Architecture And Related ServicesSpecialization of Environmental Design

Best institutions to study Environmental Design

CIP 04.0499New in CIP 2020

Any instructional program in environmental design not listed above.

1 U.S. institutions graduated 1 Environmental Design students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 04.0499, a specialization of Environmental Design (CIP 04.04), and leads most directly to the Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1031).

Institutions
1
offering CIP 04.0499
States offered
1
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
1
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
100%
share of graduates
US median pay · Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
$96,870
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Environmental Design
0.1%
of all Environmental Design graduates

About Environmental Design programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 04.0499
Any instructional program in environmental design not listed above.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Environmental Design program focuses on the principles of design in relation to the environment, preparing students for careers in architecture and related fields. This program is ideal for individuals interested in exploring innovative design solutions that consider ecological and social impacts.

Learn more about Environmental Design →

What you'll learn

Students in the Environmental Design program develop essential skills in areas such as design, critical thinking, and communication. Coursework typically includes topics related to architectural design methods, aesthetics, and building materials, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Credentials awarded

What Environmental Design graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    100%

Top 1 institutions for Environmental Design, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet price
1UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey
Cranford, NJPublicAssociate's
135%—

Offered in 1 states

Where Environmental Design graduates come from. Each state links to all Environmental Design programs offered there.

StateInstitutionsGraduates / yrTop institution by graduates
New Jersey11UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey1 / yr

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1031, Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Environmental Design program can pursue careers as postsecondary architecture teachers. The job outlook for this occupation is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2% and approximately 900 annual openings. The median wage for this role is $101,480, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.0%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$101,480
typically Doctoral or professional degree
National employment
7,700
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
US average pay
$101,250
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$96,870
annual

Top-paying metros

San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR
$137,310avg
College Station-Bryan, TX
$134,450avg
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$128,020avg
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$111,750avg
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
$111,000avg

Career pathways for CIP 04.0499

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary
SOC 25-1031
$96,870+2.0%
About as fast as average
~900Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation needed

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Education
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Related careers

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,250 avg · 7,700 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Environmental Design programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Learning Strategies
Active Listening
Writing
Active Learning
Critical Thinking
Monitoring

Knowledge areas

Design
English Language
Building and Construction
Education and Training
Communications and Media
Computers and Electronics

Abilities that matter most

Oral Expression
Speech Clarity
Deductive Reasoning
Written Comprehension
Written Expression
Oral Comprehension

Day-to-day work activities

Training and Teaching Others
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Working with Computers
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Thinking Creatively
Getting Information

What graduates do on the job

  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as architectural design methods, aesthetics and design, and structures and materials.
  • Evaluate and grade students' work, including work performed in design studios.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Tools and technology used

Adobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAutodesk 3D Studio DesignAutodesk 3ds MaxAutodesk AutoCAD

Other Environmental Design specializations

The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Environmental Design (CIP 04.04).

Common questions

What degree is awarded in this program?+

An Associate's degree is awarded upon completion of the program.

What skills will I develop?+

You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, and active learning, among others.

What is the job outlook for graduates?+

The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2%.

What careers can I pursue with this degree?+

You can pursue a career as a postsecondary architecture teacher.

What is the CIP code for Environmental Design?+

Environmental Design is CIP 04.0499 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Environmental Design (CIP 04.04). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in environmental design not listed above.

How many institutions offer Environmental Design programs?+

1 U.S. institutions reported Environmental Design graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 1 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Environmental Design graduates.

How much do Environmental Design graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Environmental Design most directly leads to, pays a median of $96,870 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Environmental Design by stateNew Jersey

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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