COURSE CURRICULUM

Community and environmental planning is an interdisciplinary major focused on understanding how communities are designed, managed, and improved to support people and the environment. It trains students to address real-world challenges such as housing affordability, transportation systems, economic development, land use, environmental protection, and sustainable resource management. The program emphasizes how planning decisions affect both human communities and natural ecosystems, preparing students to create solutions that balance social, economic, and environmental needs. Students complete a structured set of core courses that build foundational knowledge in community development, planning principles, community economics, real estate, environmental policy, GIS mapping, and conflict resolution. These courses help students understand how cities and regions function and how data and policy are used to guide development. The curriculum also includes applied learning experiences such as community development practice and an internship, which allow students to work directly with real planning projects and organizations. In addition to the core requirements, students choose a foundational elective and advanced electives that let them specialize in areas like sustainability, energy systems, environmental politics, remote sensing, social impact assessment, housing policy, food systems, or public policy. This flexibility allows students to shape their education toward specific interests within planning and environmental studies. Overall, the major develops strong analytical, policy, and technical skills, including data analysis, geographic information systems, and economic reasoning. Graduates are prepared for careers in urban and regional planning, environmental consulting, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, housing and development sectors, and sustainability-focused roles. The program ultimately aims to train professionals who can design smarter, fairer, and more sustainable communities.