Concentration in Climate Change and Green Infrastructure (CCGI)

The Climate Change and Green Infrastructure Concentration (CCGI), formerly called Landscape Studies, is concerned with large-scale environmental planning and policy. This concentration focuses on the ways that cities and buildings can reduce greenhouse gasses, improve livability and resilience, and enhance ecology through building, infrastructure and planning interventions. You will learn how to enhance the environmental quality through the wise allocation of resources that mitigates, anticipates and accommodates pressures arising in rapidly changing environments and perform the delicate balancing act between development and conservation. To enter this field requires study in:

• Ecological Systems: Applied ecology and ecosystem principles, the role of the natural systems in urbanization, the impact of human activity from the global environment to specific environmentally sensitive areas, and theory and practices in resource economics and planning for greenway systems to improve ecosystems resilience and human well-being.
• Social Systems: Historical and contemporary needs and cultural attitudes that shape environments, the future of the urban form given our current context of rapid urban growth and increased environmental pressures, and the implications of these coming conditions for built form both now and in the future, and how planners and policymakers can provide environmental leadership to communities.
• Climate-related Impacts: The challenges of a rapidly changing climate and the frameworks and tools needed to address climate issues that impact people and their communities, confront climate threats, reduce vulnerability, and build resilience to extreme events.
• Policy and legal tools: Working with local, regional, state, and national governments to regulate land use, protect natural areas resources, expand sustainable practices, encourage socially responsible development, and transform transportation systems.

Career Paths

Students concentrating in CCGI are prepared to begin careers with government, non-profit, and private organizations focused on biodiversity, ecology, resource and environmental policy, or sustainable landscape planning and management. They are also well placed to attend graduate school in a wide variety of climate, design, or policy programs.

This concentration works well for students pursuing the accelerated Master’s in Regional Planning (the 4+1 MRP program).

CCGI Concentration Requirements

Take four concentration required courses and two electives from the approved courses list. No more than two 100-level courses can count toward concentration requirements.

Required Courses

Take four concentration required courses.

Typical terms and times are listed. Please check the current departmental course offerings for up-to-date information.

*Choose either SustComm 285 or RegionPl 585.

SustComm 543 Landscape Architecture History I can count as a concentration required course if the student takes SustComm 544 Landscape Architecture History II to satisfy the SCD core requirements.

Classes in the MRP core curriculum can count as concentration required courses with the approval of the Program Director.

Electives

Take two concentration electives. The following classes are approved electives; students interested in counting a relevant course (3 or 4 credits) not listed may request a substitution from the Program Director.

Availability of the following classes varies. In addition, some classes may have prerequisites or be limited to certain majors. Check Spire for current offerings and restrictions.