration

Required Courses
PPPM 101Advocacy and Social Change4
PPPM 201Introduction to Public Policy4
PPPM 340Climate Change Policy4
Electives12
Global Sustainable Development and Policy
Workshop: [Topic]
Experimental Course: [Topic]
PPPM 432
Land-Use Planning and Policy
Sustainable Urban Development
Natural Resource Policy
Environmental Policy
Plants: Fall
Spring Plants
Urban Farm
Experimental Course: [Topic]
Civic Agriculture
Principles of Applied Ecology
History of Interior Architecture III
Arts and Visual Cultures of Climate Change
Contemporary Art: [Topic]
Environmental Ethics
Environmental Justice
Total Credits24

Sustainable Built Environments Concentration

Required Courses
LA 451Landscape Media I2
or LA 352 Digital Landscape Media
LA 452Landscape Media II2
LA 453Landscape Media III2
Electives18
Seminar: [Topic]
Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture
Community Design
Principles of Urban Design
Theory of Urban Design II
Human Context of Design
Spatial Composition
Environmental Control Systems II
History of World Architecture I
History of World Architecture II
Furniture: Theory and Analysis
Color Theory and Application for the Built Environment
History of Interior Architecture I
History of Interior Architecture II
History of Interior Architecture III
Drawing I
Design for Use
Objects and Impacts
Design Process
Total Credits24

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Design

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
ARCH 201 Introduction to Architecture 4
LA 260 Understanding Landscapes 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
Social science course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
LA 289 Landscape Architectural Design 6
WR 122Z
Composition II
or College Composition III
4
Social science course 4
 Credits 14
Spring
LA 337 Landscape Field Work: [Topic] 4
PPPM 205 Introduction to City Planning 4
Global perspectives course 4
Social science course 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
IARC 204 Understanding Contemporary Interiors 4
Contextualizing course 4
Arts & letters course 4
Science course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
LA 301 Environmental Design Careers 2
PPPM 321 Inclusive Urbanism 4
Arts & letters course 4
Science course 4
 Credits 14
Spring
PPPM 445 Green Cities 4
Contextualizing course 4
Arts & letters course 4
US: Diversity, inequality, agency course 4
 Credits 16
Third Year
Fall
Concentration required course 4
Concentration elective courses 8
Math or language course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Concentration required course 4
Concentration elective course 4
Math or language course 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
Concentration required course 4
Science course 4
Math or language course 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Fourth Year
Fall
Concentration elective course 4
Math or language course 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 12
Winter
Concentration elective course 4
Math or language course 4
Elective courses 8
 Credits 16
Spring
Math or language course 4
Elective courses 8
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 180