Search: Course, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

The focus will be on debate and discussion of central ideas in landscape architecture and environmental planning, drawing on primary literature over many decades of thought. This is not a history course, but it will include some literature that goes back to the early years of the field. This course covers the breadth of thinking in the field, including both environmental planning and landscape design as well as other sub disciplines. Each week students will lead a debate on a different theoretical issue.

The components, structure, and meaning of the urban environment. Environmental problems, attitudes, and criteria. Environmental survey, analysis, and interview techniques. Methods of addressing environmental quality. Environmental simulation.

A review of the techniques used in environmental planning, and evaluation of alternate means of implementation in varying environmental and political circumstances. The class will examine and critique a number of well-known environmental planning programs and plans. Lectures and discussion will address recurrent planning problems, such as the limitations of available data, legal and political constraints on plans, conflicts among specialists

An advanced investigation of current problems in land use and environmental management, with a focus on the development of proposed policy responses and implementation strategies. Topics will vary from year to year. Likely topics include: the regulation of sensitive lands; environmental impact assessment; the regulation of design; supra-local land use controls; water resources law and policy; public lands, coastal zone management; hazardous lands; resource extraction.

This course will examine emerging trends in environmental planning and policy and the basic regulatory framework for environmental planning encountered in the U.S. We will also relate the institutional and policy framework of California and the United States to other nations and emerging international institutions. The emphasis of the course will be on regulating "residuals" as they affect three media: air, water, and land

Comparative study of environmental conditions and human responses thereto in California and other Mediterranean-climate regions, with intensive treatment of a topic in environmental sciences, policy, planning, management, and/or landscape architecture, with application to California, Portugal, or other Mediterranean-climate regions. Students collect and analyze relevant data, synthesize, and complete technical reports, plans, and/or designs

Introduction to the field of urban forestry, its history, and its role in contemporary towns and cities. Emphasis on planning and management of the urban forest, restoration of old parks, street trees, and community participation.

The course investigates the process of developing schematic landscape design proposals into constructed landscapes. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the durability of materials and design details, the efficient use of materials, and the ability to evaluate how material selection and detailing can impact the environment. Field trips to construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and built landscapes will be included.

The analysis and assessment of vegetation for landscape design and environmental planning. Management of vegetation in parks, nature reserves, and open space areas.

Concepts of landscape ecology and their application to environmental planning. Topics include landscape structure, biotic diversity, species flow, redistribution of nutrients and toxic elements, energy flow, landscape change, and landscape management.