Getting Started

College: SBS

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

SUSTCOMM 110 (SBDU), SUSTCOMM 140 (AT), SUSTCOMM 232 (HSDG) and SUSTCOMM 543 (AT) are core courses for the major;
SUSTCOMM 125 (SBDG), SUSTCOM 205 (IDU) and SUSTCOMM 333 (SBDU) are concentration requirements.
ENGLWRIT 112 (CW); MATH 104 (R1); ARCH 211 (HSDG); GEOGRAPH 100 (PS); GEOGRAPH 102 (SBDG); RES-ECON 102 (SB); ENVIRSCI 101 (BS).

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

Required prerequisites

SUSTCOMM 110 Transforming Your World: Introduction to Community Engagement (Fall)
SUSTCOMM 140 Awareness of the Visual Environment (Fall)
SUSTCOMM 205 Dynamics of Human Habitation (Spring)
SUSTCOMM 297G Climate Change & Resilient Cities (Spring)

Recommended for SBS students getting to know the major (not required for majors; open to non-majors)

SUSTCOMM 191SUST1 FYS From the ground up: Planning and building sustainable communities

How to Declare/Change Into the Major

For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting.

Students should complete a SUSTCOMM MAJOR DECLARATION FORM, available at https://www.umass.edu/larp/undergraduate/sustcomm, and email the Director of Undergraduate Advising below to declare no later than Spring semester of their sophomore year.

Transfer Students

Students can declare when they enter the university. Meet with an advisor in the major, preferably during a transfer advising session or before the first day of classes. Juniors must see the Program Director before registering for any courses.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 46-53

Completion of fourteen courses as follows:

Eight Core courses (28-29 credits).
Six courses in one of the four areas of concentration (18-24 credits): Built Environment, City and Society, Climate Change and Green Infrastructure, Landscape Design and Build.

Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
Yes! A minor is available. Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more

For further information, contact:
Professor Mark Hamin
232 Olver Design Building
413-545-6608
mhamin@larp.umass.edu