Master’s Degree and Certificate in

Geodesign

worldcampus.psu.edu/geodesign

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Graduate Programs in GeodesignThe graduate programs in geodesign, developed by Penn State’s nationally renowned Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, offer you the opportunity to advance your knowledge and learn from leading experts. The programs include:

• M aster of Professional Studies in Geodesign (35 credits)

• Graduate Certificate in Geodesign (14 credits)

Designed in collaboration with the University’s top-ranked Department of Geography, the programs receive guidance from an international advisory board of leaders in geodesign research and practice.

These programs are for professionals who realize the limitations in current design and planning processes, and seek new skills to effectively address complex environmental design problems for situations ranging from urban design to conservation planning.

“Geodesign resides at the confluence of today’s critical issues and exciting trends. The issues include resource conservation and extraction, species viability and protection, energy-efficient uses and infrastructure, and sustainable communities. These are land-based, and their planning and design are multifaceted and complex. No single profession can solely develop satisfactory, sustainable solutions. To address these, geodesign capitalizes on emerging trends, such as scientific-creative collaboration, the age of innovation, rapid data visualization, and systems thinking.”

— Kelleann Foster, RLA, ASLA Lead Faculty, Geodesign Programs

Director, Stuckeman School

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Online LearningTo meet your need to balance personal and professional commitments, the courses in geodesign are offered online through Penn State’s World Campus. Your learning experience will be supported by frequent interaction with faculty and other students, access to information and instructional resources, and valuable academic advising and support services.

The courses are offered in a time frame that provides you with great flexibility to complete your course work where and when it is most convenient for you. Our geodesign (GEODZ) courses operate on 8-week terms, except the studio courses, and our geography (GEOG) courses operate on 10-week terms. We offer two sessions in the fall and spring, and one session in the summer, making it possible for you to complete the online graduate certificate in one year and the master of professional studies (MPS) in approximately two-and-a-half years.

Curriculum The geodesign curriculum is designed to help you develop the skills needed to take the lead on complex environmental design problems that require the synthesis of geographic knowledge, geospatial analysis, and best practices of design. Through the combination of Penn State’s geodesign and geography courses, you will be able to recognize the power of design- and science-based analysis and solution synthesis to ascertain opportunities for managing resources successfully, anticipating change, and imagining alternative futures.

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CoursesThe following courses are required for both the graduate certificate and the MPS in Geodesign:

GEODZ 511 Geodesign History, Theory, Principles (3 credits)

GEODZ 822 Geodesign Models I: Evaluation and Decision (3 credits)

GEODZ 824 Geodesign Models II: Process and Impact (3 credits) -or-

GEODZ 826 Geodesign Models III: Representation and Change (3 credits)

Students who pursue the MPS will take an additional 18 credits in geodesign. Our studio courses provide problem-based workshops where students apply the geodesign process to complex landscape change and land planning topics. The individual studies courses integrate theory and practice to address a student-selected, real-world problem through the geodesign process.

G EODZ 842 Geodesign Studio* I: Rural/Regional Challenges (6 credits)

G EODZ 852 Geodesign Studio* II: Urban/District-scale Challenges (6 credits) *Studio courses operate on 14-week terms.

G EODZ 596A Individual Studies – Geodesign Capstone Project Proposal and Peer Review (3 credits)

G EODZ 596B Individual Studies – Geodesign Capstone Project Dissemination (3 credits)

Depending on the program you choose, you are required to take at least 5 to 8 credits of geography courses at the 400 level or higher. Based on your experience in geospatial information systems, you and your academic adviser will determine which GEOG electives will best meet your needs and interests. The following GEOG courses are recommended for those individuals without GIS experience:

G EOG 482 The Nature of Geographic Information (2 credits)

GEOG 483 Problem-Solving with GIS (3 credits)

Who Should Apply?If you are a current or aspiring professional, employed in a government agency, business, or nonprofit organization and working in a variety of fields, including architecture, environmental science, geoscience, landscape architecture, geography, urban and regional planning, or hydrology, you may find this program beneficial in helping to advance your leadership and collaboration skills.

Begin Your Application TodayTo pursue a graduate education in geodesign, you will first need to complete an online Graduate School Application Form, found by clicking on the “HOW TO APPLY” link from the program overview page at worldcampus.psu.edu/geodesign.

To enroll in one of our graduate programs, you must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with credits substantially equivalent to those required by Penn State.

The following materials are also required as part of the application process:

Graduate Certificate in Geodesign• a completed application and application fee• two official transcripts from each institution attended• TOEFL or IELTS score, if applicable

Master of Professional Studies in GeodesignIn addition to the application materials required for the graduate certificate program, you are also required to submit:

• a personal statement (three-page maximum)• names of three references

For application deadlines and more information about the programs, visit worldcampus.psu.edu/geodesign.

When all materials have been received, we will notify you about your status and provide guidance about the next steps to become a Penn State student.

Contact UsTo learn more about the geodesign programs, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture, contact:

Kelleann Foster, RLA, ASLA Geodesign Program Office College of Arts and Architecture 12 Borland Building University Park PA 16802 Phone: 814-867-0450 Fax: 814-863-8706 Email: geodesign@psu.edu

World Campus Admissions CounselorsPhone: 800-252-3592 (toll free within the United States)

814-865-5403 (local and international)Email: wdadmissions@outreach.psu.edu

worldcampus.psu.edu/geodesign

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