In the College of Human Ecology .
Course Offerings
Design and Environmental Analysis (DEA) major 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, 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.
The program offers an integrative, flexible curriculum that is student-centric. In addition to the Human Ecology credits, undergraduate students complete a total of 65 DEA credits; 35 credits in common core foundation courses and then choose nine courses, three of which must be studios to build expertise within a focus area utilizing thematic courses within the major, as well as electives from the broad course offerings within Human Ecology and at Cornell. The undergraduate curriculum thematic courses are organized around the following three primary themes: Design, Innovation & Strategy, Sustainable Futures, and Health & Well-Being. Students can also elect to complete a minor, honor’s thesis, or pursue an off-campus study experience.
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 physical environments of varying scales through courses, studios, laboratories, shop, field experience, and applied research. Examples of student class projects and faculty work are frequently on display in the MVR gallery. Our dLibrary includes books, journals, and materials collections for students to use as resources for their course work and research.
Faculty
Y. Gowayed, Chair (HEB T57); N. Ahmadi, L. Beaman, J. Elliott, G. Evans, R. Gilmore, K. Green, Y. Hua, S. Kalantari, H. Kao, R. Leitao, J. Loebach, M. Shepley, N. Wells, J. Yoon, S. Yoon, R. Zadeh
Student Policies
The DEA student policies apply specifically to undergraduate students enrolled in the Design and Environmental Analysis major. DEA majors must also adhere to all Cornell University and College of Human Ecology (CHE) policies and requirements.