Growing populations put an increasing strain on the environment. Universities like the University of Utah and the University of California-Berkley have created combined Landscape and Environmental Planning degree programs for those who want to help make society more environmentally friendly, while other universities, such as Cornell University and the University of Virginia, have separate landscape architecture and environmental planning degree programs. Those with this specialization can become researchers or advisers for a variety of private and governmental organizations.
Landscape and Environmental Planning (LEP) is a major offered by universities such as Utah University. This degree tries to help students understand societal needs related to environmental planning and landscape architecture. The degree also helps prepare students for their professional future in a variety of fields that require the background provided by the LEP major. This major also prepares students who want to seek a research position at a university or an independent research organization.
Landscape architects are focused on developing landscapes that fulfill a variety of functions. For instance, a landscape architect might develop a landscape owned by a private organization to both beautify and increase the environmental health of the landscape. Environmental planners, on the other hand, are more focused on the environmentally friendly utilization of natural resources, according to Utah University.
LEP majors must understand the basics of ecology to be able to make decisions that will benefit ecosystems. LEP specialists must understand public policy since they might need to convince policymakers to put forth particular environmental policies. They must learn about landscape design in relation to the amount of space available, and they must learn how to use computers that render simulated maps of how the landscapes should look, according to Utah University.
Human Environment Interaction
LEP specialists must understand how humanity interacts with the environment in addition to understanding what effects humanity has on the environment, according to the University of Wisconsin. People have cultural and technological aspects to their society that are sometimes difficult to reconcile with the needs of biospheres. LEP specialists often are focused on finding ways to reconcile these differences so that people can accomplish their goals while not destroying the environment.
Environmental Management Planning
Environmental management planning (EMP) involves the analysis of the effects that human action has on the environment. With EMP, environmental planners can access how bad issues such as pollution are to determine which actions of environmental hazard reduction are the most economically efficient.