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.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Whether it is the 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. 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 excellent opportunities for work in various green industries, for government agencies involved with regulation and management of the built environment and with nonprofit organizations 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.
Transfer students for either specialization must complete the A.A. degree, MAC 1147 or (MAC 1140 and MAC 1114), STA 2023, and ECO 2013 and ECO 2023 with minimum grades of C. 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.
Certain highly qualified students may have the option of pursuing a 4+1 or a 4+2 degree in urban and regional planning, landscape architecture or building construction.
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.
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Coursework for the Major
All students, regardless of specialization, are required to take 53 hours 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
- BCN 1582 International Sustainable Development or IDS 2935 Facets of Sustainability
- ECO 2023 Microeconomics
- ECO 2013 Macroeconomics
- A history course in architecture, construction management, interior design, landscape architecture, or urban and regional planning
- LAA 2330 Site Analysis
- STA 2023 Statistics 1
- DCP 3210 Sustainable Problem Solving
- DCP 3220 Social and Cultural Sustainability
- 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 3200 Methods of Inquiry for Sustainability and the Built Environment
- DCP 4941 SBE Practicum or DCP 4942 SBE Field Experience
- DCP 4290 SBE Capstone Project
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Interdisciplinary
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
The interdisciplinary specialization is for students who want a general degree that emphasizes the importance of sustainability for all of the built environment fields.
Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete BCN 1582 or IDS 2154 with minimum grade of C+
- Complete LAA 2330 with minimum grade of C
- Complete MAC 1147 or (MAC 1140 and MAC 1114)
- 2.00 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete ARC 1701 or ARC 1720 or BCN 3012 or IND 2100 or IND 2130 or LAA 2710 or URP 4000 with minimum grade of C
- Complete ECO 2023 with minimum grade of C
- 2.50 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete ECO 2013 with minimum grade of C
- Complete STA 2023
- 2.75 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete ENC 3254 with minimum grade of C
- 3.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete DCP 3210 with minimum grades of C+
- Complete one: AEB 4126, REL 2104, or REL 3492 with minimum grade of C
- 3.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
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.
Semester 1 |
Credits |
BCN 1582 International Sustainable Development (GE-S and N) or IDS 2154 Facets of Sustainability |
3 |
ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing GE-C |
3 |
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life GE-H |
3 |
LAA 2330 Site Analysis |
3 |
MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (State Core GE-M) or MAC 1140 Algebra and MAC 1114 Trigonometry (GE-M) |
3-4 |
Total |
15-16 |
Semester 2 |
Credits |
History of a Built Environment ARC 1701 Architectural History 1 (GE-H and N) or ARC 1720 Survey of Architectural History (GE-H and N) or BCN 3012 History of Construction (GE-H and N) or IND 2100 History of Interior Design 1 (GE-H) or IND 2130 History of Interior Design 2 (GE-H) or LAA 2710 History of Landscape Architecture (GE-H and N) or URP 4000 Preview of Urban and Regional Planning (GE-H) |
3 |
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics GE-S |
4 |
IDS 4930 People and Data |
3 |
Electives 1000/2000 level |
4 |
Total |
14 |
Semester 3 |
Credits |
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics State Core GE-S |
4 |
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics GE-M |
3 |
Biological or Physical Science State Core GE-B or P |
3 |
Electives 1000/2000 level |
6 |
Total |
16 |
Semester 4 |
Credits |
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline State Core GE-C |
3 |
IDS 4930 Climate Change, Science and Solutions GE-P |
3 |
Humanities State Core GE-H |
3 |
Electives 1000/2000 level |
6 |
Total |
15 |
Semester 5 |
Credits |
DCP 3210 Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment |
3 |
Ethics and/or Environmental Justice AEB 4126 Agricultural and Natural Resources Ethics or REL 2104 Environmental Ethics or REL 3492 Religion, Ethics and Nature |
3 |
Resource Economics AEB 2451 Economics of Resource Use or AEB 3450 Introduction to Natural Resource and Environmental Economics or AEB 4283 International Development Policy or FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development or GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies or SYD 4512 Social Institutions and Environment |
3 |
Approved electives |
6 |
Total |
15 |
Semester 6 |
Credits |
DCP 3220 Social and Cultural Sustainability and the Built Environment |
3 |
Ecology for the Built Environment EES 4316 Industrial Ecology or FOR 4090C Urban Forestry or SWS 2007 The World of Water or SWS 2008 Land and Life or WIS 4203C Introduction to Landscape Ecology or WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management or WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation |
3 |
Energy and Climate Change AGG 3501 Environment, Food and Society or AOM 2520 Global Sustainable Energy: Past, Present and Future |
3 |
Approved electives |
6 |
Total |
15 |
Semester 7 |
Credits |
DCP 3200 Methods of Inquiry for Sustainability and the Built Environment |
3 |
Practicum in Sustainability DCP 4941 Practicum or DCP 4942 Field Experience |
6 |
Approved elective |
3 |
Elective Any 3000/4000-level course not otherwise required |
3 |
Total |
15 |
Semester 8 |
Credits |
Sustainability Capstone DCP 4290 Sustainability Capstone Project |
6 |
Approved electives |
6 |
Elective Any 3000/4000-level course not otherwise required |
3 |
Total |
15 |
Approved Electives
Any 3000/4000-level course in the College of DCP not otherwise required.
Additional courses that also fulfill this requirement: AEB 2451, AEB 4126, AEB 4283, AGG 3501, ANT 4403, AOM 2520, ARC 2304, EES 3000, EES 4050, EES 4316, FNR 4660, FOR 3004, FOR 3153C, FOR 4060, FOR 4090C, GEO 2500, GEO 3372, IND 2214, LAA 2360C, REL 3492, SWS 2007, SWS 2008, SYD 4512, WIS 4203C, WIS 4427C, WIS 4523.
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Geodesign
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
The geodesign specialization is for students interested in the application of geographic information systems in the sustainable design of the built environment.
Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete BCN 1582 or IDS 2154 with minimum grade of C+
- Complete LAA 2330 with minimum grade of C
- Complete MAC 1147 or (MAC 1140 and MAC 1114)
- 2.00 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete ARC 1701 or ARC 1720 or BCN 3012 or IND 2100 or IND 2130 or LAA 2710 or URP 4000 with minimum grade of C
- Complete ECO 2023 with minimum grade of C
- 2.50 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete DCP 2001 with minimum grade of C
- Complete ECO 2013 with minimum grade of C
- Complete STA 2023
- 2.75 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete DCP 2002 with minimum grade of C
- Complete ENC 3254 with minimum grade of C
- 3.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete DCP 3210 with minimum grades of C+
- Complete one: AEB 4126, REL 2104, or REL 3492 with minimum grade of C
- Complete GEO 3162C with minimum grade of C
- 3.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
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.
Semester 1 |
Credits |
BCN 1582 International Sustainable Development (GE-S and N) or IDS 2154 Facets of Sustainability |
3 |
DCP 1010 Geodesign Colloquium |
1 |
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life GE-H |
3 |
LAA 2330 Site Analysis |
3 |
MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (State Core GE-M) or MAC 1140 Algebra and MAC 1114 Trigonometry (GE-M) |
3-4 |
Total |
13-14 |
Semester 2 |
Credits |
History of a Built Environment ARC 1701 Architectural History 1 (GE-H and N) or ARC 1720 Survey of Architectural History (GE-H and N) or BCN 3012 History of Construction (GE-H and N) or IND 2100 History of Interior Design 1 (GE-H) or IND 2130 History of Interior Design 2 (GE-H) or LAA 2710 History of Landscape Architecture (GE-H and N) or URP 4000 Preview of Urban and Regional Planning (GE-H) |
3 |
DCP 1241 Introduction to Spatial Thinking |
3 |
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics GE-S |
4 |
ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing GE-C |
3 |
IDS 4930 People and Data |
3 |
Total |
16 |
Semester 3 |
Credits |
DCP 2001 Introduction to GIS I |
3 |
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics State Core GE-S |
4 |
GEO 2200 Physical Geography
GE- P |
3 |
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics GE-M |
3 |
Elective 1000/2000 level |
2
|
Total |
15 |
Semester 5 |
Credits |
DCP 3210 Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment |
3 |
Ethics and/or Environmental Justice AEB 4126 Agricultural and Natural Resources Ethics or REL 2104 Environmental Ethics or REL 3492 Religion, Ethics and Nature |
3 |
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers |
4 |
Resource Economics AEB 2451 Economics of Resource Use or AEB 3450 Introduction to Natural Resource and Environmental Economics or AEB 4283 International Development Policy or FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development or GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies or SYD 4512 Social Institutions and Environment |
3 |
URP 4230 3D Modeling, Visualization, and Simulation |
3 |
Total |
16 |
Semester 6 |
Credits |
DCP 3220 Social and Cultural Sustainability and the Built Environment |
3 |
DCP 4930 Geodesign Practicum I |
6 |
Ecology for the Built Environment EES 4316 Industrial Ecology or FOR 4090C Urban Forestry or SWS 2007 The World of Water or SWS 2008 Land and Life or WIS 4203C Introduction to Landscape Ecology or WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management or WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation |
3 |
GEO 4167C Intermediate Quantitative Analysis for Geographers |
3 |
Total |
15 |
Semester 7 |
Credits |
DCP 3200 Methods of Inquiry for Sustainability and the Built Environment |
3 |
DCP 4930 Geodesign Practicum II |
6 |
Energy and Climate Change AGG 3501 Environment, Food and Society or AOM 2520 Global Sustainable Energy: Past, Present and Future |
3 |
Elective Any 3000/4000-level course not otherwise required |
3 |
Total |
15 |
Semester 8 |
Credits |
Sustainability Capstone DCP 4290 Sustainability Capstone Project |
6 |
Approved electives |
6 |
Elective Any 3000/4000-level course not otherwise required |
3 |
Total |
15 |
Approved Electives
Any 3000/4000-level course in the College of DCP not otherwise required.
Additional courses that also fulfill this requirement: AEB 2451, AEB 4126, AEB 4283, AGG 3501, ANT 4403, AOM 2520, ARC 2304, EES 3000, EES 4050, EES 4316, FNR 4660, FOR 3004, FOR 3153C, FOR 4060, FOR 4090C, GEO 2500, GEO 3372, IND 2214, LAA 2360C, REL 3492, SWS 2007, SWS 2008, SYD 4512, WIS 4203C, WIS 4427C, WIS 4523.
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Related Sustainability and the Built Environment Programs
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