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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BSSD Seniors! We invite you to share your post-graduation plans by completing the Illini Success Survey! Your participation plays a vital role in shaping the university’s future.
Entries qualify grads for multiple drawings to win an Amazon gift card or other prizes!
Not a BSSD grad, no problem! The survey is open to all graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at Illinois.
BSSD Seniors! We invite you to share your post-graduation plans by completing the Illini Success Survey! Your participation plays a vital role in shaping the university’s future.
Entries qualify grads for multiple drawings to win an Amazon gift card or other prizes!
Not a BSSD grad, no problem! The survey is open to all graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at Illinois.
All are invited to attend our seniors` Capstone Exhibition opening! Join us for a reception in the Murphy Gallery at the University YMCA on May 7th from 5-7:00, with opening remarks beginning at 6:00. Mingle and enjoy some snacks while learning about student projects! We especially encourage first-years, sophomores, and juniors to attend. Bring a friend!
Since last fall, the BSSD seniors have been working diligently to design their capstone projects as part of their FAA 430 and FAA 431 classes. While these projects span across many topics and disciplines, they share a goal of addressing a problem in sustainability, and act as a representation of all they`ve learned during their time in the major. Please show them your support!
All are invited to attend our seniors` Capstone Exhibition opening! Join us for a reception in the Murphy Gallery at the University YMCA on May 7th from 5-7:00, with opening remarks beginning at 6:00. Mingle and enjoy some snacks while learning about student projects! We especially encourage first-years, sophomores, and juniors to attend. Bring a friend!
Since last fall, the BSSD seniors have been working diligently to design their capstone projects as part of their FAA 430 and FAA 431 classes. While these projects span across many topics and disciplines, they share a goal of addressing a problem in sustainability, and act as a representation of all they`ve learned during their time in the major. Please show them your support!
As the end of the semester approaches, we encourage you to enjoy your time on campus to the fullest! For graduating seniors especially, these are moments you won`t want to miss! Read on for more details.
5/6: FAA Senior Celebration
Seniors! Celebrate your accomplishments with other graduates from the college of Fine and Applied Arts TONIGHT from 6-8:00 at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center!
5/7: BSSD Capstone Exhibition
Celebrate with BSSD students as they showcase their final projects from their capstone course. Bring a friend and learn more about the varied interests of Sustainable Designers and hear from students passionate about change. All are welcome - we particularly encourage first-years, sophomores, and juniors to attend!
5/8 and 5/13: BSSD Lending Library of Art Materials
Do you have extra art material from a course that you no longer need? Drop by the BSSD office and donate it to the BSSD Program to support future Sustainable Designers! Donated material will be available for future students to support access to physical materials required for coursework. Dropoff times are Thursday, May 8th, from 10-11:00 AM, and Tuesday, May 13th, from 12-1:00 PM. Email Ashley Smart at acsmart@illinois.edu if you have material to drop off but can`t make it during these times.
5/9: Final Exams Begin
Final exams will take place from May 9-15. Take care of yourself and finish the semester off strong!
5/16: BSSD Senior Luncheon
Are you a graduating senior? We want to celebrate you! Join us in Latzer Hall at the University YMCA from 12-3:00 PM for an afternoon of fun and reminiscing, with lunch provided by Y-Thai!
5/18: Sustainable Design Convocation
A hearty congratulations to our graduating seniors! The Sustainable Design Convocation will be held on May 18th at the Siebel Center for Design at 11:30 AM.
As the end of the semester approaches, we encourage you to enjoy your time on campus to the fullest! For graduating seniors especially, these are moments you won`t want to miss! Read on for more details.
5/6: FAA Senior Celebration
Seniors! Celebrate your accomplishments with other graduates from the college of Fine and Applied Arts TONIGHT from 6-8:00 at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center!
5/7: BSSD Capstone Exhibition
Celebrate with BSSD students as they showcase their final projects from their capstone course. Bring a friend and learn more about the varied interests of Sustainable Designers and hear from students passionate about change. All are welcome - we particularly encourage first-years, sophomores, and juniors to attend!
5/8 and 5/13: BSSD Lending Library of Art Materials
Do you have extra art material from a course that you no longer need? Drop by the BSSD office and donate it to the BSSD Program to support future Sustainable Designers! Donated material will be available for future students to support access to physical materials required for coursework. Dropoff times are Thursday, May 8th, from 10-11:00 AM, and Tuesday, May 13th, from 12-1:00 PM. Email Ashley Smart at acsmart@illinois.edu if you have material to drop off but can`t make it during these times.
5/9: Final Exams Begin
Final exams will take place from May 9-15. Take care of yourself and finish the semester off strong!
5/16: BSSD Senior Luncheon
Are you a graduating senior? We want to celebrate you! Join us in Latzer Hall at the University YMCA from 12-3:00 PM for an afternoon of fun and reminiscing, with lunch provided by Y-Thai!
5/18: Sustainable Design Convocation
A hearty congratulations to our graduating seniors! The Sustainable Design Convocation will be held on May 18th at the Siebel Center for Design at 11:30 AM.
What is it like to study Sustainable Design at Illinois? Find out from junior Cheyanne Pauley as she shares her experiences, and how her time in the major has impacted her interest in brownfield restoration. To watch Cheyanne`s full interview, visit the Fine and Applied Arts YouTube channel.
go.illinois.edu/BSSDStudentExperience
What is it like to study Sustainable Design at Illinois? Find out from junior Cheyanne Pauley as she shares her experiences, and how her time in the major has impacted her interest in brownfield restoration. To watch Cheyanne`s full interview, visit the Fine and Applied Arts YouTube channel.
go.illinois.edu/BSSDStudentExperience
Are you a student passionate about sustainability? 🌎🌳 Consider joining Epsilon Eta Epsilon or TrEEE, a new professional fraternity dedicated to sustainability, to meet fellow Illinois students with a desire to preserve the world around us! TrEEE serves to provide a network of mentors in sustainability careers and to foster a culture of sustainability leadership on campus. ✨
Please follow @treee_uiuc to stay updated on future events. Be on the lookout for their first general meeting on reading day over on their Instagram account. It will be a potluck picnic! 👀 We hope to see you all there! 🧺
If you have any questions, email Jasmine He or James Chustak.
Are you a student passionate about sustainability? 🌎🌳 Consider joining Epsilon Eta Epsilon or TrEEE, a new professional fraternity dedicated to sustainability, to meet fellow Illinois students with a desire to preserve the world around us! TrEEE serves to provide a network of mentors in sustainability careers and to foster a culture of sustainability leadership on campus. ✨
Please follow @treee_uiuc to stay updated on future events. Be on the lookout for their first general meeting on reading day over on their Instagram account. It will be a potluck picnic! 👀 We hope to see you all there! 🧺
If you have any questions, email Jasmine He or James Chustak.
Today we are featuring the Director of the Sustainable Design program Karin Hodgin Jones! Karin is Teaching Assistant Professor in the School of Art and Design, and she is core faculty in the Sustainable Design program. Read on to hear about Karin’s work with Sustainable Design.
What class(es) do you teach in the Sustainable Design curriculum?
I teach the foundational course in the Sustainable Design program, FAA 230 Sustainable Design of the Built Environment, and co-teach FAA 310 Professional Practice. I have also taught the object-scale module of FAA 330 Making Sustainable Design Studio. I enjoy working with Sustainable Design students in FAA 491 Special Topics courses, including the short-term study abroad class to Finland and on independent sustainability-focused research.
Can you tell us a bit about this class?
FAA 230 is a seminar that introduces students to the historical, contemporary, and emerging meanings of sustainability as understood within—and at the intersections of—design disciplines that engage object, architectural, landscape, and urban scales.
As an introduction to the major, this course challenges students to apply their creativity in conceptualizing, visualizing, analyzing, communicating, and constructing products, buildings, cities, landscapes, and communities that use energy and materials in more environmentally and socially sustainable ways. Through the study of proposed, built, and speculative examples of sustainable design, students learn to become critical thinkers and reflective practitioners, establishing a foundation for future design practice.
(Continued in the comments section!)
Today we are featuring the Director of the Sustainable Design program Karin Hodgin Jones! Karin is Teaching Assistant Professor in the School of Art and Design, and she is core faculty in the Sustainable Design program. Read on to hear about Karin’s work with Sustainable Design.
What class(es) do you teach in the Sustainable Design curriculum?
I teach the foundational course in the Sustainable Design program, FAA 230 Sustainable Design of the Built Environment, and co-teach FAA 310 Professional Practice. I have also taught the object-scale module of FAA 330 Making Sustainable Design Studio. I enjoy working with Sustainable Design students in FAA 491 Special Topics courses, including the short-term study abroad class to Finland and on independent sustainability-focused research.
Can you tell us a bit about this class?
FAA 230 is a seminar that introduces students to the historical, contemporary, and emerging meanings of sustainability as understood within—and at the intersections of—design disciplines that engage object, architectural, landscape, and urban scales.
As an introduction to the major, this course challenges students to apply their creativity in conceptualizing, visualizing, analyzing, communicating, and constructing products, buildings, cities, landscapes, and communities that use energy and materials in more environmentally and socially sustainable ways. Through the study of proposed, built, and speculative examples of sustainable design, students learn to become critical thinkers and reflective practitioners, establishing a foundation for future design practice.
(Continued in the comments section!)
Last week, students in Sustainable Design and Industrial Design showcased their wonderful projects using mycelium in ARTD 326: Sustainability & Manufacturing taught by @savio_mukachirayil at the Siebel Center for Design. Students displayed immense creativity and dedication to sustainability in their designs! ✨
A very special thank you to Professor Joseph Dahmen, who visited from the University of British Colombia, Vancouver, for sharing your work and speaking with students!
Last week, students in Sustainable Design and Industrial Design showcased their wonderful projects using mycelium in ARTD 326: Sustainability & Manufacturing taught by @savio_mukachirayil at the Siebel Center for Design. Students displayed immense creativity and dedication to sustainability in their designs! ✨
A very special thank you to Professor Joseph Dahmen, who visited from the University of British Colombia, Vancouver, for sharing your work and speaking with students!
Over spring break, two of our students from Sustainable Design went on a trip to Adjuntas, Puerto Rico for a short-term study abroad course, UP 494: Community-Based Sustainable Design In Puerto Rico.
Students worked alongside and supported the work of @casapuebloorg and local community members in collaboration to apply sustainable design principles they’ve learned. They explored the unique socio-political history and community resilience of Puerto Rico, and got their hands dirty working on a solar panel installation project!
Over spring break, two of our students from Sustainable Design went on a trip to Adjuntas, Puerto Rico for a short-term study abroad course, UP 494: Community-Based Sustainable Design In Puerto Rico.
Students worked alongside and supported the work of @casapuebloorg and local community members in collaboration to apply sustainable design principles they’ve learned. They explored the unique socio-political history and community resilience of Puerto Rico, and got their hands dirty working on a solar panel installation project!