Graduate Certificate in Urban and Environmental Design
OVERVIEW
Who is this program for?
This graduate certificate program ideal for professionals and students who want to shape more livable, sustainable, and resilient communities. It’s especially valuable for those with backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, environmental studies, or public policy who seek to deepen their design thinking and spatial planning skills to address complex urban and ecological challenges.
Program Overview
The Urban & Environmental Design (UED) Graduate Certificate empowers students to think critically about emerging urban and environmental design problems through real-world projects and future-oriented ideas. Professional competency in urban design is a valued skill within the design disciplines and related fields. You can find people with Urban Design skills in architecture and engineering firms, city departments, landscape architecture offices, real estate companies, policy shops, and consultancies. The certificate provides an opportunity for students to supplement their professional or graduate degree with a Certificate in Urban & Environmental Design, preparing them for the most pressing design and planning challenges of the 21stCentury.
In-person coursework introduces students to the complexity of urban and rural environments and promotes an interdisciplinary approach to designing sustainable communities. Students will learn essential skills, be introduced to both the history and contemporary conversations in the field, and develop design strategies in a studio environment. The 15-credit course of study was crafted to align with, while expanding, the educational pursuit of candidates in Architecture, Historic Preservation, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Interiors, Real Estate, and Engineering, among others.
Admission Requirements
Please view the Graduate School's Admission Requirements. If there are Program Specific Requirements listed below, those will also apply.
Application Requirements
Please view the application requirements for the Graduate School. If there are Program Specific Requirements listed below, those will also apply.
Program Specific Requirements
This programs admits for Spring term only.
Optional: A portfolio of design, cartography, or data visualization work may also be submitted.
Application Deadlines
Domestic Students
-
Spring
- 12/12/2025
International Students
-
Spring
- 09/15/2025
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What You'll Learn
After completing a course introducing students to the foundations of urban & environmental design, students will take a design and planning studio, as well as history and theory of UED, and an elective. Professional competency in urban design is a valued skill within the design profession and related fields. The course of study was crafted to align with the educational pursuit of candidates for the Master of Architecture professional degree and Master of Historic Preservation, as well as appeal to recent graduates in the fields of Geography, Landscape Architecture, Interiors, and Engineering, among others.
Degree requirements, course descriptions and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.
Explore Funding Options
As a graduate student, there are additional opportunities for student funding. Once you are admitted into a degree-bearing graduate program at UK, you can apply for a wide variety of financial assistance, including assistantships and fellowships. These opportunities can be tied to your program’s availability, so you should inquire with your program director about opportunities available within your program!
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Students who get involved in activities outside of the classroom tend to do better academically and develop meaningful relationships with others at UK. Our network of student organizations and activities has something for everyone, from academic to professional to fun!
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