The College of Environment & Design was formed in 2001 as the first new college at UGA since 1969. The College represents the School of Environmental Design, which had formally operated as a stand-alone school since 1969.  Within the College and School exist degree programs in Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation, as well as a specialized Certificate Program in Environmental Ethics.

Landscape Architecture has been taught at UGA since 1928, and has offered a graduate program since 1954.  The undergraduate program, which instructs over five years, has been accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects since 1952, and the graduate program as well since 1954.  Both LA programs continue to hold national rankings annually within the top 5 programs in the United States, at each of the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Historic Preservation program within the College, is also very highly regarded on a national level through the National Trust, and offers only one of two programs in the United States for a joint Juris Doctorate.  The curriculum is recognized in Georgia as the first of it’s kind starting in 1973, with its graduate program officially forming in 1982.

Most unique to the College is the Certificate of Environmental Ethics, which was the first of its kind to be established in the United States in 1983.  There are certificates offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, often in compliment and with value enhancement to other degrees.  The faculty for the Certificate are all volunteer in capacity, and include a wealth of disciplines across UGA from such areas as botany, biology, forestry, ecology, soil science and marine science, as well as landscape architecture, business, sociology, law, journalism, the arts and other non-science areas and private industry.

Our overarching mission is to research, teach and communicate new and existing knowledge about the built and natural environment to promote innovative planning, preservation, protection, restoration and responsible development of natural and cultural resources.  In keeping to this mission, the College will be constantly exploring the development of new study and degree areas.  The immediate future is being contemplated for studies in Environmental Planning, Historic Landscapes and Golf Course Design.

College of Environment & Design
The University of Georgia
Caldwell Hall
Athens, GA 30602-1845
(706) 542-1816