Environmental Design Electives

The courses below can fulfill the "ENVD Elective" requirements on your curriculum guides, which can be downloaded for your convenience. For more information about the courses listed below, you can visit  and search the class you want to learn more about, and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Below is a list of pre-approved ENVD-specific electives. Please contact your advisor with any questions or concerns. 
 

ENVD Electives-Spring 2025

This introductory course introduces students to BIM modeling through the Revit platform. Fundamental skills will be taught to help students understand technical and practical aspects of this software to both support academic projects and gain early exposure to expectations in professional practice. Emphasis throughout the course will be placed on the most successful ways to utilize this powerful program whether in early design stages or later stage production. This course is not intended to evaluate design skills but advance knowledge of the presented software.

In this course, students weave together digital tools used in the landscape design and city planning profession into a cohesive project. Emphasis is on the exploration of design, 3D modeling, analysis, and how to use and present data. Tools covered include ArcGIS (mapping), Microsoft Excel (data analysis), InDesign (layout), and SketchUp (3D modeling). This self-paced, asynchronous class will be taught through a combination of pre-recorded tutorials and virtual class sessions for collaboration and discussion.

Please contact Nate Jones for more information and to register.

The course is an exploration of topics related to graphic design and visual communication as they relate to constructing your own professional identity. Topics will include layout, composition, fonts, color theory, printing, publication and web-based presence. We will work on visual communication strategies to develop graphically compelling and clear portfolios in both web-based and print formats for use in applications for graduate school and professional practice. A comprehensive and fluid approach to the use of the Adobe Creative Suite for all design tasks will be stressed.

  • Comprehend the fundamentals of graphic design and their application in visual communication.
  • Be able to speak about visual communication in your own language and evaluate critically the visual design surrounding us.
  • Construct a comprehensive personal and professional identity through print and digital mediums. 
  • Be able to synthesize the inherent strengths of various different software tools into a fluid digital design process.

Teaches the student basic to intermediate concepts, strategies, materialities and lots of other interesting things around the topic of digital design and fabrication. In the last decade or so, DD+F (Digifab) has evolved from a novel, boutique approach towards design to a critical component of design + making especially in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Product design. Students will use 3d modeling (Rhino) and parametric plugins( i.e. Grasshopper) to investigate new ways of making using 3d printing, CNC machining, laser cutting and other digital fabrication processes. Learning strategies and concepts around DigiFab as well as looking at materiality in digifab and learning when/how/where to use these techniques will make students confident designers and marketable.

A seminar providing students with a descriptive knowledge and analytical understanding of the use and development of residential settings in different political economies, globally divided into advanced capitalist nations, collectivist economies, and the third world.

Addresses variable topics in the relationship of human experience and behavior to the built environment, e.g., social research methods in environmental design.

Spring 2025 (16 week) TTH 9:30pm-10:45pm

Community EngagementThis advanced course provides a structured review of procedural models for stakeholder engagement in environmental planning, tailored for upper-division students. Through group-based, self-directed assessments, students will analyze established protocols, defined roles, and documentation standards. Emphasis is placed on systematic evaluation through case studies and reporting processes. Recommended for students seeking a methodical, process-focused exploration of stakeholder interaction frameworks.

Course Requisites: This course is intended for upper-level undergraduate students only (Juniors and Seniors). To be eligible to enroll in this course, you must have completed 57-180 credits.

Provides an advanced seminar on new technologies and issues of professional practice in the environmental design professions.

Spring 2025 (16 week) TTH 3:30pm-4:45pm

Professional Practice of Environmental Design: 
How do designs come to life? Buildings and the spaces around them are a solution to a problem or need. The process of design, documentation, and construction is complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. Many practices have developed standards based on the project types they design. This course will provide an introduction and overview of the profession, how projects get built, and how design practices can be structured.

Provides an advanced seminar on theory and criticism in environmental design, e.g., architecture now and introduction to design theory and criticism.

Spring 2025 (8 week, Session 2) TTH 2:00pm-4:45pm

Sustainability & Feng Shui: Supported by CU Diversity Grants, this 8-week course demonstrates a synthesis design approach, emphasizing design with climate and using feng-shui as a clue. Class field investigations identify landform patterns of areas prone to fire, wind, and postfire debris flows to avoid rebuilding in impacted areas. Students are also trained to evaluate and improve their home design to enhance healthy living, combining feng-shui principles and scientific knowledge. Class exercises Tai Chi during class breaks.

Please contact Nate Jones (nathan.p.jones@colorado.edu) for more information and to register.​

Rotating ENVD Electives-Not offered in Spring 2025

Focuses on construction and use of computer-based information systems to represent and manipulate geographic data. Emphasizes the recording, mapping, and transforming of data for analysis and use by planners. 

Illustrates color media techniques for the preparation, composition, and presentation of landscape and built environment drawings.

Teaches the student fundamental to intermediate skills and design practices around 3d modeling using Rhino 3d software. 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface or object (either inanimate or living) via specialized software that can be used for representation, calculations, fabrication, visualization etc.. Learning strategies around how to see your world in “3d models” and learning when/how/where to use these techniques will make students confident designers and marketable.

This 8-week course focuses on the training and practice of visual sensitivity in the freehand graphic technique including composition, freehand sketch, and color application to improve the skill of design and to achieve the graphic presentation effectively. This course will help students to develop skills and understanding with 1) the pencil sketch, 2) the freehand drawing with pen, 3) pastel, 4) the introduction of Chinese painting, 5) watercolor, and 6) watercolor rendering. The objectives of this course are to improve composition capability and artistic/color appreciation, develop a variety of skills in different mediums, and generate attractive work to support the student portfolio.

Addresses variable topics in the relationship of human experience and behavior to the built environment, e.g., social research methods in environmental design.

Fall 2024 (8 week Session 2) TTH 2:00pm-4:45pm

Fidgets and Stims: This course will introduce key concepts on neurodiversity as it relates to the design of products and the built environment. "Neurodiversity" encompasses the broad spectrum of normal human variations in cognition, emotion, and sensory processing. Students will create fidget designs aimed at enhancing emotional wellbeing by encouraging soothing, self-stimulatory behaviors, known as "stims." They will then design and evaluate new fidget prototypes created using digital fabrication methods such as 3D printing and CNC milling.

Includes such topics as appropriate technology, public policy and natural hazards, organization of the designing and building process, and physical elements of urban development.

Fall 2024 (16 week) TTH 12:30pm-1:45pm

SPATIALIZING URBAN CONFLICT:
Using Environmental Design Tools to Visualize Social Issues in Urban Space

This class delves into utilizing environmental design tools to reveal urban conflict. In today's highly urbanized world, cities serve as the battlegrounds for conflicts stemming from economic, religious, gender, and ethnic differences. As tensions escalate into violence, urban spaces transform into battlefields. Amidst its conflicts, city development becomes both a tool for violence and reconciliation. This course addresses urban development challenges worldwide, focusing on areas at war, religious or ethnic strife, and criminal violence.

Enrollment is open to all majors. Non-Environmental Design students will need to submit an Intent to Enroll Form: 

Provides an advanced seminar on new technologies and issues of professional practice in the environmental design professions.

Fall 2024 (16 week) TTH 11:00am-12:15pm

Intro Adobe Creative Cloud: This course is intended for students who are not currently in Environmental Design. Non-Environmental Design majors will need to submit an Intent to Enroll Form:  https://forms.gle/kzETNF94ikV1xZmR6. This course will introduce students to the Adobe Software programs Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to provide an overview of the computer technology and its role in the production of graphic designs. We will begin by learning file management and page layout and how they relate to visual communication, and some basics of the grid systems and color. Students will then be guided through design exercises to create a variety of projects throughout the semester. This course will offer the basics in graphic design for students who seek to expand their skills in digital communication. Students who enroll in this course will need to have a personal laptop that they can bring to class. An Adobe Creative Cloud software subscription is required for the course and is available at a discount through OIT. Students are expected to be ready to use their computers and software on day one. 

Provides an advanced seminar on history and historiography of environmental design, e.g., American dwellings.

Summer 2024 (May 20 – July 26) Monday & Wednesday from 2:30pm – 4:25pm

Restoring Dushanbe Teahouse:  “Restoring the Dushanbe Teahouse” is a multidisciplinary seminar that encompasses instruction and training to equip students (from all majors) with a mix of knowledge and skills including (a) cultural heritage and historic preservation; (b) theory and criticism of placemaking; (c) restoration of registered landmarks. The course is delivered as a seminar and hands-on restoration workshops. The seminar portion includes lectures, readings, discussion, academic style writing, and reflections on theory critiques. The hands-on workshops are professional training in restoration of the Central Asian landmark (Dushanbe Teahouse) offered by a renowned Tajik artist and EVND visiting scholar.

Please contact Nate Jones (nathan.p.jones@colorado.edu) for more information and to register.

Approved Electives from other Disciplines

Below is a list of approved outside courses that can be used for an ENVD elective. Please consult with an ENVD academic advisor for enrollment instructions for AREN & ATLS courses.

Approved non-ENVD courses for ENVD elective requirement

Please consult with an ENVD academic advisor for enrollment instructions.

Please consult with an ENVD academic advisor for enrollment instructions.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please consult with an ENVD academic advisor for enrollment instructions.

Please consult with an ENVD academic advisor for enrollment instructions.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

Please visit classes.colorado.edu to search for the class you want to learn more about and find the specific term in which the course is offered.

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