Sustainable Environmental Design

Undergraduate Program

Introduction to the Major

The Sustainable Environmental Design major offers students a critical understanding of the sustainability challenges facing urban regions in California and around the globe, and equips students with the technical, analytical, and design tools key to devising creative solutions.

Features of the program include gateway courses on the cultural and scientific bases of sustainability (ENV DES 110 & LD ARCH 12); a critical approaches course (ENV DES 102); a methods/technology course (LD ARCH /GEOG C188); upper division courses and concentrations around sustainability; and a capstone workshop (ENV DES 106).

Admission to the Major

First-year applicants must declare the major at the time of application to the College of Environmental Design (CED). However, current UC Berkeley students may apply to change colleges into CED if admission requirements are met and space is available. Transfer applicants must complete lower division college and major requirements prior to Berkeley to be considered for admission to CED.

CED offers a minor in Sustainable Design. The minor is open to all UC Berkeley students except Sustainable Environmental Design majors.

Amplify Your Major

SED students have the exciting opportunity not only to craft their own studies, but to make an impact on future generations of Sustainable Environmental Designers.
Kevin Zamzow-Pollock, SED Alumnus

Four-Year Student Timeline

First Year

Explore Your Major

  • Connect with  a CED advisor in 250 Bauer Wurster Hall or virtually via Zoom.
  • Review the Sustainable Environmental Design Major Handbook for degree requirements, sample study plans, and student resources.
  • Enroll in ENV DES 110 Designing Sustainability, ENV DES 1 Intro to Env. Design, and LD ARCH 12 Env. Science for Sustainable Development.

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

Engage Locally and Globally

  • Attend the Calapalooza student activities fair and get involved with a student organization.
  • Explore study, internship, and research abroad options with Berkeley Study Abroad.

Reflect and Plan Your Future

Second Year

Explore Your Major

Connect and Build Community

  • Attend college events like the CED Lecture Series and CED Circus.
  • Get to know professors and graduate student instructors during their office hours.
  • Explore campus beyond Bauer Wurster Hall.
  • Focus on your wellness and engage with services from University Health Services.

Discover Your Passions

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

Third Year

Explore Your Major

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

  • Check out CED research opportunities.
  • Find research and funding opportunities in the OURS database.
  • Assist faculty in their research through URAP.

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

Fourth Year

Explore Your Major

  • Complete a degree check to ensure timely completion of remaining graduation requirements.
  • Complete any “bucket list” courses.
  • Take the SED Capstone Class ENV DES 106: Sustainable Environmental Design Workshop.

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

  • Teach your own DeCal course.
  • Undertake an optional honors thesis or independent study.
  • Keep pursuing your interests through a fellowship or gap year after graduation.

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

What Can I Do With My Major?

Jobs and Employers

  • Account Executive, Houzz
  • Account Manager, Google
  • City Planner, City of Grover Beach
  • Designer, Issey Miyake
  • Draftsperson, De Meza Architecture
  • Fellow, Climate Corps
  • Interactive Designer, Square
  • Planner, Samtrans
  • Project Coordinator, PAE Consulting
  • Project Engineer, Turner Construction
  • Sustainability Consultant, SPHERA
  • Sustain. Design Specialist, HOK
  • Waste Zero Specialist, Recology

Graduate Programs

SED graduates can pursue graduate programs in multiple disciplines, including but not limited to City Planning, Architecture, Business, and Natural Resources.

Examples gathered from the First Destination Survey of recent Berkeley graduates.

Learn More

Connect With Us

Cal Day

Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.

Golden Bear Orientation

Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation program for all new students.

Events

Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit ced.berkeley.edu/news-events for news and updates.

Advising

Advising for prospective and current students is available in-person at the CED Office of Undergraduate Advising in 250 Bauer Wurster Hall and virtually via Zoom. See ced.berkeley.edu/advising/connect-with-advising for the advising schedule.

Advising Hours

Fall/Spring: Tuesday - Friday 10am-12pm, 1-4pm

Summer: Tuesday - Friday 10am-12pm, 1-3pm

Visit ced.berkeley.edu/advising/undergraduate-advising for more information or with advising questions.

How to Use this Map

Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.