Housing and Human Environments

Overview

Housing and human environment programs include topics such as:

• Space planning and design
• Social, economic, and functional aspects of housing and interiors
• Furnishings
• Facilities management
• Public policy

Students study housing as it relates to different populations such as the elderly, religious orders, or groups of children.

Schools

A few community colleges offer associate degrees in housing and human environments. An associate degree program usually takes two years to complete.

Several colleges and universities also offer a bachelor's degree in housing and human environments. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Some schools offer a post-bachelor's certificate program that usually requires one year of full-time study after getting a bachelor's degree.

This may be an interdisciplinary program. Interdisciplinary programs combine courses from several college departments.

Several universities offer graduate degrees in housing and human environments. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

• Architecture
• Community Services
• Environmental Design
• Environmental Health
• Family and Consumer Sciences, General
• Family Studies and Human Development
• Interior Design
• Public and Community Health
• Public Policy Studies
• Real Estate
• Recreation and Parks Management
• Social Sciences, General
• Sociology

Related Careers

Careers to Consider

• Architects
• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Farm and Home Management Advisors
• Interior Designers
• Landscape Architects
• Real Estate Agents
• Set and Exhibit Designers
• Social and Community Service Managers
• Sociologists
• Urban and Regional Planners

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

• Art History
• Art Portfolio
• Blueprint Reading
• CAD Design and Software
• Computer Graphics
• Drafting, Architectural
• Drawing and Painting
• General Computer Applications
• Home Furnishing
• Home Furnishings Production
• Issues of American Culture
• Sociology

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

Students don't always learn about just housing and human environments in general. In the case of many undergraduate programs, they can choose a concentration. Depending on what you choose, your course work typically includes at least some courses in the following subjects:

• Applied Ergonomic Methods
• Building Technology
• Business Management
• Construction Planning and Operations
• Design Integration
• Environmental Controls: Lighting and Acoustics
• Environmental Controls: Mechanical Systems
• Facilities Development and Planning
• Housing Design and Client Communications
• Human Behavior and the Near Environment
• Human Factors: Ambient Environment
• Insurance and Risk Management
• Introduction to Architecture
• Introduction to Cognitive Science
• Organizational Behavior
• Principles of Real Estate
• Properties Development and Planning
• Real Estate Markets and Management
• Residential Technology
• Rural Housing Issues
• Social Psychology
• Theories of Conflict and Conflict Management

Things to Know

This program is interdisciplinary and offers many different career opportunities. If you want to focus on the design aspect of this program of study, you need to begin compiling a professional portfolio of your project designs and plans.

Schools

No information available.