The graduate Certificate in Sustainable Urbanism, housed in the Center for Housing and Urban Development in the College of Architecture, is available to graduate students from any program at Texas A&M. The certificate explores sustainability and urban design in a rapidly urbanizing world by focusing on the processes that shape the form and function of the built environment in its full complexity – infrastructure, land development, built landscapes, and facilities. Students are trained to consider the integration of various aspects of the built environment including land use and urban design, energy, materials, wastes, biodiversity, natural hazards, and accessibility.

Students who complete the certificate will be able to synthesize and apply knowledge of sustainability of the built environment, including theories and concepts, and use tools for drawing and mapping in order to develop original solutions to planning challenges. Students who complete the certificate gain skills that equip them to work in public and private industries as planners and designers. Recipients of the certificate are ready to investigate and apply collaborative practices to design and plan sustainable urban settlements that are livable, equitable, energy efficient, ecologically sound, and prosperous. 

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Credit Hours
History and Theory		3
Select one of the following:
ARCH 646	Historic Preservation Theory and Practice
LAND 630	Development of Landscape Architecture
LAND 635/PLAN 635	Concepts in Ecological Planning and Design
PLAN 610	Structure and Function of Urban Settlements
PLAN 664	Planning Theory and History
Methods and Skills		3
Select one of the following:
AGEC 603	Land Economics
ECCB 671	Ecological Economics
LAND 612	Landscape Architectural Site Engineering and Development
LAND 614	Landscape Architectural Construction
LDEV 661	Development and the Environment
LDEV 671	Sustainable Development
PLAN 613	Planning Methods and Techniques
Electives 1		3
Select one of the following:
ARCH 675	Health Design and Research
COSC 663	Sustainable Construction
CVEN 664	Water Resources Engineering Planning and Management
CVEN 672	Engineering and Urban Transportation Systems
PLAN 612	Transportation in City Planning
PLAN 629	Neighborhood Revitalization
PLAN 641	Problems of Environmental Planning Administration
PLAN 642	Planning for Coastal Sustainability and Resiliency
PLAN 673	Design for Sustainable Transportation
RPTS 604	Principles of Community and Community Development
RPTS 605/RWFM 605	Community Organization and Natural Resources Management
RPTS 666	Parks, Tourism and the Natural Environment
Design and Planning Studios 2		6
Select two of the following:
ARCH 606	Architectural Design II
ARCH 607	Architectural Design III
LAND 620	Open Space and Land Use Planning I
LAND 621	Open Space and Land Use Planning II
LDEV 687	Development Feasibility and Design
LDEV 688	Development Feasibility and Design II
PLAN 662	Applied Planning I
Total Semester Credit Hours		15

¹

Any course listed in History and Theory or Methods and Skills categories can also be used as an elective once the hour limit for that category has been met.

²

Urban Design Studios taught in study abroad programs also qualify.

Must complete a professional study,  professional paper, thesis, or dissertation with content significantly related to Sustainable Urbanism.

Must present poster or oral presentation to communicate the Sustainable Urbanism content of the completed professional study, professional paper, thesis, or dissertation to be evaluated by a representative of the certificate (Center for Housing and Urban Development Director or Center Fellow).