The Landscape and Urban Studies Focus Areas were developed out of a Student Welcome Event as an optional framework to help students meet major requirements while working toward their preferred focus. These focus areas provide students with various pathways within the field, enabling them to make informed decisions about their coursework. They also foster student-faculty connections and mentorship opportunities, allowing students to engage in specialties and build skills across multiple disciplines. The focus areas play a crucial role in shaping students’ capstone ideas, providing guidance for their academic and professional journeys, while promoting an interdisciplinary understanding of landscape and urban issues.
Explore each Focus Area in depth using the menu below, or learn more about faculty mentors here.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Climate Action and Resilience
Focus Area Summary:
This focus area emphasizes strategies for mitigating climate change and enhancing urban resilience. Students explore sustainable practices, policies, and design solutions that enable cities to adapt to and thrive in a changing climate.
Faculty Mentors:
Ken Genskow – kgenskow@wisc.edu
Nathan Larson – nathanlarson@wisc.edu
Edna Ely-Ledesma – eledesma@wisc.edu
Maria Moreno – maria.moreno@wisc.edu
Gus Reed – cgreed@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- URPL 551: Climate Action Planning: Sustainable Transportation
- GEOG 333: Green Urbanism
- URPL 449: Government and Natural Resources
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
BOTANY 260/460, GEOG 338/339, or SOIL SCI 230/301
Social and Cultural Studies
GEOG 139/460, SOC 140, PUB AFFR 240/380, LA 363, or URPL 420
Technology
LA 311 and LA 695
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 668/677, or URPL 601/611
Electives
LA 210/363/361/668/677, SOIL SCI 323, URPL 449/550/551/601/611, GEOG 434/439/460, or F&W ECOL 651
Community Food Systems
Focus Area Summary:
Students in this area study the intersection of urban planning and food security, exploring systems that support local, equitable access to healthy food. Focus areas include sustainable agriculture, urban food policy, and food justice.
Faculty Mentors:
Nathan Larson – nathanlarson@wisc.edu
Edna Ely-Ledesma – eledesma@wisc.edu
Alfonso Morales – morales1@wisc.edu
Gus Reed – cgreed@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- GEOG 309: People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems
- FOLKLORE 439: Foodways
- URPL 411: Marketplaces and Entrepreneurship
- URPL 590: Climate Action by Design
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
BOTANY 100/130/260/460, GEOG 338/339, or SOIL SCI 230/301
Social and Cultural Studies
ECON 101/111, PUB AFFR 240/380, LA 363/373, or URPL 420/463
Technology
GEOG 377 or LA 311 and LA 695
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 525
Electives
GEOG 309, LA 363/373, FOLKLORE 439, or URPL 617.
Ecological Restoration
Focus Area Summary:
This focus area centers on restoring and rehabilitating ecosystems within urban environments. Students learn how to design and implement projects that bring ecological health and biodiversity back into cities and landscapes impacted by human activity.
Faculty Mentors:
David Bart – dbart@wisc.edu
Gus Reed – cgreed@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- BOTANY 370: Grassland Ecology
- BOTANY 474: Ethnobotany
- LAND ARC 581: Prescribed Burns
- F&W ECOL 455: The Vegetation of Wis.
- ENVIR ST 361: Wetlands Ecology
- LAND ARC 668: Restoration Ecology
- LAND ARC 363: Earth Partnership
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
BOTANY 130/260/460, GEOG 338/339, or SOIL SCI 230/301
Social and Cultural Studies
PUB AFFR 240/380, or LA 363
Technology
LA 311 and LA 695
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 668/677
Electives
LA 210/363/361/581/668/677, ARGONOMY 370, ZOOLOGY 360/651, SOIL SCI 323, ANTHRO 474, BOTANY 401/455, or GEOG 434
GeoDesign and GIS
Focus Area Summary:
Focusing on the integration of geography, design, and technology, this area teaches students to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze and design urban spaces. Students develop technical skills to map and plan for better, more sustainable urban environments.
Faculty Mentors:
Anna Bierbrauer – abierbrauer@wisc.edu
Ed Boswell – epboswell@wisc.edu
Edna Ely-Ledesma – eledesma@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- LAND ARC 511: Geodesign Methods
- LAND ARC 695: GIS Applications in Natural Resources
- URPL 532: Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Planning
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
GEOG 338/339 or SOIL SCI 230/301
Social and Cultural Studies
GEOG 104, URPL 420, or PUB AFFR 240
Technology
GEOG 377 or LA 311 and LA460/532/695
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. URPL 601/611
Electives
LA 210/321, URPL 305/449/601, or GEOG 501
Health and Wellbeing in Urban Environments
Focus Area Summary:
This focus area explores how urban environments impact physical and mental health. Students examine how design and policy can improve public health outcomes through better access to green spaces, walkable areas, and inclusive infrastructure.
Faculty Mentors:
Nathan Larson – nathanlarson@wisc.edu
Alfonso Morales – morales1@wisc.edu
Carey McAndrews – cmandrews@wisc.edu
Gus Reed – cgreed@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- LAND ARC 373: Mindfulness in Restorative Environments
- LAND ARC 375: Forest Bathing
- LAND ARC 363: Earth Partnership
- Field Courses
- UW Wellbeing through Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Health
- Well-being and the art of Forest Bathing in Japan
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
BOTANY 260/460, GEOG 338/339
Social and Cultural Studies
POLI SCI 104, PUB AFFR 240/380, DS 221, LA 363/373/475/525, URPL 420/463, or ART HIST 457
Technology
GEOG 377, or LA 311 and 460
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 525 or URPL 601/611
Electives
LA 210/321, URPL 305/449/601, or GEOG 501
Housing
Focus Area Summary:
Students focusing on Housing address urban housing challenges, studying topics such as affordability, zoning, sustainable development, and equitable housing policies. They explore how to create housing solutions that serve diverse populations and promote inclusive communities.
Faculty Mentors:
Revel Sims – revel.sims@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- URPL 512: Gentrification & Urban Restructuring
- URPL 306: The Real Estate Process
- URPL 420: Urban and Regional Economics
- URB R PL 601: Site Planning
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
Select from guide.
Social and Cultural Studies
ECON 101/111, PUB AFFR 240/380, URPL 420/463, or LA 373/475/525
Technology
GEOG 377/LA 311 and URPL 532
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 525 or URPL 601/611
Electives
GEOG 305, URPL 306/411/420/512/525/550/601/611/617, LA 373/475/525, ART HIST 457, or SOC 578
Public Policy, Systems, and Environments
Focus Area Summary:
This area combines urban policy analysis with environmental and social systems. Students learn how to navigate the complexities of urban governance, designing policies and systems that balance development with social equity and environmental sustainability.
Faculty Mentors:
Ken Genskow – kgenskow@wisc.edu
Nathan Larson – nathanlarson@wisc.edu
Alfonso Morales – morales1@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- GEOG 439: US Environmental Policy and Regulation (BPE)
- URPL 449: Government and Natural Resource
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
GEOG 230/338/339 or BOTANY 260/460
Social and Cultural Studies
ECON 101/111, GEOG 139, POL SCI 104, SOC 140, PUB AFFR 240/380, LA 363/475/525, or URPL 420/463
Technology
GEOG 377 or LA 311 and URPL 532
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 525/677/668 or URPL 601/611
Electives
GEOG 301/305/439/460/501/506, LA 361/363/475/525/581/677/668, URPL 306/411/420/449/512/550/551/601/611/617, ZOOLOGY 360, AMER IND 444/578, FOLKLORE 540, or F&W ECOL 651
Transportation
Focus Area Summary:
The Transportation focus area explores the planning and design of urban mobility systems, emphasizing sustainable transport solutions. Students work on projects related to public transit, pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and innovative approaches to reducing urban congestion.
Faculty Mentors:
Nathan Larson – nathanlarson@wisc.edu
Carey McAndrews – cmandrews@wisc.edu
Course Recommendations:
Core Classes
- URB R PL 550: Transportation and the Built Environment
- URB R PL 551: Climate Action Planning: Sustainable Transportation
- URB R PL 590: Climate Action by Design
- URB R PL 601: Site Planning
- URB R PL 611: Urban Design
Introduction
URPL 215, LA 211, and LA 250 or 260
Biophysical Environment
Select from guide.
Social and Cultural Studies
ECON 101/111, PUB AFFR 240/380, URPL 420/463 or LA 525
Technology
GEOG 377/LA 311 and URPL 532
Capstone
LA 595, or opt. LA 525 or URPL 601/611
Electives
GEOG 305, URPL 420/512/550/551/601, or LA 475/525