SHAPING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Urban, suburban, and rural environments intersect with the natural environment in important yet complex ways. Cultural as well as biophysical systems influence the structure and function of these environments at both local and regional scales. Exploration of these relationships by analyzing built environments and simulating future design and planning scenarios offer a transdisciplinary foundation for subsequent coursework.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: None Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Natural Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the diverse range of cultural, biophysical, and socio-political factors that shape the built environments of North America. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Understand the principles and theories of how the built environment influences human health, safety, and well-being, as well as community sustainability, resiliency, and quality of life. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Demonstrate the ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate information portraying community character and sense of place across the urban, suburban, and exurban landscape. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain the social, economic, and/or environmental dimensions of the sustainability challenge(s) of designing and planning within the built environment. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Apply sustainability principles and/or frameworks to addressing the challenge of designing and planning within the built environment. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the diverse range of cultural, biophysical, and socio-political factors that shape the built environments of North America. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Understand the principles and theories of how the built environment influences human health, safety, and well-being, as well as community sustainability, resiliency, and quality of life. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Demonstrate the ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate information portraying community character and sense of place across the urban, suburban, and exurban landscape. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain the social, economic, and/or environmental dimensions of the sustainability challenge(s) of designing and planning within the built environment. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Apply sustainability principles and/or frameworks to addressing the challenge of designing and planning within the built environment. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027