Autumn 2017
CEP 301: The Idea of Community Course Description: Theories of community and communal rights and responsibilities. Experience building a learning community within major. Explores struggles for community in every sector of life. I learned about philosophical ideas on the shape and form of community from past and contemporary philosophers. This class pushed me to engage in philosophical thoughts and conversations with myself and classmates. LARCH 300: Introduction to Landscape Architecture Course Description: Introduction to history and environmental influences in field while developing design and graphic skills. Site analyses and drawing to convey design concepts. Relationship of visual perception to drawing, role of values in design, verbal communication, and behavioral analysis of design process. I took this class primarily because I was just curious about what landscape architecture was. After taking the class, I learned about the design process and practices revolved around landscape architecture. LARCH 300 is a starting point of my design and planning practices that will be furthered developed during my time in CEP. MUSEN 303: Marching Band I’m taking this class primarily because being in the marching band gives me a musical community. The marching band was the first community I experienced when I first came to the UW and gave me a family away from home. Being in the marching band has taught me skills relating to leadership, friendship, and musicianship. CEP 300: CEP Retreat Course Description: Focuses on planning analysis assessment and development of the major. Opportunities for community building and all-major policy deliberation and decisions. Workshops for skill building in consensus, facilitation, and for major-specific activities such as developing individual study plans and study abroad experiences. By participating in this retreat, my understanding in CEP’s goals and foundation is developed. Reflecting upon CEP’s foundations allows me to self-reflect on how my academic path aligns with CEP’s principles and develop an intentionality. I also get to know my fellow CEPsters better and develop my sense of community. CEP 400: Governance Course Description: Emphasizes personal and collective leadership, democratic decision making, and learning through direct action and reflection. Explores and develops students' personal skills as doers and leaders, while also learning how to form and function as effective groups. I took this class to engage with CEPsters in a communal matter in order to run the major. |
Autumn 2018
CEP 460: Planning in Context Course Description: Examines theory against backdrop of practice for broad historical understanding of social, political, environmental planning. Critique from viewpoints, e.g., planning history, ethics, ecofeminism, environmental justice, class and capitalism, planning and global economy. Develop personalized history reflecting individual experience, professional experience, and philosophical heritage of planning profession. The purpose of this course was to teach me a way to analyze the social, political, and environmental theories that go into planning. The studio aspect of the class exposed me to how real-life projects for clients are actually conducted and executed. LARCH 341: Site Design and Planning Course Description: Introduces urban ecological design issues for good site-planning processes, principles, and methods. Linked with L ARCH 301. Addresses planning for people, natural systems in place-making, design for movement with carried land uses. Includes readings, discussions, presentations, campus walks, case studies, graphic and written assignments. This class gave me a basis for practices in site design and planning. The course involved in-class exercises to get us to consider different aspects of site design. I learned to plan with multiple parties in mind as well as having alternatives pre-planned for different sites and activities. The class will also challenge me to think about how humans, animals, and the environment interact with one another. GEOG 360: GIS and Mapping Course Description: Introduction to mapping and geographic information systems. Topics include: Representation of spatial objects, their attributes, and relationships in desktop and online GIS; common spatial operations and geoprocessing in GIS; principles of cartographic visualization, communication, and critique; narrative mapping and spatial humanities; ethics, society and GIS. I’ve always wanted to take a mapping class after taking GEOG 258 Digital Geographies in Winter 2017. GEOG 258 had some map-making but was more about how maps and other digital medium affect the information we see. I took this class to gain basic skills for making maps as well as get comfortable using GIS. MUSEN 303: Marching Band I’m taking this class to finish out my college marching band career. The marching band was the first community I experienced when I first came to the UW and gave me a family away from home. Being in the marching band has taught me skills relating to leadership, friendship, and musicianship. CEP 490: Senior Project Prep Seminar 1 Course Description: Supports the conceptualization and planning of senior project/capstone work. Focuses on selecting a project, beginning a literature review, finding a mentor, and developing a plan. By participating in this seminar, I should begin formulating my senior capstone. I should have developed a concept for my capstone the summer prior to my senior year, so this seminar can focus more on developing a plan to carry out my project and figuring out what resources I need. CEP 300: CEP Retreat Course Description: Focuses on planning analysis assessment and development of the major. Opportunities for community building and all-major policy deliberation and decisions. Workshops for skill building in consensus, facilitation, and for major-specific activities such as developing individual study plans and study abroad experiences. By participating in this retreat, my understanding in CEP’s goals and foundation is developed. This is also an opportunity to get to know my fellow CEPsters better. Since this retreat is at the beginning of my senior year, it should be a time to look towards the rest of the year and set up a roadmap of how I plan on finishing up my time at the University of Washington. CEP 400: Governance Practicum Course Description: Emphasizes personal and collective leadership, democratic decision making, and learning through direct action and reflection. Explores and develops students' personal skills as doers and leaders, while also learning how to form and function as effective groups. |
Winter 2018
CEP 302: Environmental Response Course Description: Explores issues of environmental crisis and societal responses. Readings and reflective analysis from broad selection of authoritative sources to develop grounded perspective in ecological literacy and consciousness. Concurrently, experiential education in challenges and practical responses to building sustainable society through participation in community-based environmental effort. From this class, I learned how to read and analyze an environmental impact statement. I also learned that sometimes you need to focus and push forward when the class structure doesn’t work for you. I really enjoyed readings from E.O. Wilson and Robin Wall Kimmerer and find it worthwhile to know that anyone can find a passion in a field that may seem boring to others. LARCH 353: History of Modern Landscape Architecture Course Description: Development of profession and art of landscape architecture in the United States, Europe, South America, and Japan in relation to prevailing social, economic, political, and cultural factors. Relationships with other professions, especially architecture and urban planning, and other arts, such as painting and sculpture. From this class, I learned more about the history of modern landscape architecture. Before going into the class, I only knew a little about well-known landscape architects like the Olmsted Brothers. After taking the class, the greats in landscape architecture did leave their mark but so did lesser known professionals that influenced the field in other ways. LARCH 361: The Human Experience of Place Course Description: Interdisciplinary approaches to exploring the reciprocal relationship between people and the landscapes of everyday life. Through readings, discussion, in-class activities and mini-projects, students study place attachment, relationships to nature, environmental attitudes and perception, personal space, territoriality, urban public space, diversity, participation, and the politics of space. I learned about how landscape architectural practices can shape how people give meaning to the spaces they live, work, and play. I appreciate more the design of public spaces and can reflect now more on my experiences in designed spaces. CEP 400: Governance Practicum Course Description: Emphasizes personal and collective leadership, democratic decision making, and learning through direct action and reflection. Explores and develops students' personal skills as doers and leaders, while also learning how to form and function as effective groups. I took this class to engage with CEPsters in a communal matter in order to run the major. |
Winter 2019
CEP 461: Ethics and Identity Course Description: Examination of personal, societal, vocational, environmental, planning ethics. Readings and discourse on ethical foundations for public life. Individual and group readings on values, human potential. Develops understanding of ecological context, moral responsibility, self-awareness. Constructs positive, diverse view of humanity, environment regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, beliefs. While taking this class, I was exposed to various ethics created by classic and modern philosophers. After reading the foundation work of different morals and ethics are formed, I feel confident in explaining my own morals and have a base understanding in differences between the ethics of philosophers we studied. AFRAM 337: Popular Music, Race, Identity, And Social Change Course Description: Focuses on popular music, shifting formations of race and identity and social change in various cultural, historical, and political contexts. Explores popular music as a tool for social change, a vehicle for community-building and a form of political and aesthetic expression. The reason I’m taking this class is because my senior project involves music and I saw this class as a potential resource for research. After taking the class, I walked away with a material for my podcast and background knowledge about lesser known tidbits in music history. ARCH 410: Introduction to Architectural Photography Course: Description: Basic elements and processes of architectural photography to include camera controls, exposure technique, photo processing, and fundamental principles of photographing architecture. I took this course to have a formalized structure to learn how to use my film camera. I now have a deeper appreciation for the work of photographers and film photography. CEP 491: Senir Project Prep Seminar 2 Course Description: Focuses on implementing the senior project/capstone, including revisions and updates as seen fit. Continuing the work that I’ve done in CEP 490, I began carrying out my capstone. CEP 400: Governance Practicum Course Description: Emphasizes personal and collective leadership, democratic decision making, and learning through direct action and reflection. Explores and develops students' personal skills as doers and leaders, while also learning how to form and function as effective groups. |
Spring 2018
CEP 303: Social Structures and Processes Course Description: Investigates use of formal and informal social structures and processes within context of community and environment. Looks at patterns and institutions of social organization and relationships among different sectors. Issues of interrelatedness, citizenship, knowledge, and communication. I learned about community outreach tactics, mapping, social structures and their relationship to different sectors and groups. I developed my project management skills and practiced working in teams throughout group projects. CEP 473: Digital Design Practicum Course Description: Uses digital technologies for mapping, drafting, modeling, and communication. Includes real-world case study projects that focus on urban design and planning issues. I learned a lot about the Adobe Suite and other creative software programs. I gained a base understanding of the Adobe Creative Suite and other creative software programs. I can gladly say that after taking this class, I have a basic understanding of programs and can learn more through practice and tutorials. LARCH 322: Introduction to Planting Design Course Description: Traditional ways plants are used in landscape design. Composition and design characteristics of plant materials. Technical considerations for selection, climate, cultural suitability, availability, costs, and maintenance. CEP 300: CEP Retreat Course Description: Focuses on planning analysis assessment and development of the major. Opportunities for community building and all-major policy deliberation and decisions. Workshops for skill building in consensus, facilitation, and for major-specific activities such as developing individual study plans and study abroad experiences. By participating in this retreat, my understanding in CEP’s goals and foundation is developed. This is also an opportunity to get to know my fellow CEPsters better. Since this retreat is at the end of my junior year, it should be a time to look back at the previous year and reflect on what I’ve done. After reflecting on my junior year, I should enter the remainder of the school year and summer with the goal of developing a concept for my senior project. CEP 400: Governance Practicum Course Description: Emphasizes personal and collective leadership, democratic decision making, and learning through direct action and reflection. Explores and develops students' personal skills as doers and leaders, while also learning how to form and function as effective groups. |
Spring 2019
CEP 462: Community and Environment Course Description: Capstone quarter merges core seminars, disciplinary courses in major, community field experiences for mastery of personal knowledge and skills. Reflection and synthesis of themes in major; engagement with contemporary issues. Compares theoretical definitions of community and environment with individual philosophies and knowledge within thoughtful, applied context. This class is a culmination of everything I learned in the past two years during my time in CEP. The purpose of this class will be to analyze and apply what I’ve learned about the environment and communities to real-life situations. It was a time where I could discuss relevant issues revolving around the idea of community with my classmates and share any realizations I had with them. It was also a space to wrap up my senior capstone AFRAM 350: Black Aesthetics Course Description: Draws on both multi-media and print sources, including fiction, poetry, prose, films, polemics, historiography and speeches to explore the idea of a black aesthetic in various cultural, historical, and political contexts within the twentieth century. I took this class to learn about the Black Arts Movement and other topics related to the African-American community. Another reason I took this class was to gain possible subject matter for my podcast. CEP 446: Internship Course Description: Connects core and individual courses with field work. Group and individual readings develop understanding of how students' internships and field placements constitute particular element of community and environmental planning. Explores how what we do for a living is part of our lives as citizens and public service. This course was a space for me to reflect on my internship and evaluate how it help my educational goals. I also used the course to continue my professional development and practice writing a cover letter and resume. CEP 300: CEP Retreat Course Description: Focuses on planning analysis assessment and development of the major. Opportunities for community building and all-major policy deliberation and decisions. Workshops for skill building in consensus, facilitation, and for major-specific activities such as developing individual study plans and study abroad experiences. By participating in this retreat, my understanding in CEP’s goals and foundation is developed. Since this retreat is at the end of my senior year, it should be a time to look back at my time at the UW and evaluate my progression from the beginning of my freshman year to the end of my senior year. It is also a time to give the next cohort of senior advice on best practices to make it through the senior capstone and surviving senior year. CEP 400: Governance Practicum Course Description: Emphasizes personal and collective leadership, democratic decision making, and learning through direct action and reflection. Explores and develops students' personal skills as doers and leaders, while also learning how to form and function as effective groups. |