B.S. IN GEODESIGN

DESIGNENVIRONMENT

PLANNINGSPATIAL 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 Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

USC School of Architecture USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

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.

PROPEL YOUR CAREER WITH A B.S. IN GEODESIGN

Architect

Cartographer

Heritage ConservationistCivil Engineer

Developer

GIS Specialist

Landscape Architect

Landscape Ecologist

Researcher

Scientist

Urban and Regional Planner

Archaeologist

Historical Preservationist

5YRSB.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)

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

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..

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 UNITS

SSCI 412L GeoDesign Practicum 4

ELECTIVESChoose 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 4

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 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 InstituteTalk 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