Low Impact Development

The Low Impact Development Curriculum (LID) is designed to prepare students interested in sustainable development and natural resource management with the technical skills to serve as specialists in the analysis of land and in the preparation of LID recommendations. Graduates will be prepared for a growing number of careers in the public and private sector that require an understanding of geospatial technology, drafting, and the principles and practices of LID. The POS requires a multidisciplinary core of coursework including the study of land planning software programs, soils, site analysis, hydrology, geospatial technology, and environmental regulations. Students wishing to pursue the LID POS should have an interest in the outdoors, technology, planning, natural resource conservation, and in working with the public and professionals from many fields.

Students successfully completing the LID POS will be able to develop and utilize plans for site development, storm and gray water treatment, and landscape restoration projects. Graduates will be able to successfully serve as liaisons between landscape architects and engineers and the construction companies implementing designs. Graduates will also be well versed in local and regional permitting issues and environmental concerns present and future.

example of low impact development strategies at a residential site

Program Information

Use the links to the right to move straight to each degree offered in this program. Clicking on a class title will bring up a description of that class.

Suggested Schedule for 2011-2012 (Updated Aug 19, 2011)

Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) A40290

Fall Semester 1
Course Number Course Title Lecture Lab Clinic Credits
ACA 111 College Student Success 1 0 0 1
COM 120 Intro to Interpersonal Computers 3 0 0 3
DFT 151 CAD 1 2 3 0 3
ENG 111 Expository Writing 3 0 0 3
ENV 110 Evironmental Science 3 0 0 3
HOR 160 Plant Materials l 2 2 0 3
Total: 16
Spring Semester 1
Course Number Course Title Lecture Lab Clinic Credits
BIO 140 Environmental Biology 3 0 0 3
BIO 140A Environmental Biology Lab 0 3 0 1
DFT 152 CAD 2 2 3 0 3
HOR 260 Plant Materials 2 2 2 0 3
LAR 120 Sustainable Development 2 2 0 3
GIS 111 Introduction to GIS 2 2 0 3
Total: 16
Summer Semsester 1
Course Number Course Title Lecture Lab Clinic Credits
GIS 112 Introduction to GPS 2 2 0 3
FOR 173 Soils and Hydrology 2 3 0 3
MAT 120 Geometry and Trigonometry 2 2 0 3
Total: 9
Fall Semester 2
Course Number Course Title Lecture Lab Clinic Credits
CST 231 Soils and Site Work 3 2 0 4
GIS 121 Georeferencing and Mapping 2 2 0 3
HOR 112 Landscape Design l 2 3 0 3
LID 111 Design Principles of LID 2 3 0 3
LID 112 Practical Applications of LID 2 3 0 3
Total: 16
Spring Semester 2
Course Number Course Title Lecture Lab Clinic Credits
GIS 245 Introduction to Spatial Analysis 2 2 0 3
LID 230 Remediation of Impacted Sites 3 0 0 3
LID 240 Design for Sustainable Development 1 4 0 3
  Humanities/Fine Arts l 3 0 0 3
  Social & Behavioral Sciences 3 0 0 3
Total: 15

Total Credit Hours: 72

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