The Major
Requirements
In order to complete the Sustainable Community Development major, students must take 14 courses totaling 46 – 53 credits: 8 core courses (28 or 29 credits) and 6 concentration courses (18 – 24 credits). Students must also meet the University’s General Education and credit requirements to earn the Bachelor of Science.
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, economically and environmentally balanced world through sustainable design and planning. These courses provide the academic background for understanding a wide range of cultural, economical, and ecological aspects of the built environment, past, present and future.
Core classes for all Sustainable Community Development majors
|
Course
|
GEN ED
|
CREDITS
|
TERM
|
|
SustComm 110 Transforming Your World: Intro to Comm. Engmt.
|
SB, DU
|
4
|
Fall
|
|
SustComm 140 Awareness of the Visual Environment
|
AT
|
4
|
Fall
|
|
SustComm 232 History of Sustainable Community Development
|
HS, DG
|
4
|
Spring
|
|
SustComm 314 Writing in Community Dev. & Landscape Arch.
|
JYW
|
3
|
Spring
|
|
SustComm 394RI Research Issues in Community Dev.
|
IE
|
3
|
Fall
|
|
SustComm 543 Landscape Architecture History I*
|
AT
|
4
|
Fall
|
|
SustComm 544 Landscape Architecture History II*
|
|
3
|
Spring
|
|
SustComm 574 City Planning
|
|
3
|
Fall
|
|
LandArch 547 + 547L Landscape Pattern & Process + Lab
|
|
3 + 1
|
Fall
|
*Only one of the two Landscape Architecture History courses (Sustcomm 543 or Sustcomm 544) is required.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, students will select six courses in the area of concentration. These typically comprise four courses from within the department (SustComm, LandArch, or RegionPl course prefixes) and two courses from other departments.
Course sequence and prerequisites
Most SCD courses do not have prerequisites, but students should consult an advisor to discuss the best sequence to take courses in.
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) |
| SustComm 232 |
|
(HS-DG) |
| 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 Built Environment, City & Society, Climate Change and Green Infrastructure and Landscape Design and Build. 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, practical 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 community 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 versions). For more information regarding departmental computer requirements refer to our website: www.umass.edu/larp/resource/computing