Sustainable Design, BS

for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

The major in Sustainable Design offers an innovative, interdisciplinary course of study in design, with a focus on building sustainable communities through the intentional design of environmentally sensitive products, buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes and cities.

The program grounds concrete skills development with opportunities to move between disciplinary barriers, allowing students to prepare for the future in a sustainable world where ideas from many disciplines will be necessary to solve the complex problems of pollution reduction, energy conservation, and biodiversity protection in equitable, healthy, and thriving places.

Required introductory coursework provide a solid grounding in design thinking and skills, coupled with a broad understanding of the role of design in achieving sustainable results across scales. Students will apply their skills and knowledge in a required senior capstone project.

With expertise across disciplines, students in this program will be prepared to work in the public and private sector, or continue preparation in a variety of professional graduate programs such as Architecture, Industrial Design, Innovation Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Urban Planning.

for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree.  Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)0-15

 Sustainable Design Requirements

Foundation18
FAA 101Arts at Illinois1
FAA 230Sustainable Design of the Built Environment3
FAA 231Tools for Sustainable Design Studio3
LA 101Introduction to Landscape Arch2
ARCH 171Introduction to Design I3
ARCH 172Introduction to Design II3
ARTH 211Design History Survey3
Urban Scale Sustainability (select one course)3
UP 136Urban Sustainability3
UP 205Ecology & Environmental Sustainability3
ARCH 237Urban Scale Sustainability3
Drawing (select one course)3
ARTD 225Design Drawing3
ARTF 102Observational Drawing3
LA 280Design Communications I (limited seats solely for BSSD/MLA 4+2 students)3
Core17
FAA 330Making Sustainable Design5
ARTD 326Sustainability & Manufacturing3
ARCH 321Environment, Architecture, and Global Health3
ARTD 451Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy4
FAA 310FAA Professional Development2
Senior Capstone8
FAA 430Sustainable Design Capstone Seminar3
FAA 431Sustainable Design Capstone Studio5
Total Hours49

 Sustainable Design Major Electives

Select 16 credit hours, with at least 10 hours at the 300 or 400-level, and with approval of advisor.
ARTD 217Graphic Design for Non-Majors3
ARTD 230Design Thinking/Need-Finding3
ARTD 270Design Methods2
ART 205Experience & Meaning in Design3
ART 208Digital Art and Sustainability3
ART 310Design Thinking3
ARTJ 398Designing Everyday Life in Modern Japan3
ARTD 426Product Innovation3
ARTS 321Sustainable Fashion Development and Branding3
UP 203Cities: Planning & Urban Life3
UP 204Chicago: Planning & Urban Life3
UP 205Ecology & Environmental Sustainability (may not double count as a major requirement)3
UP 340Planning for Healthy Cities3
UP 406Urban Ecology4
UP 418Intermediate GIS and Spatial Analysis4
UP 420Plng for Historic Preservation4
UP 426Urban Design and Planning4
UP 430Urban Transportation Planning4
UP 434Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning3
UP 437Public Transportation Planning3
UP 438Disasters and Urban Planning4
UP 456Sustainable Planning Workshop4
UP 479Community Engagement in Planning3
UP 486Planning with Climate Change4
UP 494Special Topics in Planning1-4
ARCH 210Introduction to the History of World Architecture3
ARCH 231Anatomy of Buildings4
ARCH 237Urban Scale Sustainability (may not double count as a major requirement)3
ARCH 273Fundamentals of Design I4
ARCH 416The Architecture of the United States, c.1650 to Present3
ARCH 417Modern and Contemporary Global Architecture3
LA 222Islamic Gardens & Architecture3
LA 242Nature and American Culture3
LA 250Environmental Site Analysis3
LA 314
LA 370Environmental Sustainability3
LA 387Undergraduate Seminar1 to 6
LA 430Children and Nature2
LA 446Sustainable Planning Seminar4
LA 466Energy & the Built Environment4
LA 480Sustainable Design Principles2
FAA 491Special Problems in Sustainable Design1 to 4
Other courses approved by advisor
Total Hours (minimum)16

Summary of Credits for Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

General Education requirements
Sustainable Design Major49
Major Electives16
Free Electives
A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required
Total Hours120

for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This may require up to three semesters of language depending on high school coursework or placement. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
FAA 1011
ARCH 1713
LA 1012
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
General Education course3
General Education course3
 16
Total Hours 16
First Year
Second SemesterHours
UP 136, ARCH 237, or UP 2053
ARCH 1723
General Education course3
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Free Elective course2
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
First SemesterHours
FAA 2303
ARTD 225, ARTF 102, or LA 2803
General Education course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
FAA 2313
SD Major Elective3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
First SemesterHours
ARCH 3213
SD Major Elective3
SD Major Elective3
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
ARTD 3263
ARTH 2113
SD Major Elective4
FAA 3305
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
FAA 4303
ARTD 4514
SD Major Elective3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
FAA 4315
FAA 3102
General Education course3
Free Elective course5
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

Upon successful completion of a degree in Sustainable Design, students will:

  1. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of sustainability and their functional links to the built environment.
  2. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of design thinking and practice.
  3. Be proficient in applying basic principles of visual and material communication, including sketching, drafting, model-making, 2D and 3D design software and geographic information systems.
  4. Be able to combine design theory and practice with sustainability principles to address environmental issues at the product, building, neighborhood, city, landscape and global levels.
  5. Be comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex design problems.

for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

Sustainable Design

210C Architecture Building
608 East Lorado Taft Drive

Director: Professor Karin Hodgin Jones
Program Coordinator: Ashley Smart
Sustainable Design prospective student website
sustaindesign@illinois.edu 

College of Fine and Applied Arts website 

Admissions

Fine & Applied Arts Undergraduate Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
admissions@illinois.edu