Sustainable Design

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What is Sustainable Design?

Sustainable Design focuses on creating sustainable communities through intentional design. You'll learn how to build objects, places, systems, and policies to solve problems of sustainability in a constantly evolving society. Challenges you’ll take on include:

climate change
sprawl
transportation
energy efficiency
pollution
biodiversity protection
waste reduction

The future of sustainable design requires ideas from many disciplines to solve complex problems. You’ll take courses in architecture, industrial and graphic design, urban planning, landscape architecture, and more. Having a background in these concrete skills will prepare you for all sorts of career paths.

Career Options

Environmental management
Graphic design
Industrial design
Landscape design
Sustainability policy
Urban design
Urban planning

Post-Graduation Success¹

98% employed or continuing education

78% employed after graduation

20% attending graduate school

$54,900 average starting annual income

Sample employer destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, LSU Coastal Ecosystem Design Studio, Pu'u O Hoku Ranch, TBG Partners, The Estancia Club, The Morton Arboretum, The Walt Disney Company, Electrical Consultants, Inc., Illinois Extension, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant View All

Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign View All

Program Resources

College of Fine & Applied Arts Program Webpage Degree Requirements

Review Criteria

First-Year Major-Specific Criteria

Strong social science coursework and performance

View All Review Criteria

Transfer Criteria

Transfer Handbook

Graduation & Retention²

4.3 years to degree

92% returned for second year

67% graduated within 4 years

82% graduated within 6 years

Annual Program Costs³

Illinois Resident

Tuition: $14,912
Fees: $5,182
Expenses: $19,558
Total: $39,652

Non-Resident

Tuition: $37,588
Fees: $5,182
Expenses:$19,898
Total: $62,668

International

Tuition: $38,630
Fees: $5,182
Expenses: $19,898
Total: $63,710

Related Majors

Architectural Studies - FAA

Graphic Design - FAA

Landscape Architecture - FAA

Urban Studies and Planning - FAA

¹ Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics are aggregated from the past three years. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website. For average wage or salary information five years after entry into an occupation, visit the Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer.

² Graduation and retention data comes from several majors within a similar interest area. Data may not yet be available for newly created programs. Years-to-degree data is only available for programs from which you can earn a degree. Retention and graduation rates are only available for programs that you can apply directly into. Retention rates reflect retention to the university, not necessarily retention within the major.

³ "Expenses" are estimated and include books, supplies, housing, and other living expenses. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on where you decide to live, the meal plan you choose, and your overall lifestyle. To learn more about costs, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website. To learn the average monthly student loan payment over a period of 20 years based on estimated cost, visit the Illinois College2Career website.