All students in the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning have access to faculty mentors upon enrollment into the School. In addition, advisors with School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services are available
for assistance. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with their advisors and faculty mentors in matters pertaining to academic options, course selection, postbaccalaureate studies, and career opportunities.
Students meet with advisors and faculty mentors as often as they choose to explore educational opportunities available within the Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning and the University at Buffalo to plan a course
of study that is consistent with their abilities, achievements, interests, and expectations. The ultimate goal of advisement is to empower students to use the tools and resources available to become active and responsible
learners. Visit the Undergraduate Academic Advisement website for additional information on academic advisement.
Acceptance Information
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design. Students are reviewed for admission consideration to the preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design by the University at Buffalo Urban and Regional
Planning upon completing a minimum of 24 credit hours, attaining an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.45, completing both PD/END 120 and PD/END 212 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and successful completion of the Library Skills general education requirement, with competitive admission on a space available basis. As admission is competitive; preferred applicants
should have an overall minimum UB GPA of 2.5. The preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design is completed within six semesters.
Students generally apply to the program in during their sophomore year. Transfer students from other colleges should complete the required introductory courses prior to applying to the major, or may apply to
transfer these introductory courses if they have completed equivalent courses. Contact School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services for assistance - http://ap.buffalo.edu/admissions/undergraduate-programs.html.
Environmental Design Minor. Students are admitted to the environmental design minor by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning upon earning an overall minimum GPA of 2.0 and completing either
PD/
END 120 or PD/END 212 with a minimum grade of B- (GPA of 2.67 on a 4.0 scale) or higher.
Admission Procedures. Both current UB students and transfer students must complete an environmental design departmental application, available from University of Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning,
School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services, or online here http://ap.buffalo.edu/content/dam/ap/2-Program/student%20resources/2013-11-05-BAEnvDesign-Admission-Application.pdf. Dates for admission application submission are May 15 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission. Students with a baccalaureate degree should contact School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic
Services prior to applying. As admission is competitive, applications received after May 15 for fall admission consideration and October 15 for spring admission consideration will be reviewed on a space available basis
as guided by the School of Architecture and Planning's admission statement. Contact the University at Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning or School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services for assistance
- http://ap.buffalo.edu/academics/undergraduate-degrees.html.
Admissions Statement. The Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning has an admission policy that actively encourages applicants from protected groups and does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Admission is competitive, and; applicants are reviewed according to the admission criteria. Acceptance of students in the
preprofessional, professional, and advanced graduate programs is determined on the basis of the applicants' qualifications and experience. However, since the school's size is limited, the programs may exercise discretionary
powers of selection. Courses and programs offered by the Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning may include an instructional support services fee. Contact School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic
Services or visit their website for additional information on admission and advisement.
Academic Requirements
Environmental design students are placed into mathematics, natural science, and English courses based upon the following criteria: SAT/ACT scores; Advanced Placement scores; College-Level Examination Program; or completed college courses.
Students are reviewed on their progress in the preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design by the University of Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning on an annual basis. The academic review evaluates
the student's eligibility to continue onto the next level in the undergraduate program. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in environmental design program courses and a minimum cumulative UB GPA of 2.0 is required for
satisfactory academic standing within the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. In addition to all minimum GPA levels, all undergraduate students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress in environmental
design workshops. All students must earn no less than a C- in an environmental design workshop or capstone course, and any student who receives a grade lower than C- must repeat the environmental design workshop or
capstone course before registering for the next workshop or capstone course. Grades of lower than C- in any environmental design workshop or capstone course will not count toward the preprofessional bachelor of arts
in environmental design degree requirements, and a grade of F in any environmental design workshop may result in dismissal from University at Buffalo Environmental Design.
Statement on Continuous Workshop Enrollment. Students admitted to the preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design must complete the appropriate environmental design workshop (PD/END 350,
PD/
END 360, PD/END 450, PD/END 494, PD/END 498)
each semester to maintain continuous enrollment in the academic program, unless a student is approved for a studio leave of absence by the University at Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning and by School of Architecture
and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services. Design workshop leaves of absence are often approved for students with medical, legal, military, or other extenuating circumstances as reviewed by School of Architecture
and Planning. Students must be in good academic standing with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and the University at Buffalo to be eligible for a design workshop leave of absence. Design workshops are open
to admitted environmental design majors only.
A student who resigns design workshop with an "R" (resign) grade without prior approval for a design workshop leave of absence will be disqualified from the preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design.
Disqualification shall mean that the student is prohibited from taking additional environmental design workshops offered by University of Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning. Disqualification will not occur if a student
is on an approved studio leave of absence for medical, legal, military, or other extenuating circumstances.
School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services also reviews undergraduate student requests for exceptions to registration: late registration, administrative registration, adding or withdrawing
from courses after the University at Buffalo's prescribed deadlines available online here http://registrar.buffalo.edu/calendars/index.php, and exceeding
the University at Buffalo's 19-credit hour limit.
As a professional school, the Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning does not participate in undergraduate joint majors, but undergraduate double majors or undergraduate minors are academic options available
for environmental design students. The preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design is completed within six semesters.
Transfer Policy
Courses completed at other colleges and universities are not automatically accepted by University at Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning as fulfilling undergraduate requirements. While select courses taken elsewhere may be accepted, determination is made
by an evaluation of the student's transcripts, course content, contact hours, and grades earned. A minimum passing grade on a 4.0 scale is required in each course for possible articulation to courses offered by the
Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning in accordance with State University of New York policy - http://system.suny.edu/academic-affairs/student-mobility/seamless-transfer-policy-faqs/. Courses and programs offered by the Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning may include an instructional support services fee. Actual placement in the undergraduate preprofessional environmental design program is
made after this evaluation is completed. No more than 15 credits of transfer coursework may be applied toward environmental design major requirements, and no more than 6 credits of transfer coursework may be applied
toward environmental design minor requirements. Student transcript evaluations are conducted by School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services.
Environmental Design - B.A.
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.45 overall. Minimum GPA of 2.5 in PD/END 120 and PD/END 212. Minimum completion of
24 credit hours. Successful completion of the Library Skills general education requirement. Competitive admission on a space available basis.
Dates for departmental admission application submission are May 15 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission. As admission is competitive, applications received after May 15 for Fall admission
consideration and October 15 for Spring admission consideration will be reviewed on a space available basis as guided by the School of Architecture and Planning's admission statement. Contact School of Architecture
and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services for assistance.
Transfer students from other colleges should complete the required introductory courses prior to applying to the major or may apply to transfer these introductory courses if they have completed equivalent
coursework. No more than 15 credits of transfer coursework may be applied toward major requirements.
A minimum cumulative urban planning and environmental design (PD-prefixed/END-prefixed) GPA of 2.5, completion of PD/END 350 Environmental Design Workshop
1 plus PD/END 360 Environmental Design Workshop 2, and senior standing is required for enrollment in PD/END 494 Visions
of the City and PD/END 498 Research Projects in Environmental Design.
No more than 3 credits of PD 496/END 496 Environmental Design Internship and 3 credits of PD/END 499 Independent Study may be applied toward major requirements.
A minimum of 36 PD-prefixed/END-prefixed credit hours must be completed at the University at Buffalo to satisfy the Department of Urban and Regional Planning's bachelor of arts in environmental design academic
residency requirement, a minimum cumulative urban planning and environmental design (PD-prefixed/END-prefixed) GPA of 2.5, and a minimum cumulative UB GPA of 2.0 is required for successful completion of the major.
Grades of lower than C- in any environmental design workshop or capstone course will not count toward the preprofessional bachelor of arts in environmental design degree requirements. The preprofessional bachelor
of arts in environmental design is completed in six semesters.
Prerequisite Courses
PD/END 120 Introduction to Urban Environments PD/
END 212 Urban and Environmental Planning
Required Courses
PD/END 350 Environmental Design Workshop 1: Methods of Design Inquiry PD/
END 360 Environmental Design Workshop 2: Graphic Communications PD/
END 450 Environmental Design Workshop 3: Comprehensive Projects PD/
END 494 Visions of the City PD/
END 498 Research Projects in Environmental Design Minimum 24 credit hours and minimum 8 courses of department electives at the 270-level or higher
Undergraduate Credit Requirements Chart
Credits Required for Major
54
Additional Credits Required for UB Curriculum
37
Additional Credits Required for Electives
29
Total Credits Required for Degree
120
Students should consult with an academic advisor to determine how any transfer or exam credit might be utilized in meeting general education, prerequisite, or major requirements.
Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:
Fundamental Skills: Ability to effectively use basic planning and development principles in environmental design
Investigative Skills: Ability to gather, assess, record, apply, and comparatively evaluate information related to environmental design challenges
Communication Skills: Ability to effectively read, write, speak and listen, and visually communicate ideas
Critical Practice Skills: Ability to apply evidence-based design, development, and planning methods and precedents to environmental design processes and proposals
Graduate School & Entry Level Job Preparation Skills: Students will be well prepared to enter graduate school or an entry-level position in an environmental design related field of study
Electives and Course Groupings
The following is a sample, but not all-inclusive, list of possible electives offered by University at Buffalo Urban and Regional Planning for the Environmental Design Program:
PD/
END 279 Exploring the Design of Buffalo Niagara PD/
END 301 Perspectives on Land Use and Development PD/
END 302 Sustainable Urban Environments PD/
END 303 Methods of Communication PD/
END 305 Environmental Education and Development PD/
END 312 Design of Cities PD/
END 313 Local Government Policy and Politics PD/
END 319 The City Through Film PD/
END 356 Computing for Environmental Analysis PD/
END 363 Cities and Globalization PD/
END 402 Real Estate Development PD/
END 403 Strategies of Property Management PD/
END 405 Urban Planning and Environmental Change PD/
END 406 Housing and Community Development PD/
END 407 School Planning and Development PD/
END 422 Economic Development Planning PD/
END 426 Site Planning and Development PD/
END 428 Foundations of Historic Preservation PD/
END 467 Legal Issues in Planning and Development PD/
END 464 Infrastructure Planning and Design PD/
END 473 Projects in Physical Planning and Design PD/
END 496 Environmental Design Internship PD/
END 499 Independent Study
Minimum GPA of 2.0. Minimum B- in PD/END 120 or PD/END 212.
Advising Notes
Minimum cumulative urban planning and environmental design (PD-prefixed/END-prefixed) GPA of 2.5 is required for successful completion of the environmental design minor.
No more than 6 credits of transfer coursework may be applied toward minor requirements.
No more than 3 credits of PD/END 496 Environmental Design Internship and 3 credits of PD/END 499 Independent
Study may be applied toward environmental design minor requirements.
For undergraduate information, or for an admission application to the minor in environmental design, contact School of Architecture and Planning Undergraduate Academic Services.
Prerequisite Courses
PD/END 120 Introduction to Urban Environments or PD/END 212 Urban and Environmental Planning
Required Courses
PD/END 120 Introduction to Urban Environments or PD/END 212 Urban and Environmental Planning (whichever is not taken
as the prerequisite course) Minimum of four department electives and 12 credits at the 270 level or higher
Minor Credit Requirements Chart
Total Credits Required for Minor/Certificate
18
Minors and certificates must be completed in conjunction with a major and all university degree requirements must be met.
Students should consult with an academic advisor to determine how any transfer or exam credit might be utilized in meeting general education, prerequisite, or major requirements.