Sustainable Environmental Design, Bachelor of Science College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Department of Human Ecology; 1303 Hart Hall; 530-752-1805; Sustainable Environmental Design; Faculty
The Sustainable Environmental Design major is intended to build student understanding and skills related to creation of sustainable communities and landscapes. Coursework emphasizes urban and environmental design, sustainable development theory & practice, green building, local government planning & decision-making, community dynamics & organizations, and written, graphic, and oral presentation of sustainability strategies.
The Program
The Sustainable Environmental Design major is particularly suited for students who are interested in the physical form & design of communities and related public & private processes. It is focused on the physical environment of communities and the process of designing, planning for, and regulating the built landscape and the place-making considerations involved in creating sustainable communities.
Advising Center
Jana Krezo (Snjezana J Krezo), 530-752-9322
Galyna Erdman, 530-752-2244
Lead Faculty Advisor
David De La Pena
Career Alternatives
Graduates will choose to pursue work in government, community organizations, education, or the private sector. They will also be well-positioned to pursue graduate education in city & regional planning, landscape architecture, architecture, public policy, public administration, law, real estate, and related fields.
Courses in Sustainable Environmental Design
See courses under Landscape & Environmental Design (LED).
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Requirements & College Requirements, unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Sustainable Environmental Design Bachelor of Science major is 100.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| English Writing/Oral Communication–Also counts toward English Composition Requirement | 8 | |
Choose one: | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Introduction to Academic Literacies | ||
| Introduction to Academic Literacies | ||
| Introduction to Academic Literacies: Online | ||
| Style in the Essay | ||
| Writing Research Papers | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
UWP 102 series | ||
UWP 104 series | ||
AND one course selected from the courses not selected above, or: | ||
| Introduction to Public Speaking | ||
| Introduction to Public Speaking | ||
| Major Works of the Ancient World | ||
| Major Works of the Medieval & Early Modern World | ||
| Major Works of the Modern World | ||
| Major Works of the Contemporary World | ||
| Introduction to Native American Literature | ||
| BIS 002B | Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution | 4-5 |
| or BIO 001 | Introductory Biology: Ecology & Evolution | |
| Choose one 4-unit course from each area below: | 20 | |
Statistics | ||
Economics | ||
Political Science | ||
Sociology | ||
Physical Sciences | ||
| Environmental Design | ||
| LED 001 | Introduction to Environmental Design | 4 |
| or LDA 001 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 ** | ||
| LED 002 | Place, Culture & Community | 4 |
| or LDA 002 DISCONTINUED DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 ** | ||
| LED 003 | Sustainable Development: Theory & Practice | 4 |
| or LDA 003 DISCONTINUED FOR SPRING 2026 ** | ||
| LED 021 | Landscape & Environmental Design Representation I | 4 |
| or LDA 021 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 | ||
| LED 030 | History of Environmental Design | 4 |
| or LDA 030 DISCONTINUED FOR SPRING 2025 ** | ||
| LED 050 | Site Ecology | 4 |
| or LDA 050 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 | ||
| LED 070 | Introduction to Spacemaking | 4 |
| or LDA 070 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 ** | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 60-61 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| LED 140 | Green Building, Design, & Materials | 4 |
| or LDA 140 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 ** | ||
| LED 141 | Community Participation in Design & Planning | 6 |
| or LDA 141 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 ** | ||
| LED 142 | Applying Sustainable Strategies | 6 |
| or LDA 142 DISCONTINUED FOR WINTER 2026 ** | ||
| ESP 171 | Urban & Regional Planning | 4 |
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 20 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose 20 units of upper division courses chosen from courses related to Community Sustainability. | 20 | |
| Internship; recommended | 0-5 | |
| Restricted Electives Subtotal | 20-25 | |
| Total Units | 100-106 | |
- *
All courses satisfying the Preparatory Subject Matter, Depth Subject Matter, and Restricted Electives Requirement must be taken for a letter grade, with exception for internship and research, which are graded as P/N.
- **
Course(s) discontinued; see your advisor for course options.
- ***
In addition to completion of the major requirements students must complete more upper division units to reach a minimum of 54 upper division units to satisfy college requirements.