# 2026-2027 Course Catalog
**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/faa/sustainable-urban-design-msud/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/
*for the degree of Master of Sustainable Urban Design**in Sustainable Urban Design*
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The Department of Landscape Architecture offers the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree, the Master of Sustainable Urban Design degree (MSUD), and the PhD degree. The programs enable students to gain fresh insights and to conduct new research pertaining to land and its use by people. Courses and faculty research activities range from on-site to regional scales, and include environmental planning and design as well as community design, cultural heritage, and history.
THE MSUD is a 11-month program completed in two semesters (fall and spring) plus one summer term, undertaken in that order. Matriculation is for fall semester only. The MSUD program can serve as a postprofessional degree (i.e., a degree that leads to licensure such as BLA, MLA, MARCH) or as an advanced degree to hone skills in sustainable design for those with degrees in other subject areas.
*for the degree of Master of Sustainable Urban Design in Sustainable Urban Design*
---
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [LA 537](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20537 "LA 537") | Planning & Design Studio II | 5 |
| [LA 589](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20589 "LA 589") | Sustainable Urban Design Theory | 4 |
| Choose one elective broadly related to urban design: | | 3-4 |
| [GGIS 408](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20408 "GGIS 408") | Humans and River Systems | |
| [GGIS 438](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20438 "GGIS 438") | Geography of Health Care | |
| [GGIS 466](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20466 "GGIS 466") | Environmental Policy | |
| [GGIS 479](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20479 "GGIS 479") | Advanced Topics in GIS | |
| [GGIS 496](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20496 "GGIS 496") | Climate & Social Vulnerability | |
| [LA 570](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20570 "LA 570") | Landscapes and Human Health | |
| [LA 587](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20587 "LA 587") | Graduate Seminar | |
| [LA 597](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20597 "LA 597") | Research Design & Methods | |
| [PSYC 472](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=PSYC%20472 "PSYC 472") | Environmental Psychology | |
| Choose one elective concerning urban systems: | | 2-4 |
| [ARCH 418](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ARCH%20418 "ARCH 418") | History of the Urban Environment | |
| [GGIS 410](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20410 "GGIS 410") | Green Development | |
| [GGIS 465](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20465 "GGIS 465") | Transportation &Sustainability | |
| [LA 480](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20480 "LA 480") | Sustainable Design Principles | |
| [UP 418](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=UP%20418 "UP 418") | Intermediate GIS and Spatial Analysis | |
| [LA 482](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20482 "LA 482") | Advanced Design Communications | 4 |
| [LA 538](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20538 "LA 538") | Urban Design Research Studio | 5 |
| [LA 446](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20446 "LA 446") | Sustainable Planning Seminar | 4 |
| [UP 475](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=UP%20475 "UP 475") | Real Estate Development Fundamentals | 4 |
| [LA 592](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LA%20592 "LA 592") | Urban Design Capstone Studio | 6 |
| Total Hours | | 37 |
**Other Requirements**
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minimum GPA: | | 2.75 |
*for the degree of Master of Sustainable Urban Design* *in Sustainable Urban Design*
---
1. Understand the basic structures and functions of urban systems.
2. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of sustainability and their functional links to urban systems.
3. Be proficient in applying various types of design software and spatial analysis techniques.
4. Be able to combine sustainability principles and urban design theory and practice to address urban landscape issues at local and global levels.
5. Be comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex urban problems.
*for the degree of Master of Sustainable Urban Design* *in Sustainable Urban Design*
---
## **Landscape Architecture**
Department Head: David L. Hays\
[Landscape Architecture Department website](https://landarch.illinois.edu/)\
[Landscape Architecture faculty](https://landarch.illinois.edu/faculty/)\
101 Temple Hoyne Buell Hall, 611 Lorado Taft Drive, Champaign, IL 61820\
(217) 333-0176\
[LADept@illinois.edu](mailto:LADept@illinois.edu)
## **College of Fine & Applied Arts**
[Fine & Applied Arts](https://faa.illinois.edu)
## **Admissions**
[Graduate College Admissions & Requirements](https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply)