Ecosa Institute Masters Catalog

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MASTERS IN REGENERATIVE ECOLOGICAL DESIGN ECOSA INSTITUTE

description

Fall 2011 will begin our new four-semester Masters in RE-Design, which will immerse students in a living laboratory of the most current thinking and innovation in the field of sustainable design. Masters students will delve into their chosen field of study and will research, design, develop and implement a Thesis project that will address a real issue local to Prescott or in a community where students have the means to develop working knowledge of the culture and infrastructure. Design is a holistic, integrative, systems process and our curriculum is designed to encourage this mode of thinking.

Transcript of Ecosa Institute Masters Catalog

MASTERS IN REGENERATIVE ECOLOGICALDESIGN

E C O S A I N S T I T U T E

re-create re-imagine re-generatere-habilitate re-develop re-buildre-adapt re-utilize re-inhabit

re-affirm re-examine re-calculatere-embody re-wind re-evaluate re-listen

re-delegate re-grow re-seere-learn re-absorb re-plant re-tryre-fashion re-use re-establish re-enact

re-absorb re-immerse re-experiencere-ly re-educate re-emphasize re-new

re-discover re-weave re-model re-invigoratere-define re-connect re-awaken

RE-DesignREGENERATIVE ECOLOGICAL DESIGN[ri-jen-er-uh-tiv, -uh-rey-tiv] adjective, healing and creating new life

[ek-uh-loj-i-kuhl, ee-kuh-] adjective, using the logic of nature

[dih-zahyn] verb, to intervene in the flow of events and create a desired effect

IT IS TIME WE TAKE THE THREAT OF AN UNPREDICTABLE FUTURE SERIOUSLY AND NURTURE THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRITThe Ecosa Masters in Regenerative Ecological Design (RE-Design) is a 4-semester program that

immerses students in a living laboratory of the most current thinking and innovation in the field of sustainable design. It is an example of a new paradigm for education that integrates theory and

practice, dreaming and realization, the mind with the hands and the heart.

CARVE YOUR OWN PATHFollow your interests. Find your passion. Our curriculum is designed to respond to the unique quality and evolving goals of each participant.

BE CREATIVEPractice expressing and exploring new ideas every day. Draw. Design. Model. Craft. Build.

LEARN FROM EXPERTSEngage with a diverse faculty of passionate educators who live and breathe what they teach.

COLLABORATEJoin a team of designers, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, thinkers and do-ers. Grow as individuals and design rich solutions as a group.

WORK WITH REAL CLIENTSAddress real world challenges. Develop real world solutions. Gain real world experience.

EMERGE AS A LEADERGraduate with the confidence of having realized a project from conception to completion. Begin a career doing what you love.

LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEARBefore Ecosa began, there was only a dream of another way, a better way, of educating designers. Today, eleven years later, Ecosa Institute is internationally recognized for leading the way in Regenerative Ecological Design Education. It all started with a leap of faith. Now it is your turn. We are honored to invite you to leap into the unknown with us, to dare to dream, to explore, and to join in creating a brave new world of possibilities beyond any of our wildest imaginations.

M A S T E R S I N R E - D E S I G N

YEAR ONEYear One of the Ecosa Masters curriculum challenges students to apply knowledge from daily course work to ongoing real world design projects. In Year One students develop a deep understanding of theory, practical skills, and hands-on experience in regenerative ecological design. Semester One is an introductory Total Immersion in Regenerative Eco-logical Design. Semester Two dives deeper into subjects introduced in Semester One and guides students to define their path for the following year of study.

Using new Tools Design with Nature Architecture Design TheoryRecursive Learning Concept Exploration Model Making Sketching

Regenerative Systems Environmental Restoration Art in Nature

Community Design Resource Flows Passive Design Systems

Urban Planning Field Trips Ecological Ethics Form & Pattern in Nature

Whole Systems Thinking Design Practicum Technical Drawing

Bioclimatic Design Construction Methods Art History Graphic Design

Local & Global Issues Urban Green Infrastructure

Elements of Design Computer Aided Drafting Design History Resource Analysis

Site Surveying & Analysis Permaculture Landscape Architecture

Local Ecology Methods in Design Ecological Economics

YEAR ONE INCLUDES

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YEAR TWOYear two of the Ecosa Masters curriculum focuses on thesis research, design, development and implementation. Students have the opportunity to work individually or collaboratively, but all thesis work must address and attempt to solve a real world issue local to Prescott or in a community where students have the means to develop working knowledge of the culture and infrastructure. Thesis projects might fall within the realm of product design, graphic design, architecture, landscape architecture, permaculture, planning, community development or any other applicable field of design. If you don’t have an idea for a thesis project when you apply for the masters, you can utilize Ecosa’s network of connections to help develop an idea.

Create First-Hand Knowledge Final Design Presentation Paradigm Shift

Recursive Learning Concept Exploration Regenerative Ecological DesignThesis Defense Experiential Education Art in Nature Human Factors Research

Computer Rendering Problem Solving Leadership Development

Community Urban Design Issues Career Defining Ecological Ethics Design

Implementation Thesis Design Creative Thinking Work CollaborativelyMentor Relationship Project Research Weekly Seminar Holistic Understanding

User Experience Research In The Field Develop Presentation Skills

Proposal Development Multiple Design Disciplines Design Portfolio Development Relationships With Leaders Community Conversations Sketching

Local Ecology Methods in Design Project Completion Graphic Design

YEAR TWO INCLUDES

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THESIS PROJECTAgroecology and Aquaculture Plan for Mbita, Kenya“At the core of environmental design is an interdisciplinary understanding of the synthesis of ecological, technological and social systems.” -Simon Wyld One example of a masters thesis project was completed by Ecosa student Simon Wyld in 2010. As a participant in the Fall 2009 Total Immersion Semester, Simon and his classmates were asked by Solace International to design a master plan and building layout for the Dorothy Byrne Vocational School in Mbita, Kenya. The students collaboratively created a master plan design that integrated existing buildings with new systems and structures, including a bath house, guest houses, dormitories for residents, an aquaculture fish farm, landscaping, composting toilets, and an agriculture plan. Working on the project inspired Simon to continue his studies at Ecosa and lead the implementation of the fish farm in Mbita. Simon went to Mbita and further developed the plans for integrated aquaculture systems that will provide the economic stimulus and the financial backbone of longer-term profit and non-profit objectives, such as agroecology farming systems, educational programs, staff training and extension services, the construction of a girls vocational school, and the development of an eco-village, which will include housing for farm employees. After forming connections with local laborers, Simon lead a team of fifty men to implement his fish farm design.

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ADMISSIONSWe accept adventurous, bold, and self-directed students of all backgrounds, including those with design and non-design based degrees. Design permeates every aspect of our lives and a deep understanding of regenerative ecological design will benefit professionals in every field. Our students understand the need to develop skills that will enable them to navigate the changes coming in the 21st century. While a bachelor’s degree is preferred, applicants who demonstrate equivalent work history and maturity are encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Two letters of recommendation

A two-page autobiographical sketch including the experiences that you believe interested you in design as well as your educational history and career goals.

A list of your strengths and weaknesses

One example that demonstrates your creative abilitiies. This could be a portfolio, photographs, videos, essays, or a web page link.

A $25.00 application fee made payable to Ecosa Institute

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TUITION COSTSAs part of our philosophy we make every attempt to keep the costs of our program as affordable as possible. Within two weeks of being accepted, a $500 tuition deposit is required to reserve your space in the program. The deposit is applied to your tuition fee. Final payment is due three weeks before the first day of class. The Ecosa Masters program is four semesters long, with the semester Certificate of Regenerative Ecological Design being the first.

Application Fee: $25 Tuition: $5,990 per semester

A 50% TUITION WAIVER APPLIES TO APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO THE MASTERS PILOT PROGRAM BEFORE MAY 1, 2011

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FINANCIAL AIDSCHOLARSHIP AWARDSScholarship Awards range from $500 - $2,000 per semester. All applicants must submit a scholarship application to be considered for an award. The Scholarship Committee considers academic performance, professional experience, stated financial need or unique hardship, letter(s) of recommendation, and the applicant’s personal statement in making award decisions.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPSGraduate Assistantships are available at $500 - $2,000 per semester in tuition reduction. Positions include administrative and teaching assistantships. Students interested in pursuing a graduate assistantship must submit a resume and statement of need to [email protected], and complete an in-person interview, in order to be considered. Assistantships will be awarded based on the applicant’s performance at the Ecosa Institute, existing skills and experience, stated financial need or unique hardship, and an interview with the Assistantship Committee.

PRIVATE LOANS & PAYMENT PLANSPrivate loans and payment plans are available to students who can demonstrate good financial standing or provide a co-signer. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

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AFTER GRADUATION

Founder and Principal Architect, Shelter Design Studio

Stewardship Director, The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust

Business Sustainability and Energy Expert, Vanden Brink Consulting

Farmer’s Market Coordinator, City of Chicago

Promotions Coordinator, Austin EcoNetwork

Environmental Specialist, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Architects

Project Manager, Action Sports Environmental Coalition

Energy Project Manager, City of Huntington Beach

A majority of 21st century jobs have not yet been created. Graduates of the RE-Design Masters Program will have the skills and experience to adapt to our rapidly changing and unpredictable job market. Specific career paths will vary greatly from person to person depending on each individual’s background, pre-existing degree(s), and focus during their RE-Design Masters Program. Careers might include consulting, professional design work, entrepreneurship, community development, local government work, non-profit management, and much more. This is a sampling of the work that our alumni are doing after graduating from the Ecosa Semester Certificate in RE-Design.

With climate change threatening extraordinary impacts on our planet Earth, the role of the designer has become one of the most critical in the 21st century.

The Ecosa Institute was founded in the belief that a new design philosophy informed by the natural

world is critical to the future survival of our species. The design of human environments has always

had a transformative impact on human societies and the natural systems on which we depend;

the environments we create change the way our societies perceive the world.

E C O S A I N S T I T U T EIf you are looking for an opportunity to fully delve into sustainable design (rather than just talk about it), Ecosa is

the place for you. For over a decade we have advocated a radical departure from the traditional approach to

teaching design. With in-depth, cross-disciplinary, hands-on programs that tackle real world problems, the Ecosa

Institute is the cutting edge of design education.

With the specter of massive climate change threatening extraordinary impacts on our planet Earth, the role of the

designer has become one of the most critical in the 21st century. We focus on the power of design both to

mitigate the environmental damage our buildings, cities and products perpetrate, as well as its power to recreate

a positive and intentional relationship between human beings and the natural world.

Our programs expand past the often rigid boundaries of design education to include planning, urban design,

architecture, interiors, landscape architecture, graphic design, product design and more, exemplifying the

essential interconnectedness of all aspects of design.

[email protected]: (928) 541-1002 toll free: (877) 541-1006

224 1/2 S. Montezuma St Prescott, AZ 86303