B.S. IN GEODESIGN DESIGN ENVIRONMENT PLANNING SPATIAL SCIENCES
“ Geodesign is a vision for using geographic knowledge to actively and thoughtfully design.”
—Jack Dangermond, President, Esri
POWER3 USC B.S. in GeoDesign students are working to improve our world. Through coursework and research with world-class faculty from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the USC School of Architecture, and the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, GeoDesign majors are addressing complex issues such as population growth, rapid urbanization, water and energy needs, biological conservation, and climate change, as they prepare for professional careers and/or graduate studies. Utilizing multiple learning environments — including studio, lab, and field work — GeoDesign majors benefit from this unique faculty collaboration and combination of approaches from architecture, planning, and spatial sciences, the first undergraduate interdisciplinary program of its kind in the world.
USC B.S. in GeoDesign
USC School of Architecture
USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
CONDUCT AND PRESENT YOUR GEODESIGN RESEARCH GeoDesign majors have investigated and presented their research on issues such as: > Spatial inequities in access to water throughout Greater LA > Spatial complexities and institutional racism in City of Los Angeles hospital facilities > Social indicators and station proximity as factors in Expo line ridership > Spatial inequities in those eligible for and utilizing the Cal-Fresh Benefits program > 3D modeling of green cover on USC’s University Park Campus
STUDY ABROAD In SSCI 499: GeoDesign Practice: The European Experience offered during the summer semester, students work with internationally-recognized GeoDesign experts and faculty in The Netherlands and Los Angeles, and apply Dutch urban planning, geospatial technologies, and environmental design principles to address an LA-area societal challenge of their choice.
Architect Cartographer GIS Specialist
Heritage Conservationist
Civil Engineer
Researcher PROPEL YOUR CAREER WITH A B.S. IN GEODESIGN Developer Landscape Ecologist Archaeologist Scientist Landscape Architect Historical Preservationist Urban and Regional Planner
ADD GEODESIGN AS A SECOND MAJOR Combining a GeoDesign major with other majors in environmental studies, planning, and many other possibilities will expand your graduate study and career options. Or consider a minor in Spatial Studies.
QUALIFY FOR HONORS
5YRS Outstanding GeoDesign majors can receive degree honors and can be eligible for university honors such as designation as Renaissance, Discovery, and Global Scholars.
EARN A MASTERS WITH JUST ONE MORE YEAR
Through a progressive degree path, eligible students can obtain a B.S. in GeoDesign and one of
the following Master’s degrees: an M.A. in Environmental Studies, Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.), Master of Planning (M.Pl.), or an M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) in five years..
B.S. in GeoDesign + 1 year= M.A. in Environmental Studies
Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.) Master of Planning (M.Pl.)
M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST)
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS PRE-MAJOR COURSES (8 UNITS)
UNITS
ECON 203
Principles of Microeconomics 4
MATH 116
Mathematics for the Social Sciences 4
CORE COURSES (40 UNITS)
UNITS
ARCH 203
Visualizing and Experiencing the Built Environment 4
ARCH 303
Principles of Spatial Design I 4
ARCH 403
Principles of Spatial Design II 4
PPD 227
Urban Planning and Development 4
PPD 417
History of Planning and Development 4
PPD 425
Designing Livable Communities 4
SOCI 314
Analyzing Social Statistics 4
SSCI 301L
Maps and Spatial Reasoning 4
SSCI 382L
Principles of Geographic Information Science 4
SSCI 483L
Spatial Science Practicum 4
CAPSTONE COURSE SSCI 412L
UNITS
GeoDesign Practicum 4
ELECTIVES Choose at least 2 courses from Group A, 2 courses from Group B, and 6 courses in all (24 units) GROUP A: BUILT ENVIRONMENT
UNITS
ARCH 361L
Ecological Factors in Design 3
ARCH 432
People, Places and Culture: Architecture in the Public Realm
HIST 347
Urbanization in the American Experience 4
POSC 363
Cities and Regions in World Politics 4
PPD 410
Comparative Urban Development 4
PPD 420
Environmental Impact Assessment 4
PPD 461
Sustainable Communities, Policy, Planning 4
SOCI 331
Cities 4
GROUP B: DESIGN, ANALYSIS & COMPUTATION
4
UNITS
ANTH 481
GIS for Archaeologists 4
ARCH 307
Digital Tools for Architecture 3
ARCH 370
Architectural Studies – Expanding the Field 2
FADN 102
Design Fundamentals 4
HIST 493
Quantitative Historical Analysis 4
PPD 306
Visual Methods in Policy, Management, Planning and Development 4
PPD 427L
Geographic Information Systems and Planning Applications 4
SOCI 365
Visual Sociology of the Urban City and Its Residents 4
Spatial Sciences Institute Talk with one of our GeoDesign instructors
Dr. Darren Ruddell Spatial Sciences Institute Director of Undergraduate Studies 213.740.0521 druddell@usc.edu Twitter: SSI_Prof