Our approach to community design and community design research is based on developing, evaluating, and documenting design processes that are inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the combination of natural and cultural resources, social and economic issues, and agents of change unique to each community. We are interested in uncovering the processes that increase participation and shared decision-making, and on building a shared design vocabulary reflecting community values related to their relationship to the built and natural environment. This approach is informed by the idea of place-making as an outcome of critical/reflective practice that investigates issues of social justice and environmental sustainability.<br><br>Students interested in the Community-Focused Design Program pursue research with a focus on food security, and public and environmental health. This specialization prepares you for careers that: build participatory design into professional practice and community organizing, lead nonprofit organizations in participatory community design at the neighborhood, city, watershed, or bioregional scales, or engage research to evaluate the social and environmental results of participatory design and planning processes.<br><br>The Community-Focused Design concentration is particularly appropriate for students holding accredited degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning or Urban Design who want to develop a specialization in community design.