ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PROGRAM
Considering graduate school? Gibbs College now offers an accelerated program in Environmental Design (BSED, undergraduate degree) and Landscape Architecture (MLA, graduate degree). With this program, students can earn two degrees that would normally take 7 years to complete in just 6 years. Learn more here.
International Students: The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design (B385) degree qualifies students on an F-1 visa to work in the U.S. for up to three years following graduation. Learn more here.
Fix Problems Worth Solving to Make Places That Matter!
What is Environmental Design?
Environmental Design is the professional practice of understanding & improving relationships among people, their built environments, and natural eco-systems (Environmental Design Research Association).
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design (EnD) in the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture gives students who want to make a difference the know-how and ability to work on critical community issues. We are generalists-by-design. The program provides a broad exposure to all the professional disciplines in the Gibbs College and allows students to tailor their course of study to go in-depth into their own passions and career goals. There is a strong focus on experiential learning opportunities that allow students to work on real-world issues in Oklahoma communities. Recently, EnD students have helped communities apply to register historically significant buildings with the National Park Service as well as help a local nonprofit organization choose what programs to offer at a new community center.
Transfers welcome! The flexibility built into the EnD curriculum makes it a great option for transfer students or those changing majors who want to avoid additional time to complete their degree.
What do Environmental Designers do?
From revitalizing historic downtowns to imagining new neighborhoods, or helping a community improve local quality of life, environmental design students learn about problems that are worth solving to make places that matter for people. Environmental designers work in a variety of built and natural environmental professions:
- City planning departments
- Planning and design firms
- Economic development
- Construction firms
- Real estate agents
- Real estate developers
- Local governments
- Environmental management
- Nonprofit organizations
- Consulting
- Preparation for master’s degree programs in urban planning, landscape architecture, and design
Want to jump-start a meaningful career making places that matter to people?
Undergraduate EnD students can take advantage of several accelerated master’s degree programs. You can earn graduate credit while still an undergraduate student—save time, save money, gain immediate entry to great careers! These programs typically cut at least one year off the time it takes to complete the following:
- Master’s of Interior Design
- Master’s of Landscape Architecture
- Master’s of Regional and City Planning
- Master’s of Urban Design
Our graduates with these credentials are in high demand with excellent job placement.
– Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and Master of Urban Design
– Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and Master of Interior Design
– Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design & Master of Landscape Architecture
– Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design & Master of Regional + City Planning
Program Highlights
Student and Alumni Voices
“A lot of the classes I took dealt with real-world scenarios. Learning what is required of you to do outside of college was tough, but now I understand the logistics of what all goes on in an environmental design, construction, city planning and landscape architecture profession.”
Armani Frye
Real Estate Agent
“The collaboration between construction science majors, interior design majors, and city planning provided me with a solid foundation to work well across multiple departments.”
Gabe Sevigny
Planning Supervisor, Colorado Springs
Faculty
John Harris
EnD Coordinator
johncharris@ou.edu
Vanessa Morrison
Interim Director | Institute for Quality Communities
vanessa@ou.edu
