Courses in Landscape Architecture + Environmental Design Program (LDA)
1. Introduction to Environmental Design (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour; term paper. Introduction to the role of design professionals in contributing to the built environment at a range of scales. Introduction to basic methods used by design professionals to evaluate, design, plan, and manage landscapes and the built environment. Not open for credit to students who have taken course 40.
2. Place, Culture and Community (4)
Lecture—4 hours. Introduction to recognizing and reading cultural landscapes, and the application of cultural landscape meaning to the creation of contemporary built environments. Topics include patterns and influences relating to agriculture, military, transportation, housing, wilderness, recreation and tourism.
3. Sustainable Development: Theory and Practice (4)
Lecture—2 hours; extensive problem solving—2 hours, discussion—1 hour. Origins, theoretical perspectives, and practical applications of the concept of sustainable development at a number of scales (site, building, neighborhood, city, region, and nation) through lectures, sketch exercises, student projects, walking tours.
21. Environmental Design Visualization (5)
Lecture—3 hours; laboratory/discussion—3 hours. Prerequisite: course 1; can be taken concurrently with course 1. Pass One is restricted to Pre-Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Environmental Design majors. Idea expression through graphic media and drawing techniques for visual representation of the built environment, including conventional drafting and expressive techniques. Introduction to computerized graphics techniques.
30. History of Environmental Design (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. History of Environmental Design across disciplines, including landscape architecture, planning, community and urban design.
50. Site Ecology (4)
Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 2B. Pass One restricted to Pre-Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Environmental Design majors. Introduction to ecological concepts, including nutrient dynamics, population regulation, community structure, ecosystem function. Principles will be applied to human activities such as biological conservation, ecological restoration, landscape planning, and management. Weekly laboratory devoted to field exercises in local ecosystems.
70. Introduction to Spacemaking (5)
Lecture—3 hours; laboratory/discussion—3 hours. Prerequisite: course 21. Pass One restricted to Pre-Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Environmental Design majors. Introduction to basic principles of design towards the creation of space. Introduction to design methodologies and skills necessary to define, manipulate, and represent the built environment. Workshops in 2D computer graphic techniques and 3D physical modeling making will reinforce design principles.
101. Advanced Theory in Environmental Design (3)
Lecture/Discussion—3 hour(s). Prerequisite(s): LDA 070 (can be concurrent); or Consent of Instructor. Open to Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Environmental Design majors only. Provides exploration of contemporary theories and philosophies impacting design of landscapes and the built environment. Includes exploring competing definitions of "landscape," "nature," and "culture."
140. Green Building, Design, and Materials (4)
Lecture—2 hours; laboratory—4 hours. Prerequisite: course 50, 70. Pass One restricted to Sustainable Environmental Design majors. Sustainable design and construction techniques at site and building scales. Emphasizes real-world case studies, analysis of opportunities for actual sites, and application of LEED and Sustainable Sites green rating systems.
141. Community Participation and Design (4)
Lecture—1 hours; laboratory—3 hours; fieldwork—3 hours; project—3 hours. Prerequisite: course 21, 30, 50, 70. Restricted to Sustainable Environmental Design and Landscape Architecture majors. Introduction to community participation and design. Incorporates social and cultural factors, public and community processes, theories and practices related to human-environment behavior; community involvement in design, social analysis, community engagement, accessibility, diversity and politics of place.
142. Applying Sustainable Strategies (4)
Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—3 hours; extensive problem-solving. Prerequisite: course 140, 141. Restricted to Sustainable Environmental Design Majors. Capstone class examines case studies and techniques of sustainable development. Student teams will develop detailed proposals for real-world sites.
190. Proseminar in Landscape Architecture (1)
Seminar—1 hour. Lectures and discussion of critical issues in landscape architecture. May be repeated three times for credit.
Courses in Environmental Science and Policy Department (ESP)
171. Urban and Regional Planning (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour; term paper. Prerequisite: course 1 recommended. How cities plan for growth in ways that minimize environmental harm. Standard city planning tools (general plan, zoning ordinance) and innovative new approaches. Focus on planning requirements and practices in California. Relationships between local, regional, state, and federal policy.
For a full list of major requirements, please refer here.