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Undergraduate: Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning

• Program Overview

  Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning (EDP)

  The Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, provides the skills, knowledge, and preparation for students to understand and address complex issues related to development, land-use, urbanization, and suburban sprawl.  The curriculum integrates principles and methodologies from social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.  The goal is to address the complex scientific, legal, ethical, political, environmental, and socio-economic issues that surround the development, management, and use of the built environment. 

  The B.A. degree prepares students for entry-level employment in the public, private, or non-profit sectors in a variety of fields including urban and regional planning, community planning, environmental consulting, land and real estate development, and public administration.   The major prepares students for graduate study in environmental design, planning, architecture, law, management and business. 

  The major builds on the interdisciplinary sustainability core curriculum.  Students will enroll in major-specific courses in their junior and senior year.  As part of the preparation, students will work in teams with students enrolled in related majors to collaboratively solve problems.  A design project is an essential part of the curriculum to provide real-world experience.  Internships and independent research courses provide additional real-world experiences.  Seniors are required to present their Design Project at an Annual Gathering of Researchers and Scholars.

• Degrees and Requirements

  Requirements for the Major and Minor in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning (EDP)
  
  Requirements for the Major in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning (EDP)

  A. Required Foundation Courses for Major (35 credits)

  • AMS 102 Elements of Statistics
  • CHE/ENV 115 Chemistry, Life, Environment (Note: CHE 115, 129, 131, or 152 may be substituted for CHE/ENV 115)
  • ECO 108 Introduction to Economics
  • GSS 105 Introduction to Maps and Mapping
  • MAT 125 (or MAT 130/MAT 125) or MAT 131 or AMS 151. If students do not place into MAT 125 or MAT 131 or AMS 151 on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 (or MAT 119/MAT 123) is a required course for the major.
  • POL 102 Introduction to American Government
  • SUS 111 Introduction to Sustainability (formerly offered as SBC 111) or ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth
  • SUS 113 Physical Geography (formerly offered as SBC 113), or GEO 102 The Earth
  • SUS 115 Introduction to Human Demography (formerly offered as SBC 115)
  • SUS 201 Systems and Models (formerly offered as SBC 201)
  • SUS 206 Economics and Sustainability (formerly offered as SBC 206)

  B. Core Courses (30-31 credits)

  • EDP 301 Urban Systems
  • EDP 302 Sustainable Planning and Development
  • EDP 303 Spatial Economics or SUS 362 Resilient Cities
  • EDP 307 Site Planning and Design
  • EDP 404 Environmental Design Project (see notes)
  • ENS 333 Environmental Law
  • GSS 313 GIS Applications and Design (or GSS 317 Geospatial Narratives)
  • GSS 314 GIS Laboratory (only if taking GSS 313)
  • GSS 325 GIS Design and Applications II
  • SUS 200 Human Settlements: History and Future (formerly offered as SBC 200)
  • SUS 301 Technical Writing and Communication (formerly offered as CSK 302)

  C. Elective (3 credits)

  Choose one of the following courses:

  • AFS 374/SUS 374 Environment and Development in African History
  • EDP 305 Risk Assessment and Sustainable Development
  • EDP 487 Research in Environmental Design, Planning, and Policy (with permission)
  • EDP 488 Internship in Environmental Design, Planning, and Policy (with permission)
  • ENV 316 Coastal Zone Management
  • SUS 303 Demographic Change and Sustainability 
  • SUS 309 Global Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 309)
  • SUS 310 Migration, Development and Population Redistribution (formerly offered as SBC 310)
  • SUS 311 Disasters and Society: A Global Perspective (formerly offered as SBC 311)
  • SUS 312 Environment, Society and Health (formerly offered as SBC 312)
  • SUS 316 Cuba and Sustainability (formerly offered as EHM 316)
  • SUS 317 American Environmental History (formerly offered as SBC 307)
  • SUS 318 American Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 308)
  • SUS 320 Utopia and Dystopia and the Environment in Literature and Culture (formerly offered as EHM 321)
  • SUS 321 Ecology and Evolution in American Lit (formerly offered as SBC 321)
  • SUS 322 Human Ecology (formerly offered as EHI 322)
  • SUS 325 Environmental Writing and the Media (formerly offered as SBC 325)
  • SUS 328 Ecofeminism, Literature & Film (formerly offered as EHM 322)
  • SUS 329 Environmental Film, Media, Arts (formerly offered as EHM 325)
  • SUS 350 Topics in Sustainability
  • SUS 366 Philosophy of the Environment

  D. Communications and Writing requirement 
  
  The advanced writing component of the major in  EDP  requires registration  in the 0-credit ​SUS 459 and approval of either a term paper or a laboratory report written for an  advanced course in ​the appropriate major at Stony Brook (including Readings and Research  courses). Completion of  SUS 459 with a grade of S will result in approval of the WRTD requirement. A  list of preapproved courses can be  obtained through the department. 
  
  Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education. Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate.  The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.

  Notes: 
  1. Internship with significant practical experience in planning and/or environmental design may be substituted for EDP 404 with permission of Undergraduate EDP Program Director.
  2. No more than one course (4 credits maximum) with a passing grade lower than C can be credited towards the major. Course taken with the Pass/NC option may not be applied to the major.

  Study Abroad

  Stony Brook University offers study abroad experiences that are focused on issues of sustainability in Cuba, Madagascar, and the Turkana Basin (Kenya). While issues of climate change, water and energy security, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, sustainable economic development, conservation of unique and threatened ecosystems, population growth, and human health are important everywhere, viewing these issues through the lens of a different place and a different culture provides a valuable perspective. Students are encouraged to participate in study abroad experiences and to talk with their major director to determine how study abroad coursework can be used to fulfill some requirements for their major.

  Double Majors

  Excluding SUS 301 Technical Writing and Communication, no more than 6 credits of 300-400 level course credits can be applied to two majors within the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

  Minor in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning (EDP)

  The Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning minor is intended for students who seek to complement their chosen major with a foundation in complex scientific, legal, ethical, political, environmental, and socio-economic issues that surround the development, management, and use of the built environment.

  Declaration of the Minor

  Students should declare the Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning minor no later than the middle of their sophomore year, at which time they should consult with the minor coordinator or undergraduate director and plan their course of study for fulfillment of the requirements.

  Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning (EDP)

  At least 12 credits applied to the minor may not be applied to any major or other minor. No more than one three-credit course in the minor may be taken under the Pass/No Credit option. All upper-division courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Completion of the minor requires 21-22 credits.

  A. Required courses (18 credits):

  • EDP 301 The Built Environment I
  • EDP 302 The Built Environment II
  • GSS 105 Introduction to Maps and Mapping
  • SUS 111 Introduction to Sustainability Studies (formerly offered as SBC 111) or ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth
  • SUS 200 Human Settlements: History and Future (formerly offered as SBC 200)
  • SUS 206 Economics and Sustainability (formerly offered as SBC 206)

  B. Electives (3-4 credits):

  Choose one of the following courses:

  • EDP 303 Spatial Economics
  • EDP 307 Theories and Design of Urban Settlements
  • SUS 309 Global Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 309)
  • SUS 317 American Environmental History (formerly offered as SBC 307)
  • SUS 318 American Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 308)
  • SUS 362 Resilient Communities

   

   

   

• Sequence

  Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning

  For more information about SBC courses that fulfill major requirements, click here.

  FRESHMAN

  
  

  FALL	Credits
  First Year Seminar 101	1
  WRT 101	3
  SUS 111	3
  MAT 125 or MAT 131	4
  SUS 113/SUS 114	4
  Total	15

  SPRING	Credits
  First Year Seminar 102	1
  WRT 102	3
  GSS 105	3
  SBC course	3
  POL 102	3
  Elective	3
  Total	16

  SOPHOMORE

  
  

  FALL	Credits
  SUS 200	3
  ECO 108	4
  AMS 102	3
  SUS 201	3
  SBC course	3
  Total	16

  SPRING	Credits
  SUS 206	3
  ENV 115	3
  SUS 115	3
  SBC course	3
  SBC course	3
  Total	15

  JUNIOR

  
  

  FALL	Credits
  EDP 301	3
  EDP 307	3
  GSS 313	4
  Elective	3
  SBC	3
  Total	16

  SPRING	Credits
  EDP 302	3
  EDP 303	3
  GSS 325	3
  SBC course	3
  Elective	3
  Total	15

  SENIOR

  
  

  FALL	Credits
  EDP elective	3
  EDP 404	3
  ENS 333	3
  SBC	3
  SBC	3
  Total	15

  SPRING	Credits
  SUS 301	3
  EDP 488	3
  SBC	3
  SBC	3
  Elective
  Total	15

   

• Contact

  Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning (EDP)

  Major and Minor in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning

  Director: Donovan Finn
  
  Email:  donovan.finn@stonybrook.edu    
  
  Undergraduate Advisor:  Nancy Black
  
  Program Office: E2361 Melville Library
  
  Phone: (631)  632-9404
  
  Website: https://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/ 

   

   

   

   

• Courses