Environmental Design

Environmental design includes the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and urban and planning design, as well as research pertaining to these fields. The bachelor in environmental design curriculum is a design studio-based education, which requires the completion of design-based studio experiences every semester, along with a number of complementary courses, general electives and environmental-design electives. At any time students may declare an emphasis in architectural design, landscape architecture design, urban and planning design or design studies; they must declare an emphasis during their third-level studio. All graduates from the undergraduate program earn a bachelor in environmental design degree with an emphasis in architectural design, landscape architecture design, urban and planning design ordesign studies. 

In the core, bachelor in environmental design students take a sequence of courses, which emphasize the knowledge, methods and practices, common to the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and urban and planning design. As the established design professions are increasingly collaborating on complex design issues related to the designed environment, the mix of core courses reflects these trends.

The program requires that students complete courses in a clear series of prerequisites, but includes flexible opportunity for general studies and elective courses. Students must meet the prerequisites of any course before enrolling in subsequent courses.

First Year: Core Classes 

Fall Semester

• ENVD 1004 Introduction to Environmental Design Theory—3
• ENVD 1052 Design and Communication 1—3
• ENVD 2001 Social Factors and Design—3
• Writing requirement—3
• Humanities (see list of options above)—3

Spring Semester

• ENVD 1102 Design and Communication 2—3
• ENVD 1104 Introduction to Environmental Design Methods—3
• ENVD 2003 Ecology and Design—3
• Natural science requirement (see list of options above) (Note 1)—3-5
• Social science (see list of options above)—3

Second Year: Core Classes 

Fall Semester

• ENVD 2120 Environmental Design Studio 1—6
• ENVD 3114 History and Theory of ENVD: Buildings—3
• ENVD 3115 Introduction to Building Materials and Systems—3
• Math requirement (see list of options above) (Note 2)—3-5

Spring Semester

• ENVD 2130 Intermediate Design Studio 2—6
• ENVD 3003 Site Planning—3
• ENVD 3004 History of Landscape Architecture—3
• ENVD 3134 History and Theory of ENVD: Precincts—3
• Non-ENVD elective (Note 3)—3

Third Year: Core Classes

Fall Semester

• ENVD 3100 Environmental Design Studio 3—6
• ENVD 3122 Research Issues and Methods in Planning and Design—3 
• ENVD 3124 Issues in Planning History—3 
• ENVD 3144 History and Theory of ENVD: Systems—3
• Non-ENVD elective—3

Spring Semester

• ENVD 3300 Selected ENVD Design Studio or Practicum or study abroad—6
• ENVD 3300 ENVD Seminar, approved certificate courses, study abroad or design studies—3
• ENVD or open electives—3
• Non-ENVD elective—3

Fourth Year: Architecture Emphasis

Architecture emphasis students develop design solutions encompassing conventional design-build, digital fabrication, cultural, urban and global context, areas of structures, construction and environmental systems, and how they are integrated into built structures.

Fall Semester          

• ENVD 4100 Architecture Studio 1—6
• ENVD elective or AREN 3050 Environmental Systems for Buildings 1—3
• ENVD elective or AREN 4035 Architectural Structures 1—3
• Elective—3

Spring Semester

• ENVD 4300 Architecture Studio 2—6
• ENVD elective or AREN 3060 Environmental Systems for Buildings 2—3
• ENVD elective or AREN 4045 Architectural Structures 2—3
• Elective—3

Fourth Year: Planning Emphasis

Planning emphasis students will focus on problems of sustainability in urban environments and the integration of urban design with other planning practices to address sustainability issues.

Fall Semester

• ENVD 4100 Advanced Planning Seminar—3
• ENVD 4023 Environmental Impact Assessment—3
• ENVD 3152 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)—3
• ENVD 4361 Healthy and Vital Communities—3
• Non-ENVD elective—3

Spring Semester

• ENVD 4420 Planning Capstone—3
• ENVD 4794 Planning/Urban History—3
• ENVD 4311 Housing Policies and Planning—3
• ENVD elective—3
• Non-ENVD elective—3

Fourth Year: Landscape Emphasis

Landscape emphasis students develop design solutions in all scales that work in concert with natural systems and reflect both the art and science of design.

Fall Semester

• ENVD 4340 Landscape Architecture Studio 1—6
• ENVD 4100 Landscape Architectural History—3
• ENVD 4100 Landform Manipulations—3
• Elective—3

Spring Semester

• ENVD 4440 Landscape Architecture Studio 2—6
• ENVD 4100 Materials and Methods—3
• ENVD4100 Plants and Design—3
• Elective—3

Fourth Year: Design Studies Emphasis

The design studies sequence provides students the opportunity to build interdisciplinary, flexible and specialized courses of study. Faculty advisor and academic advisor must approve courses.

Fall Semester

• ENVD 4100 Design Thinking—3
• ENVD elective—6-9
• Elective—3-6

Spring Semester

• ENVD 4420 Design Studies Capstone—3
• ENVD elective—6-9
• Elective—3-6

Requirements

• Online application for admission 
• $50 nonrefundable ($70 U.S. for international students) application fee, payable online (if sending a check or money order, make payable to the University of Colorado; print student’s name and date of birth on check)
• Official high school transcript
• Official college transcripts (if applicable)
• SAT or ACT test scores (if applicable)
• Personal essays
• Letter of recommendation
• TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5

Scholarships

• International students are eligible for a few merit-based CU Boulder scholarships, but must submit official ACT or SAT scores as part of the application to be considered.