Course Syllabus
This capstone course for the Sustainable Environmental Design (SED) major helps students expand knowledge and skills from their previous coursework so as to develop sustainable solutions for real-world situations. We will examine a series of sustainability problems at different scales through in-class and assigned exercises, and will prepare various types of professional documents: a stakeholder analysis, a staff memo identifying alternative strategies, site analyses, and site designs.
To consolidate our knowledge about sustainability, we will read and discuss chapters from Planning for Sustainability: Creating Livable, Equitable, and Ecological Communities (Second Edition 2013). This book outlines the history and nature of the sustainability discourse and sustainability applications at different scales. Please make sure you have done the reading by the date listed in this syllabus. We will also do more specialized readings (available on the Canvas site) around particular assignments.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
-- Deepen our understanding of “sustainability” and perspectives on it
-- Improve ability to think critically and holistically about issues & develop constructive solutions
-- Develop increased understanding of one individually chosen subject area
-- Improve ability to be productive leaders within a range of settings
-- Improve writing, research, graphic representation, oral presentation, and site design skills
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
- Regular attendance (please let the instructor know in advance if you must miss a class)
- Complete assigned readings on-time (this material is important for class discussions)
- Complete class assignments
- Participate in class discussions and exercises
GRADING
10% - Assignment 1: Identifying stakeholders on a topic of interest to you
10% - Assignment 2: Indentifying strategy alternatives on this topic
20% - Assignment 3: Developing a strategy proposal (housing alternatives for U.C. Davis)
20% - Assignment 4: Developing a design vision (alternatives for the East Fifth Street Corridor)
10% - Midterm
20% - Final Exam
10% - Participation
PROFESSIONALISM
All work and communication in LDA 142 should be done in a professional manner. That means that you should do several drafts of every work product and edit carefully for spelling, grammar, and good writing. Reference your work as necessary, using standard reference styles. If working in teams, practice different leadership skills (to be discussed in class), treat your colleagues with respect, make sure to communicate clearly with them, and be on time for meetings. Also be on time for class and turn in all work by the stated deadline. Refrain from using electronic devices for other than course purposes during class time.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
In line with U.C. Davis policy, students are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty. This means that all work that you present as your own must in fact have been done by you, and that all sources must be properly cited. In particular, do not copy material from websites unless for short quotes with citations. Also, do not copy graphics into papers without attribution. There are multiple ways to cite information; please refer to reference books such as the Chicago Manual of Style. An APA Style Sheet is available on http://guides.lib.ucdavis.edu/friendly.php?s=citations. If you have any questions about citation procedures or academic honesty, please ask the instructor. Academic dishonesty may lead to the student failing the course or other more serious measures.
CLASS SCHEDULE
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Class 1 Tues Apr 3
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Class intro/class survey on learning objectives How can we identify sustainable strategies? (Exercise: Is desalination sustainable?) How can we understand stakeholders and their arguments? Introduce assignment 1: Stakeholder analysis Identifying your area of focus
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Class 2 Thur Apr 5
Reading: |
What were the origins of the sustainability discourse? (read textbook carefully) What does it mean to be a sustainability professional? (Wiek et al. article) Who are typical stakeholders within communities? (lecture/discussion)
Planning for Sustainability, Preface, Chapters 1-5
Wiek, Arnim, Lauren Withycombe, Charles L. Redman, and Sarah Banas Mills. 2011. Moving forward: on competence in sustainability research and problem solving. Environment. 53 (2). 3-12.
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Class 3 Tues Apr 10
Reading: |
What are some key tools and issues of sustainability planning? (reading) Exercise: Strategies and stakeholders related to the Davis Downtown Plan Assignment 1 due: Stakeholder analysis of your area of focus (2 page single-spaced memo to a decision-maker with a 1-page table; upload to Canvas by 10 PM)
Planning for Sustainability, Chapters 6-10 |
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Class 4 Thur Apr 12
Reading:
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Introduce Assignment 2: Identifying strategic alternatives in your issue area What are key issues of sustainability planning? (2) (reading) What are different ways to exercise leadership in groups? (class exercises)
Planning for Sustainability, Chapters 11-18
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Class 5 Tue April 17
Reading:
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Guest Lecture: Sue Vang (UCD Engagement and Zero Waste Program Manager) Exercise: Developing alternative strategies for waste management at UCD What issues and strategies are foremost at different scales of action? (reading)
Planning for Sustainability, Chapters 19-25 |
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Class 6 Thu April 19
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Walking Tour: Identifying Sustainability Opportunities on Campus
Assignment 2 due: Strategic alternatives in your area of focus (2 page single-spaced written analysis with 1 page tabular summary of alternatives; upload to Canvas by 10 PM)
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Class 7 Tue April 24
Reading:
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Introduce Assignment 3: Student Housing Options for U.C. Davis Guest Speaker: Associate Dean Dave Campbell Brainstorm strategies and form groups
“Housing Insecurity for US College Students”: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/insight/insight_2.pdf
U.C. Davis’ draft Long-Range Development Plan, available at http://campustomorrow.ucdavis.edu.
Student housing concepts worldwide: https://inhabitat.com/tag/student-housing/
6-8 PM Attend Opening of Downtown Design Charette, Davis Community Church, 4th and C
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Class 8 Thur April 26
Reading:
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Walk to downtown observing housing types Attend Downtown Design Charette, Davis Community Church, 4th and C
“The City of Davis Affordable Housing Program” at http://cityofdavis.org/residents/affordable-housing-program
“The City of Davis Housing Element” at http://cityofdavis.org/city-hall/community-development-and-sustainability/planning-and-zoning/housing-element-update-2013-2021
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Sat Apr 28 |
Attend Charette Closing Presentation 1-2:30 Davis Community Church
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Class 9 Tues May 1
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9-10:30 MIDTERM 10:45 Guest Speaker: Lucas Griffith, Campus Planner
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Class 10 Thur May 3
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Guest lecture: The Sustainable City in Dubai (Nermin Dessouky) Work time/Group check-ins with Instructor and TA
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Class 11 Tues May 8
Reading:
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Understanding financial trade-offs in housing (class exercise) Work time
Adrienne Schmitz, Residential Development Handbook, Ch 1 Introduction (Ch 2 optional) (on Canvas)
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Class 12 Thur May 10
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Work time/Group check-ins with Instructor and TA
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Class 13 Tues May 15
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Present Assignment 3: Alternative Student Housing Strategies (open-house style)
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Class 14 Thur May 17
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Introduce Assignment 5: An Urban Design Vision for East Fifth Street Guest Speaker: Bob Wolcott, Principal Planner, City of Davis How do we analyze a site from a sustainability perspective?
LaGro, James A., Jr. 2013. Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design. Third Edition. Hoboken NJ: Wiley.
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Class 15 Tues May 22
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Class tour of site (bring bikes to class; we’ll bike over) Work Time
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Class 16 Thur May 24
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Review of Site Analysis Work Time
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Class 17 Tues May 29
Reading:
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Street Design (+ review of City of Davis plan for Anderson Road for ideas) Work Time
Skim New York City’s Street Design Manual, on Canvas.
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Class 18 Thur May 31
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Pin-Up Review of Draft Designs in Class (have a full-sized 24”x36” design proposal on tracing paper ready to review, with title, labels, colors, legend, north arrow, etc.)
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Class 19 Tues June 5
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Work Period with desk crits by instructor and TA
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Class 20 Thur Jun 7 |
Assignment 5 Due: Presentation of Final Designs (Teams of 4 present 24”x36” poster-sized proposals)
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Thu Jun 14 6PM Reading: |
FINAL EXAM
Planning for Sustainability, Chapter 26 |
Course Summary:
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