UPSD Program Information

The UPSD major offers specializations in several subfields. Recommended courses for each specialization are listed in the program brochure and in the University Catalog:

Urban Design

Hazards Planning

Tribal and Indigenous Planning

Climate Action

Food Security

Business and Sustainability

Student/Faculty Designed: Students may choose to design their own specialization in consultation with their faculty advisor.  

Complete a Minor: Students may elect to complete a minor or certificate to meet the specialization requirements. Students can choose a minor in the College of the Environment, or another minor on campus. Minors/certificates should be reviewed and approved by your faculty advisor. 

College of the Environment (CENV) capstone courses are a tradition in the college. They bring together students from all college majors to integrate skills and knowledge gained in the major to a real-world problem that they work in teams to address. UPSD students can select a capstone course in one of the three college departments: UEPP, ESCI, or ENVS. You can view a list of CENV capstone courses on the College of the Environment capstone webpage.  

UPSD students are encouraged to take one of the following capstones:  

• UEPP 410 Agroecology
• UEPP 474 Planning for Sustainable Communities
• UEPP 493 Environmental Impact Assessment (WP3) 

USPD students can earn their minimum of 5 experiential credits in the following ways:

• UEPP 498A – Senior Thesis
• UEPP 498B – Internship
• UEPP 498C – Senior Project
• UEPP 498D – International Study (or an UEPP 437 Faculty-led Global Learning Program)

The goal of experiential credits is for students to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in their major in a real-world context by completing an internship or international study, to diver deeper into a particular topic in a senior thesis, or to work on a project for a professor or a community-based organization that results in a tangible deliverable.  

Click here to view Current Internship & Senior Project Opportunities

Signing Up for Experiential Credits:

Learn how to sign up for Experiential Credits including internships, senior thesis or senior projects and international study here.  

Students can get information about internships, senior thesis, and senior projects by talking with their faculty advisor, the CENV Internship Coordinator Ed Weber, or WWU’s Career Services Center. The college hosts an annual internship and career fair each February. The UEPP Department sends out an annual request for projects and internships survey to cities, counties, and tribal nations to identify internship and project opportunities.

Internship Examples:

City of Marysville, WA

The City of Marysville is currently working on the comprehensive plan update, a new middle housing ordinance, new ADU regulations, an affordable housing tracking system, updating house design standards and more. Total hours: Approximately 180 hours. Skills and qualifications needed: basic understanding of urban planning; ability to research complex land use topics; strong written, oral and communication skills.

City of Granite Falls, WA

Work with the planning director to conduct a city-wide land use survey, research and apply guidance for GMA Resiliency requirements, support comprehensive plan update, prepare and present information to planning commission.

Okanogan County, WA

The summer intern will work with the county and the Mazama Advisory Committee (MAC) to update the Mazama Sub Unit A Plan to ensure alignment with the updated county plan. Tasks include revising current plan, collecting data to update relevant sections, collecting public input, and working with MAC and county to draft a revised plan.

Senior Project Examples:

Earn 1-2 credits a quarter serving as a student representative on the UEPP Diversity and Student Outreach Committee

Earn 1-2 credits a quarter working with a special project with a UEPP professor like conducting research on the causes/solutions to Washington’s housing crisis and produce a poster for a conference. 

Earn 1-2 credits a quarter working on a special project with a university office or program like helping the campus architect collect student input on the university’s capital plan or identifying student interest for an outdoor climbing structure on campus.

Talk to your faculty advisor to get ideas or find potential projects.

Senior Thesis Example:

Detached Solutions for Attached Communities (2018) by Jewel Hamilton – Analysis of public comment during the City of Bellingham’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) debate.

Talk to your faculty advisor for examples and ideas for senior thesis topics.  

Faculty-led Global Learning Programs:

International Business, Planning, and Environmental Sustainability: Mexico’s cultures, histories, activism with UEPP’s Dr. Gigi Berardi, winter quarter

Applied Studies in Mediterranean Sustainable Development in Greece with UEPP’s Dr. Nick Zaferatos, summer quarter

Business and Food Cultures of Italy: Entrepreneurship, sustainability, and heritage in Florence and Tuscan Parks with UEPP’s Dr. Gigi Berardi, summer quarter

Other Global Learning Programs or study abroad programs may be applicable. Please check with your faculty advisor to ensure it meets major requirements.