Interdisciplinary

The Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and the Built Environment (BSSBE) enables students to explore creative solutions for the planning, design and construction of human structures and settlements.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Sustainability and the Built Environment (SBE) Program at the College of Design, Construction and Planning teaches hands-on sustainability by using the university as a learning laboratory. 
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CONTACT

Email | 352.294.1428

ARCHITECTURE BUILDING
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-5701
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 Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and the Built Environment (BSSBE) concentrates on sustainability from an interdisciplinary lens that enables students to explore creative solutions for the planning, design, construction, and operations of human structures and settlements. Environmental policies, ethics, ecology, landscape architecture, economics, natural resources, sociology, and anthropology are an integral part of the BSSBE program.

Whether it is planning, redesign and rehabilitation of existing structures, or innovative new design, students will be provided a theoretical foundation for seeking sustainable solutions to problems in the built environment. This program requires students to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the goals of sustainability and the activities of the built environment disciplines, including architecture, building construction, historic preservation, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning. The degree program is supported by the globally recognized expertise in sustainability of the faculty in the College of Design, Construction and Planning and from across campus.

Graduates will have opportunities for work in various industries, including public, private, and NGOs promoting the principles of sustainability. Additionally, students will be prepared to enter graduate school in architecture, building construction, historic preservation, interior design, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning.

Field trips to broaden and expand students' educational experiences through study of planning, design, construction, and sustainability projects are required and will be paid for by students.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students must complete their AA degree and these courses with minimum grades of C:

Transfer students must also have a 3.0 minimum overall GPA. Refer to the admissions website for transfer admission information, application deadlines, and the online application.
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Specializations

Geodesign

The geodesign specialization is for students interested in the application of geographic information systems in the sustainable design of the built environment.

Interdisciplinary

The interdisciplinary specialization is for students who want a general degree that emphasizes the importance of sustainability for all of the built environment fields.

Coursework for the Major

All students, regardless of specialization, are required to take 53 credits of core courses to develop knowledge of the fundamental concepts for sustainability and the built environment.

Students should meet with an advisor as early as possible in their academic careers to choose their specialization and to plan their course of study.

Core Courses

Select one:3
International Sustainable Development
Special Topics (Facets of Sustainability)
ECO 2023Principles of Microeconomics4
ECO 2013Principles of Macroeconomics4
A history course in architecture, construction management, interior design, landscape architecture, or urban and regional planning
LAA 1330Site Analysis3
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics 13
DCP 3210Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment3
DCP 3220Social and Cultural Sustainability and the Built Environment3
An approved ecology and the built environment course
An approved ethics and/or environmental justice course
An approved energy and/or climate change course
An approved resource economics course
DCP 3200Methods of Inquiry for Sustainability and the Built Environment3
DCP 4941Practicum in Sustainability and the Built Environment6
or DCP 4942 Field Experience in Sustainability and the Built Environment
DCP 4290Capstone Project in Sustainability and the Built Environment6
Total Credits38

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

  • Complete ENC 3254 with minimum grade of C
  • 3.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BCN 1582 International Sustainable Development (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences and International) 3
ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing (Gen Ed Composition) 3
LAA 1330 Site Analysis 3
Select one: 3-4
Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics)
Precalculus Algebra
Elective (1000/2000 level) 3
 Credits15-16
Semester Two
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
Select one: 3
Architectural History 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities and International)
Survey of Architecture History (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities and International)
History of Construction (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities and International)
History of Interior Design 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)
History of Interior Design 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)
History of Landscape Architecture (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities and International)
Preview of Urban and Regional Planning (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)
DCP 1003 Creating our Built Environment (Critical Tracking) 1
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 4
Electives (1000/2000 level) 4
 Credits15
Semester Three
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences 3
Electives (1000/2000 level) 6
 Credits16
Semester Four
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences) 3
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline (State Core Gen Ed Composition) 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Electives (1000/2000 level) 5
 Credits14
Semester Five
DCP 3210 Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment (Critical Tracking) 3
Select one ethics or environmental justice course: 3
Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics (Critical Tracking)
Environmental Ethics (Critical Tracking)
Religion Ethics and Nature (Critical Tracking)
Select one resource economics course: 3
Economics of Resource Use (Critical Tracking)
Introduction to Natural Resource and Environmental Economics (Critical Tracking)
International Development Policy (Critical Tracking)
Sustainable Ecotourism Development (Critical Tracking)
Global and Regional Economies (Critical Tracking)
Approved electives 6
 Credits15
Semester Six
DCP 3220 Social and Cultural Sustainability and the Built Environment (Critical Tracking) 3
Select one ecology for the built environment course: 3
Industrial Ecology
Urban Forestry
The World of Water
Land and Life
Landscape Ecology and Conservation
Wildlife Habitat Management
Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation
Select one energy and climate change course: 3
Environment, Food and Society
Global Sustainable Energy: Past, Present and Future
Approved electives 6
 Credits15
Semester Seven
DCP 3200 Methods of Inquiry for Sustainability and the Built Environment (Critical Tracking) 3
Select a practicum in sustainability: 6
Practicum in Sustainability and the Built Environment
Field Experience in Sustainability and the Built Environment
Approved elective 3
Elective (3000/4000-level) 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
DCP 4290 Capstone Project in Sustainability and the Built Environment (Critical Tracking) 6
Approved electives 6
Elective (000/4000 level) 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits120

Any 3000/4000-level course in the College of Design, Construction and Planning not otherwise required.

Additional courses that also fulfill this requirement:

AEB 2451Economics of Resource Use3
AEB 4126Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics3
AEB 4283International Development Policy3
AGG 3501Environment, Food and Society3
ANT 4403Environment and Cultural Behavior3
AOM 2520Global Sustainable Energy: Past, Present and Future3
ARC 2304Architectural Design 45
EES 4050Environmental Planning and Design3
EES 4316Industrial Ecology3
FNR 4660Natural Resource Policy and Economics3
FOR 3004Forests, Conservation and People3
FOR 3153CForest Ecology3
FOR 4060Global Forests3
FOR 4090CUrban Forestry3
GEO 2500Global and Regional Economies3
GEO 3372Conservation of Resources3
IND 2214Introduction to Architectural Interiors4
LAA 2360CPrinciples of Landscape Architecture5
REL 3492Religion Ethics and Nature3
SWS 2007The World of Water3
SWS 2008Land and Life3
WIS 4203CLandscape Ecology and Conservation3
WIS 4427CWildlife Habitat Management3
WIS 4523Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation3

The Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and the Built Environment requires students to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the goals of sustainability and the activities of the built environment disciplines, including architecture, building construction, historic preservation, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Complete a capstone or independent research project, present the results to a committee of the program’s faculty, and receive acceptable assessment.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Explain sustainability principles.
  2. Integrate knowledge and principles from sustainability-related disciplines.
  3. Describe the role of the built environment in sustainability.
  4. Combine information from multiple sources to solve problems.

Critical Thinking

  1. Frame sustainable problems and potential solutions within a global context.
  2. Collect and analyze data to solve problems.
  3. Produce sustainable solutions for problems of the built environment.
  4. Integrate multiple disciplinary, cultural and stakeholder perspectives for sustainable problem solving.

Communication

  1. Produce an effective oral presentation.
  2. Produce effective written communications.
  3. Integrate a variety of visual techniques to enhance the communication of ideas and solutions.
  4. Solve a built environment sustainability problem in a multidisciplinary team.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4 SLO 5 SLO 6 SLO 7 SLO 8 SLO 9 SLO 10 SLO 11 SLO 12
DCP 3200 I, R I, R I, R I, R
DCP 3210 I I I, R I, R I, R I, R I, R I, R
DCP 3220 R R R R R R I, R R R R I, R, A
DCP 4290 A A A A A A A A A A A
DCP 4910 A A A A A A A A A A A
DCP 4941 R R R R R R R R R
DCP 4942 R R R R
Approved Electives1 R R
Ecology for the Built Environment (one course)1 I, R
Energy and/or Climate Change (one course)1 I, R
Ethics and Environmental Justice (one course)1 I, R
Resource Economics (one course)1 I, R
1

Student chooses from courses listed in semesters 5-7 of the major's semester plan. 

Assessment Types

  • Capstone evaluation
  • Final project evaluation