Course Descriptions

SustComm 110

Transforming Your World: Introduction to Community Engagement (4 cr.)

C. Barchers

To imagine changing even a small part of the world is a daunting, yet exhilarating proposition. Through class exercises, readings, exploration of planning policy, guest speakers, and a group project that takes you from campus to town to region, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for becoming a person who can make a difference. By the end of the semester, you will have learned to connect ideas with action, have made a positive contribution to your community, and understand, through experience, the personal and social value of community engagement. This is a foundation course for the Civic Engagement and Public Service certificate and counts towards requirements in the undergraduate Public Policy degree. (Gen Ed SB, DU)

SustComm 125

Global Cities and Global Issues (4 cr.)

D. Ramsey-Musolf

Cities are dynamic organisms whose inhabitants require food, water, shelter, safety, commerce, leadership, and equity. For most people, the city can be a wonderful place to live in. For persons without privilege, the necessary goods and services that are required for a quality life may be lacking. In this course, students will note that every village, town, city, or mega-city has some type of challenge. By examining cities within a global context, students should recognize that any challenge can also be viewed as an opportunity for implementing positive change. As such, we examine global cities in order to ask a central question: what does it mean to be an active and engaged citizen living in any city, town, or village? (Gen Ed SB, DG)

SustComm 140

Awareness of the Visual Environment (4 cr.)

P. McGirr

Examines physical elements that compose a variety of visual environments including gardens and paintings; the cultural values underlying different types of American landscapes, from wilderness to cities; and the ways in which other cultures perceive, use, and create their own visual environments. (Gen Ed AT)

SustComm 150 (197D)

Intro to Environmental Design (3 cr.)

J. Thurber

This course is an introduction to fundamental “design thinking” and graphic communication skills in environmental design. This studio-based course introduces students to reading and responding to the site through a series of readings, drawing exercises and model explorations. Exercises will progress from abstract to engagement with real places. This course is appropriate for students interested in the built environment and in exploring the process of design through making. No previous design or drawing experience is required. Students will learn to experience and record the landscape, to design in response to the site, to think creatively, to generate design ideas and understand design as a process, to gain knowledge of design precedents and principles, and to learn tools and techniques of visual expression.

LandArch 201

Fundamentals of Design (Studio I) (3 cr.)

M. Davidsohn

Introduction to the skills necessary to envision and explore design. The media of landform, water, plants, and structures are explored as defining agents of human space in the garden and landscape. This studio encourages students to think creatively, to generate design ideas and understand design as a process through drawing and model making, to gain knowledge of design precedents and principles, and to learn tools and techniques of visual expression.

SustComm 205

Dynamics of Human Habitation (4 cr.)

M. DiPasquale

How the built environment is shaped by humans. The forces that go into developing human settlements, how these environments change, how different groups experience the environment, and how environmental designers work within this context. (Gen Ed I, U)

SustComm 225

Race, Gender and Sexuality & Equity (4 cr.)

D. Ramsey - Musolf

In capitalist societies, inequity creates winners and losers, profits and losses, and the privileged and the marginalized. Inequity is defined as a “lack of fairness or justice” and refers to a system of privilege that is created and maintained by interlocking societal structures (i.e., family, marriage, education, housing, government, law, economics, employment, etc.). Alternatively, equity is defined as “the state, quality or ideal of being just, impartial and fair.” To achieve and sustain equity, equity needs to be thought of as a structural and systemic concept and requires action. In this seminar, we will question society’s values and deepen one’s understanding of “self” and agency as we examine how people create and implement equity when such persons are defined by their race, gender, or sexuality. (Gen Ed SB, DU)

SustComm 232

History of Sustainable Community Development (4 cr.)

P. Dunn

This course introduces students to the 4E framework of sustainability assessment, examining the interdependence of ecology, economy, equity, and engagement in addressing opportunities as well as challenges for 21st century urban planning, policy, design, and development on local, regional, and international scales. (Gen Ed HS, DG)

LandArch 254 (297M)

Business Concepts of Landscape Contracting (3 cr.)

M. Davidsohn

The varied aspects of running a small landscape contracting business.

SustComm 285 (297G)

Climate Change and Resilient Cities (3 cr.)

E. Infield

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing us this century. Cities around the world have begun taking action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, identify their climate risks, and build resilience to the coming changes. Solutions also achieve goals for jobs, public health, justice and a vibrant shared life. In this course we will explore the challenges of a changing climate and investigate frameworks and tools to understand and address climate issues that impact people and their communities. We use the UMass campus as our laboratory ‘city’ for applying knowledge to students’ lives and experiences. Our goal is for students who complete this course to feel empowered to advocate for better decisions at a local, regional, national or international scale.

SustComm 281 (297L)

Visual Communication: Design Principles & Digital Skills (3 cr.)

C. Aragón

The course will cover principles of graphic design, visualizing information, information graphics, and portfolio design. Course lectures will be complemented by digital skills workshops where students will become familiar with graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Through weekly exercises, students will build the skills necessary to complete a portfolio of creative work, or a visual book or project showcasing a body of research. For students interested in visual communication, data visualization, graphic design and portfolio design.

LandArch 294A

Construction Materials (3 cr.)

M. Davidsohn

Introduction to materials used in landscape construction, their design potential and limitations. Design details and construction methods discussed.

LandArch 302 (397B)

Residential Design (Studio III) (3 cr.)

D. Gordon

Introduces the concepts and techniques of residential design at the scale of the garden. As students move to a real site and client, the garden is explored as a contemporary art through the design of an individual example. Precedent study and appropriate site analysis techniques are introduced as part of the design process.

SustComm 314

Writing in Community Development and Landscape Architecture (3 cr.)

T. Eisenmann

This course is intended to develop advanced writing and critical thinking skills for upper level students majoring in Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Community Development. Toward that goal, the course is structured around typical modes of writing that support this kind of work. (Gen Ed: JYW)

SustComm 333

Intro to Community Economic Development (4 cr.)

W. Feiden

Sustainability can be defined as a harmonic balance of the Economy-Environment-Equity trilogy. Community Economic Development explores the economy element of sustainability, within the context of social equity, a diverse and pluralistic society, and the natural and built environment. Specifically, we will examine economic development at the community or local scale from a practitioner's perspective. No community can be sustainable if the economy is too weak, in a downward spiral, or is not balanced with other aspects of sustainability. Cities provided unparalleled opportunities for wealth creation and upward mobility, but for many residents, especially low income and minority residents, the likelihood of upward mobility is slim. We will pay special attention to diversity, institutional racism, and economic development in downtowns, post- industrial cities, and under-invested communities. We will examine how to understand a local economy, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and opportunities for local governments and community organizations to intervene to improve the economy and make it more sustainable.

SustComm 335

Plants in Landscape (4 cr.)

E. Carr

Introduction to 200 native and ornamental plants used in landscape architectural, horticultural, arboricultural, and other design uses, their identification, uses, and cultural requirements.

Weekly field lab on around campus. Workbook with sketches required.

SustComm 352 (397P)

Planning Tools and Techniques (3 cr.)

W Feiden

This class is for anyone working for or with local or regional governments. It is a hands-on examination of the tools and techniques communities use to get good things done: zoning and regulations, protection of natural areas and downtown parklets, tweaking transportation systems to serve all modes of travel, finding the money, managing planning functions, regulations, and everything in between. The class provides enough breadth and depth for planning and design professionals to use management, regulatory, investment, and policy interventions to improve the sustainability and quality of life in communities.

SustComm 394RI

Research Issues in Community Development (3 cr.)

M DiPasquale

Survey of research issues in environmental design and planning. Designed to assist students in developing research in their area of interest. Includes selecting a topic for research, synthesizing the pertinent literature, developing research questions, designing a research study, and communicating the research findings verbally, visually , and in writing. (Gen Ed IE)

SustComm 543

Landscape Architecture History I (4 cr.)

E. Brabec

Introduction to the historic forces that have shaped the manmade environment from ancient civilizations to the Renaissance as manifested in particular environments. Students are expected to understand historic and geographical contexts, and cultural forces that have contributed to changes in the built environment. (Gen Ed AT)

SustComm 544

Landscape Architecture History II (3 cr.)

E. Carr

Continuation of LA 543, from the Renaissance to the present. Emphasis on Europe and North America and landscape design traditions that have led to contemporary design movements. A ‘canon’ of specific works, individuals, and theories are studied in the context of their time and place. Students learn to see, analyze, and appreciate works of landscape design as the result of the artistic, cultural, and natural forces that have shaped them.

RegionPl 545

Intro to Land Use (3 cr.)

D Ramsey-Musolf

Land-Use is a process in which various constituencies (planners, elected officials, private corporations, advocates, and the public) manage a community's land and the land's subsequent development. This course examines trends in land -use (e.g., Growth Management, Smart Growth, New Urbanism, Sustainability, Shrinking Cities, etc) in order to understand that development is a common occurrence. However, the choice of the applied land-use and the desired outcome are contextually dependent on location and development trends.

LandArch 547

Landscape Pattern and Process (3 cr.)

D MacDonald

Landscape ecology as applied to planning and design decision-making. Explores landscape structure, function and dynamic processes at multiple scales. Introduces theoretical and technical knowledge that supports sustainable landscape planning, design, and management. Lab includes a series of local field trips and introductory labs in GIS.

LandArch 547L

Lab for Landscape Pattern and Process (1 cr.)

D MacDonald

This course must be taken concurrently with LandArch 547, Landscape Pattern & Process.

BCT 550

Construction Project Management (3 cr.)

C Xiao

Introduces concepts of project management for design and construction, including initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, control, closeout, documentation, scope, budget, and scheduling, teamwork and communication, contracts and negotiation, and risk management.

SustComm 574

City Planning (3 cr.)

P. Dunn

Introduction to city and regional planning and the urban planning profession. The role of the planner plays in addressing the wide range of problems and opportunities, city or regional, or may in the future, confront America's modern urban environment.

RegionPl 585

Planning for Climate Change (3 cr.)

E. Infield

This seminar reads some of the most current literature on the future of the urban form given climate change, and allows time and shared space to reflect on what these coming changes mean for (primarily local) government as well as governance. The class focus will be on implications of these coming conditions for built form both now and in the future, with a goal of developing a working understanding of what municipal, regional, and state planners and policymakers need to know now about these conditions to provide leadership to communities

LandArch 587

People and the Environment (3 cr.)

R. Ryan

Interdisciplinary seminar on the applications of environmental psychology research to planning and design. Topics include landscape preference, territoriality and defensible space, way finding, and restorative settings/therapeutic gardens.