Bachelor of Science in Design and Environmental Analysis

Design and Environmental Analysis (DEA) combines innovative design thinking with insightful design research to understand how the built environment impacts our daily lives. Through multi-disciplinary training in human-centered design (interior, product, architecture), environmental psychology, ergonomics, and facility strategy and management, we tackle problems from a systems view - people, process and place - to create strategic, sustainable healthy futures by design. DEA offers an integrative, flexible cur­riculum that is student-centric. Undergraduate students complete a common core of foundation courses then choose to build expertise within a focus area utilizing electives from the broad course offerings within Human Ecology and at Cornell to support their individual goals. Students can also elect to complete a minor, honor’s thesis, or pursue an off-campus study experience. The undergraduate curriculum is organized around the following three primary research themes: Design Strategy, Sustainable Futures, and Health and Well-Being. Students will develop expertise in their chosen area but will also interface with students and faculty who have expertise in the other two areas through collaborative studios and interdisciplinary project teams. Working with faculty from a broad range of disciplines, they combine academic course work, field experience and applied research to solve problems. Diverse faculty backgrounds and teaching approaches help students to develop multidisciplinary problem-solving and creative abilities, aesthetic judgment, and analytical thinking. Students explore innovative concepts for the design and management of interior environments through laboratory, shop, studio, and computer facilities. The relationship between people and their physical surroundings is explored through a combination of academic courses, field experience, and applied research. Examples of student class projects and faculty work are frequently on display in the MVR gallery. The Library includes books, journals, newsletters, and material samples for student use.