Program Description

Urban Ecology is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interrelationships among social, environmental, and economic systems, with the goal of enhancing the vitality and sustainability of places and communities. The University of Utah’s Urban Ecology program is designed to respond to problems and opportunities that exist in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural places for example, environmental management, fragile landscape protection, recreation and tourism, public lands planning, rapid population growth, regional transportation, energy production, and sprawl.

Students of the Urban Ecology program will take classes in urban ecology, planning, field studies, economics, law and social justice; they can also choose from a variety of electives topics, such as green infrastructure, sustainable development, community leadership and cities in literature. In their senior year, students will do an internship and take on a real world problem in the Ecological Planning Workshop.

The Student Experience

While being students of the program, they can take time to interact and network with peers and faculty, attend special guest lectures, and join one of the university's student organizations. 

In Salt Lake, the students can learn about research being conducted the Metropolitan Research Center and the Center for Ecological Planning & Design. They can also contribute to the field by completing your own research project or get involved in a community-based project.

Career Opportunities

The undergraduate program in Urban Ecology will prepare students for professional careers in environmental and sustainability planning, public health, public policy, and community development and planning. U graduates have used analytical and technical skills to pursue work as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysts, planning consultants, conservationist, community organizers, environmental outreach, and project engineers. With further education, Urban Ecology graduates can pursue a career in architecture, law, real estate development, social work, urban design, urban & regional planning.

 

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Major Requirements (B.S.)

Department of City and Metropolitan Planning

**Minimum Major Hours: 56

Admission Requirements

• Design Foundations:
  • The Design Foundations program provides pre-major students with cross-disciplinary design-related literacy and skills in a supportive, cohort-based learning environment.
  • In their first year, Design Foundations students work together in three courses—Design Contexts (DES 2630), Design Ecologies (CMP 2010), and Design Foundations Workshop (ARCH 2630).
  • During their second year, students explore in greater depth one of three streams of inquiry—design, urban ecology, or architecture--preparing them for entering one of the college's three undergraduate majors.
• In prior to beginning studies in Urban Ecology, students should have satisfied...
  • Lower Division Writing Requirement (WR2)
  • American Institutions Requirement (AI)
  • Quantitative Reasoning Requirements (QA&QB)
  • most of the Intellectual Explorations (IE)
• Transfer students should have complete, or nearly completed their general education requirements. Those interested in majoring in Urban Ecology must meet with an Academic Advisor to declare.

**For more information go to: http://www.cap.utah.edu/student-success/.

Graduation Requirements

• Students must maintain a minimum 2.70 culmulative GPA

 

Required Courses

*Total Credit: 42

Design Foundations Courses:

• ARCH 2630 - Design Foundations Workshop 3 Credits
• DES 2630 - Design Contexts 3 Credits
• CMP 2010 - Design Ecologies 3 Credits

Complete the Following:

• CMP 3100 - Planning Theory and Practice 3 Credits
• CMP 3200 - Ecology of Human Settlements 3 Credits
• CMP 3270 - Visual and Oral Communication 3 Credits
• CMP 3400 - Economy of Cities 3 Credits
• CMP 4010 - Field Studies in Urban Ecology I 3 Credits
• CMP 4020 - Field Studies in Urban Ecology II 3 Credits
• CMP 4260 - Land, Law & Culture 3 Credits
• CMP 4280 - Ecological Planning Workshop 3 Credits
• CMP 4450 - GIS for Urban Ecologists 3 Credits
• CMP 4600 - The Just City 3 Credits
• CMP 4954 - Internship in Urban Ecology 3 Credits

 

Elective Courses

*Total Credit: 15-23

•  Urban Ecology majors are required to take a minimum of 18 credits of electives.
• Electives must be 3000 level and above. Approved elective courses and further details for Urban Ecology major can be found in the link: Elective Courses for Urban Ecology Major

 

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 Minor Requirements 

**Minimum minor hours: 18

Admission Requirements