University Catalog

Minor in Sustainable Communities and Environmental Design

About This Program

The Minor in Sustainable Communities and Environmental Design (SCED)  provides students with the multidisciplinary planning, design, and analysis skills necessary to address the diverse environmental challenges facing communities around the globe today. Students can choose to specialize in one of three areas of focus, tailored around critical aspects of planning and designing sustainable, socially just, and resilient communities, where they will acquire the tools required to actively contribute to solving environmental crises. The multidisciplinary coursework under this degree offers students the chance to engage with many different disciplines, such as architectural design, engineering, urban planning, and public policy, building their understanding of how to address fundamentally interdisciplinary problems and positioning them to be transformative agents in a rapidly changing world. No matter what field you are in, the SCED Minor will equip you with the applied design, socio-economic, and technical tools necessary to holistically deal with some of the most complex and challenging problems of the 21st century.

Competencies

  1. Interdisciplinary Environmental Literacy: Upon completion, students will be able to analyze environmental challenges—including those related to the built environment—through diverse academic perspectives, from science and public policy to culture and economics.
  2. Applied Sustainability Frameworks: Upon completion, students will be able to evaluate how the five domains of sustainability impact both natural and built environments, informing decisions in areas like design, planning, and resource management.
  3. Strategic Career Integration: Upon completion, students will be able to connect your major to urgent environmental concerns—including climate change, public health, and sustainable development—to enhance career readiness in fields that shape the built world.

Curriculum

Foundations
ESST 2300INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES3
PLAN 4320SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES3
Deepen Understanding
Choose two classes from one of the three subareas6
Cities and Community Design
THE LIFE OF CITIES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION
GLOBAL WARMING
INTRODUCTION TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
URBAN GEOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION TO URBAN LIFE
THE METROPLEX
FOUNDATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN CITIES AND TRANSPORTATION
INTRODUCTION TO PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DESIGN
Civil Engineering / Community Infrastructure Design
INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION TO AIR POLLUTION
PHYSICAL UNIT PROCESSES
INTRODUCTION TO SOLID WASTE ENGINEERING (Environmental Design)
Environmental Design
ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURAL THEORY
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION
SELECTED TOPICS ARCHITECTURE (When the topic is: Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainability, Sustainable Intelligent Ciities, or Watershed Urbanism and Rewilding)
THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION OF CHEMICAL HAZARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
Analyze and Apply Skills
Select two from the following:6
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS I
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS II
GREEN DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
LANDFILL DESIGN
DESIGN OF WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
PYTHON FOR DATA SCIENCE 1
STATISTICAL METHODS FOR DATA SCIENCE 1
RISK ANALYSIS IN WEATHER AND CLIMATE
MACHINE LEARNING FOR EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INTERMEDIATE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Total Hours18

Advising Resources

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at UT Arlington equips students with skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges in design, public policy, and research. Our Advising Office supports academic and career success. Explore our Future Students page to connect with an Academic Advisor and shape your future.

Location:

203 CAPPA Building

Email:

cappa.advising@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-2801

Web:

General advising

Future students