BA in Sustainable Urban Development

The School of Urban Studies at UW Tacoma offers a BA in Sustainable Urban Development. Beginning in spring 2026, we are excited to announce the introduction of revised degree requirements and options designed to better prepare our students to answer the challenges facing our cities today and into the future.

As one of the first such degrees in the nation, students will be prepared to address recent initiatives that have called for a significant “greening” of urban development, both locally and internationally. Graduates will be prepared for careers in planning agencies, corporations adhering to sustainability practices, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and environmental/resource related agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of government. The degree is also excellent training for further graduate study in fields such as urban planning, public administration, and law.

 The 3 E's of sustainable development
The interlocking goals of sustainable development: environmental quality, economic prosperity and social equality. Sustainable cities live at the nexus of these goals.

Did you know?

• We are a majority urban society, worldwide
• In 2008 we reached a global milestone: more than half of the world’s population is urban
• Over 80% of the U.S. population already lives in a metropolitan region
• Cities can be the solution, not the problem, when it comes to global sustainability

Accomplishing sustainable urban development is a crucial challenge for the twenty-first century. The University of Washington Tacoma is at the forefront of engaging and educating undergraduate students on this topic. The Sustainable Urban Development degree provides students with a critical and rigorous training in ecological, political, economic, and social aspects of urban development processes.

Sustainability is often treated as a synonym for environmentalism...but that's not the whole story. Sustainability is not just about the environment; it is also about social equity and economic prosperity. The Urban Studies faculty invites you to learn how cities and urban regions are the key to true sustainability — for the planet and for the people who populate it.

Students will learn how to understand, assess, and manage urban development processes through a carefully designed curriculum that includes urban policy, planning, and environmental science coursework. The degree provides students with a broad but concrete understanding of linkages between urban ecosystems, urban systems (planning, transit, energy, etc.), and the multi-dimensional problems of urbanization, especially as they relate to public policy and urban advocacy.

Beginning spring 2026 BA in Sustainable Urban Development students will choose one of two formal options: Community Engagement or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Sustainable Urban Development Majors select one of two formal options: Community Engagement or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

If you have completed the prerequisites listed below, you can be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Urban Development.

• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all college coursework
• Completion of a minimum of 40 college-level credits
• 5 credits of English composition
• Meet with the School of Urban Studies Academic Advisor to discuss degree requirements and submit a declaration of major form.

The Sustainable Urban Development major admits students every quarter.

Major Requirements

Major Requirements

The curriculum consists of 70-71 credits, depending on formal option and course selection:

• Shared Curriculum courses (20 credits)
• Foundation courses (25-26 credits)
• Formal options (choose one option) (25 credits)

In addition to the coursework required for the major, students are required to complete general university requirements and electives, and to bring their total number of credits to 180. Running regular degree audits and asking your advisor for a degree planning worksheet here will help track your progress through the program.

Shared Curriculum Courses (20 credits)
T URB 101 Exploring Cities (5)
T URB 103 Urban Studies in Practice (3)
T URB 110 Urban Data Analysis (5)
T URB 200 Introduction to Urban Research (5)
T URB 403 Professional Development for Urban Careers (2)

Foundation Courses (25 credits, choose 5 courses)
T URB 220 Introduction to Urban Planning (5)
T SUD 222 Introduction to Sustainability (5)
T SUD 240 City & Nature (5)
T GIS 311 Maps & GIS (6)
T URB 314 Gender & the Urban Landscape (5)
T URB 322 Land Use Planning (5)
T URB 410  Environmental Equity (5)
T SUD 444 Green Internationalism and the City (5)
T SUD 445 Urban Ecology (5)

Formal Options
Students declare one of the following formal options:

General Electives

In addition to the coursework required for the major, students are required to complete general university requirements and electives, and to bring their total number of credits, including the above requirements, to 180.

The balance of credits needed to meet University credit requirements are general electives. Students may focus on an in-depth area of study (i.e., a minor or certificate) or explore the liberal arts, business, social work or health-related fields; or may take further T URB or T SUD courses. Transfer credits from other institutions may apply toward general electives.

Contact the School of Urban Studies Academic Advisor to help track your progress through the program.

In order to graduate, all UW students are expected to meet general university requirements, many of which can be fulfilled with transfer and/or lower-division coursework:

Graduation Requirements: 

• Overall GPA: minimum 2.0 cumulative
• Major GPA: minimum 2.0 in each course required for the major
• GIS Certificate classes: Students pursuing the GIS track must pass each GIS course with a 2.5 or better.