Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design
Incorporating the disciplines of design, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning, the Sustainable Design major focuses on the places, things, systems, and policies needed to help solve problems in a sustainable society.
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design
The College of Fine and Applied Arts recognized a unique opportunity to draw on the expertise from across the college to create a new degree program: the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design. Incorporating the disciplines of design, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning, this undergraduate major will focus on the places, things, systems, and policies needed to help solve problems in a sustainable society. Through a combination of existing and newly developed classes, students will experience an innovative, interdisciplinary, and unique course of study that will prepare them to enter jobs in the public or private sector guiding institutions and society to greater sustainability or continue their educational pursuits in a variety of graduate programs.
Why a Degree in Sustainable Design?
- Rigorous broad-based education in design with a focus on building sustainable communities through intentional design of environmentally sensitive products, buildings, landscapes, and cities
- Draws on disciplines of design, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning
- Focuses on the places, things, systems, and policies needed to help solve problems in a sustainable society
- Prepares you for the future in a sustainable world where ideas from many disciplines will be necessary to solve complex problems
- After graduation
- Enter jobs in design firms, planning agencies, industry, nonprofits, and public policy institutes
- Continue preparation in a variety of graduate or professional programs such as landscape architecture, architecture, industrial design, graphic design, urban design, and urban planning or accelerated graduate design programs at Illinois
Study sustainable design at Illinois, a 2022 Gold STARS campus for sustainability performance awarded by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Opportunities and Events for Sustainable Design Majors
Join Sustainable Design and related organizations in these ongoing events and activities, virtually and in person! As the faculty committee learns of relevant opportunities related to the major, they will be listed here. RSOs can email sustaindesign@illinois.edu to have their events included.
BSSD Newsletter Archives
Catch up on news, opportunities, and events through our weekly newsletter! Subscribe here.
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Describing her role and responsibilities, Leilany shares her experience as a Fish and Feathers Intern. “This summer, I am working as a Fish and Feathers Intern at Indiana Dunes National Park through a partnership with Environment for the Americas and the National Park Service. As an intern, my focus is on community engagement and leading interpretive and educational programs centered around birding, fishing, and other environmental programs. This includes leading birding walks, hosting pop-ups on the beach focused on invasive aquatic species, teaching about the unique ecology and geology of Indiana Dunes, and spending time on the beach interacting with visitors and educating them about the importance of protecting our dunes.
As an interpreter, the most rewarding aspect of my job is having the opportunity to connect people of all ages to nature and being able to help them form positive and sustainable relationships with the environment. Through this internship, I have gained valuable hands-on experience with community engagement and knowledge of the natural world through learning about the unique ecological landscape of Indiana Dunes. These are skills I hope to apply to future projects as I continue my career studying Sustainable Design”.
Describing her role and responsibilities, Leilany shares her experience as a Fish and Feathers Intern. “This summer, I am working as a Fish and Feathers Intern at Indiana Dunes National Park through a partnership with Environment for the Americas and the National Park Service. As an intern, my focus is on community engagement and leading interpretive and educational programs centered around birding, fishing, and other environmental programs. This includes leading birding walks, hosting pop-ups on the beach focused on invasive aquatic species, teaching about the unique ecology and geology of Indiana Dunes, and spending time on the beach interacting with visitors and educating them about the importance of protecting our dunes.
As an interpreter, the most rewarding aspect of my job is having the opportunity to connect people of all ages to nature and being able to help them form positive and sustainable relationships with the environment. Through this internship, I have gained valuable hands-on experience with community engagement and knowledge of the natural world through learning about the unique ecological landscape of Indiana Dunes. These are skills I hope to apply to future projects as I continue my career studying Sustainable Design”.
Jasmine He received a Fall 2024 BSSD Opportunity Scholarship for the creation of a mixed media short film titled "Bundle Up Baby", which follows two friends bundling up for a chilly day. With the scholarship, Jasmine was able to purchase film equipment to explore visual storytelling and experiment with stop motion and improvisational film-making techniques. Jasmine is currently in the editing phase of this project.
Jasmine He received a Fall 2024 BSSD Opportunity Scholarship for the creation of a mixed media short film titled "Bundle Up Baby", which follows two friends bundling up for a chilly day. With the scholarship, Jasmine was able to purchase film equipment to explore visual storytelling and experiment with stop motion and improvisational film-making techniques. Jasmine is currently in the editing phase of this project.
Jasper used their Opportunity Scholarship to explore the feasibility of mycelium ink extraction. Jasper was able to culture locally adapted species of Coprinus spp. And Ganoderma lucidum fungi, but ink production proved to be a challenge. Following experimental cultivating tests, Jasper found that the target fungi grew well with grain spawn, while the fungus did not grow as well as expected in hardwood culture medium. Jasper continues to work on the ink extraction project and has cultivated a crew of researchers and professors to work on this project and an additional mycelium textile project.
Additionally, Jasper was able to share their mycelium magic by educating students in ARTD 326 Sustainability and Manufacturing on techniques for mycelium culture for class projects in collaboration with Professor Savio Mukacharayil.
Jasper used their Opportunity Scholarship to explore the feasibility of mycelium ink extraction. Jasper was able to culture locally adapted species of Coprinus spp. And Ganoderma lucidum fungi, but ink production proved to be a challenge. Following experimental cultivating tests, Jasper found that the target fungi grew well with grain spawn, while the fungus did not grow as well as expected in hardwood culture medium. Jasper continues to work on the ink extraction project and has cultivated a crew of researchers and professors to work on this project and an additional mycelium textile project.
Additionally, Jasper was able to share their mycelium magic by educating students in ARTD 326 Sustainability and Manufacturing on techniques for mycelium culture for class projects in collaboration with Professor Savio Mukacharayil.
Happy 4th of July!
We hope you are enjoying a break this weekend!
We are also taking a long weekend away!
Sustainable Design Offices
will be closed
July 2 – 6
We’ll be back next week!
Happy 4th of July!
We hope you are enjoying a break this weekend!
We are also taking a long weekend away!
Sustainable Design Offices
will be closed
July 2 – 6
We’ll be back next week!
Lea used her opportunity scholarship to develop a solar powered server that will host a catalogue of sustainability focused books and resources for the Ricker Library. Her project included designing and construction of a 50W solar panel system, designs to mount the solar panel on the library building and a dedicated server that would host and serve the catalogue to users using only the solar power provided by the panel.
During this process, Lea worked toward approvals from the Architect of the University for ideal siting and permission to install the solar panel. She also created a low energy website by coding her catalogue tool using low emission coding strategies. “I plan on continuing this project next semester,” she said. “I hope to finally assemble the physical component and finalize the digital aspect, both in clarifying the purpose of this resource and implementing it.”
The project is ongoing, and Lea is looking for collaborators to continue the project and expand on its potential over the next year. If you wish to connect with Lea on this research, please email her at lch6[at]illinois.edu.
Lea used her opportunity scholarship to develop a solar powered server that will host a catalogue of sustainability focused books and resources for the Ricker Library. Her project included designing and construction of a 50W solar panel system, designs to mount the solar panel on the library building and a dedicated server that would host and serve the catalogue to users using only the solar power provided by the panel.
During this process, Lea worked toward approvals from the Architect of the University for ideal siting and permission to install the solar panel. She also created a low energy website by coding her catalogue tool using low emission coding strategies. “I plan on continuing this project next semester,” she said. “I hope to finally assemble the physical component and finalize the digital aspect, both in clarifying the purpose of this resource and implementing it.”
The project is ongoing, and Lea is looking for collaborators to continue the project and expand on its potential over the next year. If you wish to connect with Lea on this research, please email her at lch6[at]illinois.edu.
Faye describes her project as “InkGreen, is an attempt to make a difference in printer ink discarded in the environment by recycling old ink cartridges and making new products out of them. With the money that we got from the scholarship project, we spent a significant amount of it on prototyping materials for our markers and crayons. Some of the materials that we bought included new ink cartridges, marker shells, and a hot plate to melt our wax for crayons.”
“InkGreen, is an attempt to make a difference in printer ink discarded in the environment by recycling old ink cartridges and making new products out of them.”
For further information on how you can support InkGreen, please reach out to Faye.
Faye describes her project as “InkGreen, is an attempt to make a difference in printer ink discarded in the environment by recycling old ink cartridges and making new products out of them. With the money that we got from the scholarship project, we spent a significant amount of it on prototyping materials for our markers and crayons. Some of the materials that we bought included new ink cartridges, marker shells, and a hot plate to melt our wax for crayons.”
“InkGreen, is an attempt to make a difference in printer ink discarded in the environment by recycling old ink cartridges and making new products out of them.”
For further information on how you can support InkGreen, please reach out to Faye.
FAA 310: Professional Development
2 credit hours, Part of Term B
October 20 – December 10
Co-taught by Sustainable Design Director Karin Hodgin Jones and Program Coordinator Ashley Smart
This course focuses on tailoring written, verbal, and online presentations to targeted audiences. Students will develop an application package including resume, letter, LinkedIn profile, elevator pitch, interview skills, and website.
Open to any student in FAA who would like to develop resources to apply for internships, career opportunities or graduate school!
FAA 310: Professional Development
2 credit hours, Part of Term B
October 20 – December 10
Co-taught by Sustainable Design Director Karin Hodgin Jones and Program Coordinator Ashley Smart
This course focuses on tailoring written, verbal, and online presentations to targeted audiences. Students will develop an application package including resume, letter, LinkedIn profile, elevator pitch, interview skills, and website.
Open to any student in FAA who would like to develop resources to apply for internships, career opportunities or graduate school!
Congratulations Lauren Day on receiving the Bronze Tablet!
The Bronze Table University Honors designation is the highest academic honor awarded to an undergraduate. It is limited to those students who have demonstrated their capacity for sustained academic excellence. To be eligible for this honor, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5, and must rank in the upper 3 percent of their college graduating class throughout their academic journey.
Congrats on achieving this honor! Your name is officially inscribed on this year’s bronze tablet, on view in the library.
Congratulations Lauren Day on receiving the Bronze Tablet!
The Bronze Table University Honors designation is the highest academic honor awarded to an undergraduate. It is limited to those students who have demonstrated their capacity for sustained academic excellence. To be eligible for this honor, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5, and must rank in the upper 3 percent of their college graduating class throughout their academic journey.
Congrats on achieving this honor! Your name is officially inscribed on this year’s bronze tablet, on view in the library.