Program Description
Design and Environmental Analysis (DEA) major combines innovative design thinking with insightful design research to understand how designed environments, products, and systems shape our daily lives 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; 34 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.
Academic Standards
- A maximum of 15 credits of AP credit and in absentia credit can count towards the 120 total credits.
- A maximum of 15 credits of Study Abroad/Exchange, Cornell-In-Washington or Capital Semester can count towards total electives.
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.
- Sequential Course Progression: Students must proceed through the DEA curriculum numerically, taking all 1000-level courses before enrolling in 2000-level courses and above. Students should not ask instructors to enroll / be put on a wait list if they have not completed all prerequisites.
- For 2000- level and above studio courses, students must complete all 1000-level Core courses, including DEA 1101, DEA 1110, and DEA 1501 with a minimum of a B-.
- Prerequisites must be completed prior to enrolling in a 2000-level and above DEA course.
Honors Program
The honors program, which leads to a B.S. degree with honors in Design and Environmental Analysis, gives official recognition to undergraduate students who have demonstrated excellence in their academic work and their capacity for independent research. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for their major, students in the honors program prepare and orally defend an honors thesis. Honors students work with a research mentor in preparing for their thesis. Interested students should obtain a DEA Honors Program application form online. For more information, students should visit the DEA honors website or contact the DEA Honors Representative, Dr. Rana Zadeh.
Academic Advising
By the beginning of their first semester, all DEA majors are assigned a faculty advisor by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Consultation with faculty advisors about future goals, graduation requirements, sequences of courses, and electives inside or outside the college helps students develop their academic programs. Students are free to request change of advisors. Although advisors should be consulted about students' schedules during course enrollment each semester, it is the student's responsibility to keep track of his or her courses and to make sure that they make good progress towards graduation requirements for their major and college.
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 120
Program Requirements
In addition to college requirements, students in the DEA Major must complete specific requirements listed here.
Core Courses
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| DEA 1101 | Visual Literacy and Design Studio | 3.5 |
| DEA 1110 | Making a Difference by Design | 3 |
| DEA 1141 | Foundations of Design Computing | 3 |
| DEA 1150 | Design Graphics and Visualization | 3.5 |
| DEA 1500 | Introduction to Environmental Psychology | 3 |
| DEA 1501 | Introduction to Environmental Psychology - Writing in the Major | 1 |
| DEA 2025 | Impactful Graphics: Visual Communication for Social Impact | 3 |
| DEA 2510 | History of Design Futures | 3 |
| DEA 2730 | Human Centered Design Methods | 3 |
| DEA 3550 | Research Methods in Human-Environment Relations | 3 |
| DEA 4040 | Professional Practices and Ethics | 2 |
| DEA 4050 | Design Portfolio and Communication | 3 |
| DEA 4590 | Problem-Seeking through Programming | 3 |
| DEA 4800 | Ethical Design: Engine of Positive Change | 3 |
| Total Hours | 40 |
Thematic Courses
- Choose nine courses from the list below, one course from each thematic area is required.
- Letter grade only.
- Students must take at least one studio at their academic level, in each of their four academic years. 5000 level studios satisfy 4th year studio requirements.
- Students may not take more than 2 studios in one semester; this includes both DEA and non-DEA studios.
- DEA 4990 can count towards one Thematic area.
Design Innovation & Strategy
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| DEA 2200 | Art and Science | 3 |
| DEA 2201 | Magnifying Small Spaces Studio | 3 |
| DEA 2203 | StudioSHIFT | 3.5 |
| DEA 2750 | Lighting Design: Light InForming Space | 3 |
| DEA 3050 | Construction Documentation: CAD and BIM | 3 |
| DEA 3301 | Design UX with Technology Studio | 3.5 |
| DEA 3306 | Generative Design Studio | 3 |
| DEA 3530 | Planning and Managing the Workplace: Evidence-Based Design and Organizational Ecology | 3 |
| DEA 4402 | Disruptive Design: Competitions Studio | 4 |
| DEA 4403 | Technopoetics-Designing Tomorrow | 3 |
| DEA 4040 | Professional Practices and Ethics | 2 |
| DEA 4375 | Business Design | 3 |
| DEA 4500 | Policy Meets Design: High-Impact Facilities of the 21st Century | 3 |
| DEA 4990 | Senior Honors Thesis | 1-15 |
| DEA 5210 | Designing Devices for CyberPLAYces | 3 |
| DEA 5520 | Virtual Experience of Designed Environments | 3 |
| DEA 5540 | Workplace Strategy Studio | 3.5 |
Sustainable Futures
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| DEA 2020 | Introduction to Sustainable Design | 3 |
| DEA 3030 | Materials for Design and Sustainability | 3 |
| DEA 3302 | The New Typologies: Design Strategy Studio | 4 |
| DEA 3500 | The Ambient Environment | 3 |
| DEA 4025 | Design for Change: Imagining Decolonial Futures | 3 |
| DEA 4220 | Ecological Literacy and Design | 3 |
| DEA 4401 | Adaptive Reuse Studio: Recycling the Built Environment | 3 |
| DEA 4990 | Senior Honors Thesis | 1-15 |
Health & Well-Being
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| DEA 2700 | Healthy Places: Design, Planning and Public Health | 3 |
| DEA 3308 | Positive Design Studio | 3.5 |
| DEA 3510 | Human Factors and Inclusive Design | 3 |
| DEA 4700 | Applied Ergonomic Methods | 3 |
| DEA 4990 | Senior Honors Thesis | 1-15 |
| DEA 5500 | Designing for Material Affect | 3 |
| DEA 5700 | Designing Age Friendly Environments | 3 |
Social Sciences
Must be taken at Cornell, AP credits are not accepted for Psychology.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
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| HD 1130 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
| PSYCH 1101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Introductory Microeconomics
Must be taken at Cornell, AP credits are not accepted for Microeconomics.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ECON 1110 | Introductory Microeconomics | 3 |
Humanities (3-4 Credits)
Choose any course with the Course Distribution: Historical Analysis (HA-AG, HA-HE, HST-AS), Literature and the Arts (ALC-AAP, ALC-AS, ALC-HA, LA-AG, LAD-HE) or Cultural Analysis (CA-AG, CA-HE).
Quantitative Analysis
Must be taken at Cornell, AP credits are not accepted for Statistics.
Natural Science I
Must be taken at Cornell, AP credits are not accepted for Natural Science I.
Choose one of the following:
Biology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BIOG 1140 | Foundations of Biology | 3-4 |
| or BIOG 1440 | Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology |
| or BIOG 1445 | Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, Individualized Instruction |
| or BIOMG 1350 | Introductory Biology: Cell and Developmental Biology |
| or BIOEE 1610 | Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment |
Chemistry
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CHEM 1560 | Introduction to General Chemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 2070 | General Chemistry I |
| or CHEM 2080 | General Chemistry II |
Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PHYS 2207 | Fundamentals of Physics I | 4 |
| or PHYS 2208 | Fundamentals of Physics II |
Note: No lab is required.
Natural Science II (3-4 Credits)
Must be taken at Cornell, AP credits are not accepted for Natural Science II. Choose any 3 credit course with a PBS-HE, BIO-AS, PHS-AS, BIO-AG, or BSC-AG Course Distribution.
Additional Distribution Coursework (6 Credits)
Any course with the Course Distribution PBS-HE, ALC-AS, ETM-AS, HST-AS, SCD-AS, SSC-AS, SDS-AS, SMR-AS, BIO-AS, BIO-AG, BSC-AG, SBA-AG, SBA-HE, KCM-AG, KCM-HE, MQR-HE, LA-AG, LAD-HE, CA-AG, CA-HE, HA-AG, HA-HE. Language courses may count here.
Outside of Design and Environmental Analysis Requirement (11 Credits)
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Free Electives (Variable)
Any courses that are not taken in the above categories count as an Elective.
CIDA Accreditation and Professional Opportunities
Cornell’s Design + Environmental Analysis (DEA) program has been accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)—and its predecessor, FIDER—for more than two decades, recognizing the program’s excellence in research-driven, human-centered design education for built environments. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s top research-focused interior design programs, Cornell DEA continues to lead the field in integrating design, evidence-based research, and innovation in environmental and spatial experience.
While all DEA students receive a comprehensive foundation in design and the built environment, completion of the CIDA-accredited Interior Design Pathway provides an added professional credential valued by employers and licensing boards. Many DEA graduates have gone on to earn the NCIDQ Certification and pursue successful careers in diverse sectors, including workplace, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and residential design. This pathway offers students the flexibility to explore multiple design directions while keeping open the opportunity for professional interior design practice and licensure.
Note: The CIDA track is an option for student who wish to pursue a CIDA-accredited Interior Design Pathway and is not a requirement for graduation with a degree in Design and Environmental Analysis.
Required Courses (Interior Design Pathway)
- Complete all of the following. Verify prerequisites and sequencing.
- Minimum grade and GPA requirement: B or above in all required courses and 3.0 overall GPA.
- Portfolio/Review milestone: Must achieve a B or higher in studio courses for portfolio progression and CIDA review inclusion.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| DEA 1101 | Visual Literacy and Design Studio | 3.5 |
| DEA 1110 | Making a Difference by Design | 3 |
| DEA 1141 | Foundations of Design Computing | 3 |
| DEA 1150 | Design Graphics and Visualization | 3.5 |
| DEA 2201 | Magnifying Small Spaces Studio 3 | 3 |
| DEA 2203 | StudioSHIFT 3 | 3.5 |
| DEA 3301 | Design UX with Technology Studio 3 | 3.5 |
| DEA 4401 | Adaptive Reuse Studio: Recycling the Built Environment 3 | 3 |
| DEA 2730 | Human Centered Design Methods | 3 |
| DEA 3530 | Planning and Managing the Workplace: Evidence-Based Design and Organizational Ecology 3 | 3 |
| DEA 3050 | Construction Documentation: CAD and BIM 3 | 3 |
| DEA 3030 | Materials for Design and Sustainability 3 | 3 |
| DEA 4040 | Professional Practices and Ethics | 2 |
| DEA 4050 | Design Portfolio and Communication | 3 |
| DEA 4800 | Ethical Design: Engine of Positive Change | 3 |
| DEA 2510 | History of Design Futures | 3 |
| DEA 1501 | Introduction to Environmental Psychology - Writing in the Major | 1 |
| DEA 3510 | Human Factors and Inclusive Design 3 | 3 |
| DEA 3550 | Research Methods in Human-Environment Relations | 3 |
| DEA 3500 | The Ambient Environment 3 | 3 |
| DEA 4590 | Problem-Seeking through Programming | 3 |
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Additional Requirements for Undergraduate Students
The University has two requirements for graduation that must be fulfilled by all undergraduate students: the swim requirement, and completion of two physical education courses. For additional information about fulfilling University Graduation Requirements, see the Physical Education website.
Physical Education
All undergraduate students are required to take two credits (two courses) of Physical Education prior to graduation. It is recommended they complete the two courses during their first year at Cornell. Credit in Physical Education may be earned by participating in courses offered by the Department of Athletics and Physical Education and Cornell Outdoor Education, by being a registered participant on a varsity athletic team, or performing in the marching band.
Students with medical concerns should contact the Office of Student Disability Services.
Swim Requirement
The Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education has established a basic swimming and water safety competency requirement for all undergraduate students. Normally, the requirement is taken during the Fall Orientation process at Helen Newman Hall or Teagle Hall pools. The requirement consists of the following: jump or step feet-first into the deep end of the pool, float or tread for one minute, turn around in a full circle, swim 25 yards using any stroke(s) of choice without touching the bottom or holding on to the sides (there is no time limit) and exit from the water. Students who do not complete the swim requirement during their first year, during a PE swim class or during orientation in subsequent years, will have to pay a $100 fee. Any student who cannot meet this requirement must register for PE 1100 Beginning Swimming as their physical education course before electives can be chosen.
If a student does not pass the swim requirement in their first Beginning Swimming PE class, then the student must take a second Beginning Swimming PE class (PE 1100 or PE 1101). Successful completion of two Beginning Swimming classes (based on attendance requirements) with the instructor's recommendation will fulfill the University's swim requirement.
Students unable to meet the swim requirement because of medical reasons should contact the Office of Student Disability Services. When a waiver is granted by the Faculty Committee on Physical Education, an alternate requirement is imposed. The alternate requirement substitute is set by the Director of Physical Education.
College of Human Ecology Graduation Requirements
Students are responsible for monitoring their progress toward graduation by regularly reviewing degree requirements and their official transcript. Official transcripts may be requested through the Office of the University Registrar.
Students are expected to plan their course selections carefully to ensure all major, college, and university graduation requirements are completed within eight semesters. Once all requirements have been satisfied, the College will confer the degree; students should therefore monitor their progress closely.
Minor programs, honors programs, research, and other enrichment opportunities are not considered degree requirements. Students who complete all university, college, and major degree requirements will have their degree conferred in the term in which those requirements are satisfied and may not extend enrollment solely to complete non‑degree requirements or activities.
Transfer students may be allotted fewer semesters depending on the number of transferable credits awarded at admission. Students who require additional time to complete degree requirements must meet with a Human Ecology College Advisor (1210 MVR Hall) and be approved through the formal petition process.
Credit Requirements
Cornell Credit Requirements
- To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of 120 academic credits. Physical education credits and 10XX courses do not count toward the 120 required credits.
- Of the 120 credits required to graduate, at least 60 credits must be earned at Cornell University (applicable to transfer students).
- Students who matriculate as first-years may apply a maximum of 15 non-Cornell credits earned prior to matriculation (including AP, IB, and approved college-level coursework) toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
- Transfer students may apply up to 60 non-Cornell credits earned prior to matriculation, as awarded at the time of admission. After matriculation, all students (both first-year and transfer) may apply a maximum of 15 extramural credits (coursework taken outside of Cornell) toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
- No college credit earned before matriculation and used to meet Cornell's minimum admission requirements may be counted in the 120 credits required for graduation. This policy does not apply to transfer students.
- Courses taught by a college in the high school setting or counted toward high school graduation are not allowed to count for either credits or fulfillment of requirements.
- Strict limitations exist on the number of credits that can be applied toward the 120-credit minimum for special studies courses (including but not limited to 4000, 4010, 4020), for 4030 courses, and for courses taken with an optional S–U grade. Details follow.
Human Ecology Core Requirement1,2
Must be completed within the student’s first three semesters at Cornell.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| Blazing Your Trail in Human Ecology (Required in the first fall semester of matriculation to Human Ecology) 1 | |
| Introduction to Human Ecology (Required in the first spring semester of matriculation to Human Ecology) | |
| Social Justice, Thriving, and the Human Experience 2 | |
Human Ecology Distribution Requirement
Students must complete the college distribution requirements listed below. Each course applied to a distribution category must be a minimum of 3 credits, and the total credits in each category must meet the specified requirement (3 or 6 credits). A list of courses that fulfill each Distribution Requirement code can be found on the College of Human Ecology Distribution Requirement Course List page of this catalog.
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45 Human Ecology Credit Requirement4,5,6
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Minimum Semester Requirements
Students enrolling in the college as first‑years must enroll in a minimum of one 3‑credit course each semester in HE for their first four semesters, excluding winter and summer sessions (i.e., fall and spring semesters only). Students must carry 12 credits each semester, excluding physical education.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement for Graduation
Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) or better to graduate.
Degree Requirements by Catalog Year
All degree requirements are based on the term in which the student matriculated to Human Ecology with no exceptions. If a student changes majors within Human Ecology, they should speak with the Human Ecology College Advisor or Registrar to discuss options.
Special Studies
- A maximum of 12 credits of special study course work from Human Ecology or other colleges will count towards the 120 overall credits. Courses will be indicated on the class roster with a Component of either IND or RSC. Additional special study credits may be taken but will not be applied toward the student’s major, college, or university degree requirements.
- A maximum of 12 credits of 4000-4030 may count toward the 45 HE credit requirement.
10XX Courses
10XX‑numbered courses do not count toward graduation requirements but do count toward full‑time enrollment status.
S-U Grade Options
The S‑U grading option may not be used for College Distribution courses or required major courses unless it is the only grading option available for the course. S‑U grading may be applied to courses taken to fulfill the Outside‑of‑Major requirement and to elective courses.
Students may apply no more than 12 credits of S‑U graded coursework toward the 120 credits required for graduation. Required courses that are offered only on an S‑U basis do not count toward this limit. In addition, Honors Research (4990) taken S‑U is excluded from the 12‑credit maximum. Students may enroll in additional S‑U courses beyond this limit; however, those credits will not be applied toward graduation requirements.
Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing Credit
Cornell University maintains a comprehensive Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing section of the catalog that outlines university‑wide policies governing the award and application of credit based on Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and GCE A‑Level examination results. Students should refer to that section for general policies, credit limits, and procedural details.
Credit is not awarded for courses sponsored by colleges but taught in high schools to high school students, including courses offered on college campuses that are intended primarily for high school enrollment or courses used to fulfill high school graduation requirements, even if a college transcript is issued. Such coursework may not be applied toward college requirements.
The College of Human Ecology applies the university’s policies with the additional college‑specific allowances and restrictions listed below. These provisions apply to all majors within the College of Human Ecology.
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