Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Sustainability Studies, B.A.

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Colleen Garrity, Coordinator

This program immerses students in the three pillars of sustainability: society, economy, and environment. Through interdisciplinary coursework, the major focuses on the connections that exist between social equity, economy, and environmental problems, and it builds student understanding of sustainable solutions that will meet the present and future needs of people and the biosphere. The major provides students with skills needed to pursue graduate studies or employment in a range of sustainability fields. Students are encouraged to incorporate internships and directed studies into their program with the approval of the Sustainability Studies Coordinator.

Program Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of the concept and practice of sustainability at personal, community, national, and global scales.
Analyze complex systems in the context of social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
Engage in sustainability research and/or outreach that applies and integrates knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines.
Demonstrate critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills to address the challenges and opportunities of sustainability.

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 44-54

Basic Requirements: (17 Credits)

BIOL 105 - Contemporary Biology Credit(s): 3 and BIOL 106 - Contemporary Biology Laboratory Credit(s): 1
BIOL 117 - General Biology - Cells, Genetics, Evolution Credit(s): 3 and BIOL 118 - General Biology Laboratory I Credit(s): 1 or BIOL 120 - General Biology Laboratory II Credit(s): 1
ECON 110 - Introductory Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 111 - Physical Geography Credit(s): 3 and GEOG 112 - Physical Geography Laboratory Credit(s): 1
GEOG 123 - The Developing World Credit(s): 3
GSCI 120 - Our Geological Environment Credit(s): 3 and GSCI 121 - Our Geological Environment Laboratory Credit(s): 1
GSCI 160 - Physical Geology Credit(s): 3 and GSCI 161 - Physical Geology Laboratory Credit(s): 1
SUST 124 - Sustainability & Environmental Issues Credit(s): 3

Sustainability Dimension Courses (21-29 Credits)

Seven courses with at least two in each dimension. At least 18 credits must be at the 300-level or higher with 3-4 of those credits earned through the Integrative and Applied Learning Experience, and at least 3 credits must be at the 200-level or higher.

Dimension 1: Society, Culture and Humanities (2 Classes - 6-8 credits)

AMST 201 - Topics in American Studies: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
ANTH 231 - Language and Gender Credit(s): 3
ARTH 174 - Visual Culture Today Credit(s): 4
ARTH 410 - Gender and Art Credit(s): 4
ARTH 378 - Museum Studies Credit(s): 4
BIOL 384 - Communicating Science Credit(s): 3
BLKS 200 - Introduction to Black Studies Credit(s): 3
BLKS 220 - Black Lives Matter: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
COMN 248 - Perspectives on Organizational Communication Credit(s): 3
ENGL 318 - Black British Literature and Culture Credit(s): 4
ENGL 335 - Asian American Literature Survey Credit(s): 4
ENGL 336 - Native American Literature Credit(s): 4
ENGL 337 - African-American Literature Credit(s): 4
ENGL 427 - Literary Representations of Disability Credit(s): 4
ENGL 432 - Metropolis Credit(s): 4
GEOG 201 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning Credit(s): 3
GEOG 300 - Environmentalism & Natural Resource Management Credit(s): 3
GEOG 350 - Urban Historical Geography Credit(s): 3
GEOG 376 - Political Geography Credit(s): 3
GEOG 377 - Urban Geography Credit(s): 3
GEOG 384 - Geography of Food Credit(s): 3
HIST 260 - Issues in the History of American Women Credit(s): 4
HIST 261 - Native American History Credit(s): 4
HIST 415 - Environmental History of Modern America Credit(s): 4
HUMN 222 - Black Humanities Credit(s): 4
MUSC 336 - Music, Gender, and Sexuality: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
MUSC 337 - Music, Race, and Ethnicity: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
PLSC 374 - Public Administration Credit(s): 3
PLSC 411 - Public Opinion and the Mass Media Credit(s): 3
PLSC 413 - Political Leadership Credit(s): 3
PLSC 414 - American Public Policy Credit(s): 3
PHIL 201 - Environmental Ethics Credit(s): 3
PHIL 204 - Feminist Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PSYC 275 - Environmental Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCL 102 - Introduction to Social Problems and Public Policy Credit(s): 3
SOCL 218 - Sociology of Environmental Issues Credit(s): 3
SOCL 317 - Gender and Law Credit(s): 3
SOCL 318 - Environmental Sociology Credit(s): 3
SUST 345 - Environmental Justice Credit(s): 3
WGST 310 - Race, Class, and Gender Credit(s): 3

Dimension 2: Development, Economics, and Global Perspective (2 Classes - 6-8 Credits)

ANTH 226 - Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean Credit(s): 3
ANTH 307 - Anthropology of Development Credit(s): 3
ANTH 313 - Global Health Issues Credit(s): 3
ANTH 316 - Human Ecology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 343 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Women’s Health Credit(s): 3
ARTH 205 - Museum Studies - Art and Global Politics Credit(s): 4
BIOL 318 - Health and Developing World Credit(s): 3
BIOL 344 - Biology and Global Health Credit(s): 4
CMLT 200 - Reading Transnationally: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
COMN 317 - Culture and Communication Credit(s): 4
ECON 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 340 - Environmental Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 341 - Natural Resource Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 355 - Economic Development and Growth Credit(s): 3
ECON 356 - Women and the Economy Credit(s): 3
ENGL 308 - Modernity in West Africa Credit(s): 4
ENGL 342 - World Literature Credit(s): 4
GEOG 301 - International Food Geographies Credit(s): 3
GEOG 362 - Geography of Latin America Credit(s): 3
GEOG 363 - Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Credit(s): 3
GEOG 365 - The Geography of Islam Credit(s): 3
GEOG 366 - Geography of the Western Pacific Rim Credit(s): 3
PHIL 202 - World Religions & Contemporary Issues Credit(s): 3
PHIL 237 - Ethical Issues in Business Credit(s): 3
PLSC 350 - Democratization Credit(s): 3
PLSC 355 - Politics of East Asia Credit(s): 3
PLSC 356 - Politics of South Asia Credit(s): 3
PLSC 360 - Developing World Politics Credit(s): 3
PLSC 362 - Government and Politics in Africa Credit(s): 3
PLSC 372 - Community, State, and Regional Politics Credit(s): 3
PLSC 376 - Social and Political Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PLSC 425 - Politics of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Credit(s): 3
PLSC 426 - Government and Politics of South America Credit(s): 3
PLSC 428 - Middle East Politics Credit(s): 3
PLSC 440 - International Law Credit(s): 3
PLSC 442 - Human Rights in a Global Perspective Credit(s): 3
SOCL 105 - Introduction to Global Social Change Credit(s): 3
SOCL 325 - Global Social Change Credit(s): 3
WGST 340 - Gender and Global Education Credit(s): 3

Dimension 3: Environment and Physical Science (at least 2 Classes - 6-9 Credits)

BIOL 203 - Principles of Ecology Credit(s): 3
BIOL 305 - Biological Conservation Credit(s): 4
BIOL 314 - Biodiversity: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
BIOL 315 - Sustainability Science Credit(s): 3
BIOL 317 - Marine Biology Credit(s): 4
BIOL 348 - Plant Diversity Credit(s): 4
CHEM 104 - Chemistry and Society Credit(s): 3 and
CHEM 105 - Chemistry and Society Laboratory Credit(s): 1
CHEM 116 - Chemistry I Credit(s): 3 and
CHEM 119 - Introductory Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 1
GEOG 320 - Weather and Climate Credit(s): 3
GEOG 329 - Biogeography Credit(s): 3
GEOG 358 - Mountain Environments Credit(s): 3
GEOG 382 - Climate Change and Variability Credit(s): 3
GSCI 140 - Environmental Science Credit(s): 3 and GSCI 141 - Environmental Science Laboratory Credit(s): 1
GSCI 150 - The Geology of Climate Change and Energy Credit(s): 3 and GSCI 151 - The Geology of Climate Change and Energy Laboratory Credit(s): 1
GSCI 200 - Environmental Geology Credit(s): 3
GSCI 235 - Paleoclimatology Credit(s): 3
GSCI 347 - Groundwater Hydrology Credit(s): 3
GSCI 431 - Geomorphology Credit(s): 3
GSCI 452 - Environmental Sedimentation Credit(s): 3
PHYS 104 - Sustainable Energy Credit(s): 4
PHYS 113 - General Physics I Credit(s): 3 and PHYS 114 - Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 123 - Analytical Physics I Credit(s): 3 and PHYS 114 - Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1 or PHYS 124 - Analytical Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1

An additional course (3-4 credits) from any one of the three dimensions.

Integrative and Applied Learning Experience: (3-4 credits)

Course selected must be at the 300-level or above:
GEOG 383 - Research in Human Geography and Sustainability Credit(s): 3
SUST 366 - Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship Credit(s): 3
SUST 385 - Campus Sustainability Leadership Credit(s): 2
SUST 395 - Sustainability Internship Credit(s): As arranged
SUST 399 - Sustainability Directed Study Credit(s): As arranged
or other internship, directed study, capstone, or study abroad course, pre-approved by the Sustainability Studies Coordinator.

Related Requirements (3-4 Credits)

BIOL 350 - Foundations of Biostatistics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 278 - Statistics in Geography Credit(s): 3
GEOG 286 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credit(s): 4
GSCI 433 - Geological Applications of Remote Sensing Credit(s): 3
MATH 228 - Calculus II for Biologists Credit(s): 4
MATH 242 - Elements of Probability and Statistics Credit(s): 3
MATH 262 - Applied Statistics Credit(s): 3
PLSC 251 - Modern Political Analysis Credit(s): 3
PSYC 250 - Introduction to Behavioral Statistics Credit(s): 3
SOCL 211 - Statistics for Social Research Credit(s): 3

Minimum Competence Requirement

A grade of C- or better is required for all courses used in fulfillment of the Sustainability Studies major.

Department Writing Requirement

Students will meet the department writing requirement for Sustainability Studies majors by writing a reflective essay in consultation with the Sustainability Studies Coordinator after completion of the Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.

Footnotes:

Courses may have prerequisites.
A three-credit lecture taken with its one-credit co-requisite lab constitutes one course.
Three to four internship credits may be used to satisfy one sustainability dimension course or the integrative and applied learning requirement with the approval of the Sustainability Studies Coordinator.
Three to four credits of directed study may be used to satisfy one sustainability dimension course or the integrative and applied learning requirement with the approval of the Sustainability Studies Coordinator.
SUST 366 - Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship or SUST 399 - Sustainability Directed Study may be used to satisfy one sustainability dimension course or the integrative and applied learning requirement with the approval of the Sustainability Studies Coordinator.

Sample Course Map

For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022: please select the bulletin year in which you entered the college (matriculated) at the top right of this page.

Curriculum Map

First Year
- Fall - 16 Credit Hours
  - SUST 124 - Sustainability & Environmental Issues
    - Counts for Global Society: CGC and SST
  - BIOL 105 - Contemporary Biology and BIOL 106 - Contemporary Biology Laboratory
  - WRTG 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle)
  - GEOG 123 - The Developing World
  - Global Society: DPP - Credit(s): 3
- Spring - 14 Credit Hours
  - ECON 110 - Introductory Microeconomics
  - GEOG 111 - Physical Geography and GEOG 112 - Physical Geography Laboratory
  - Related Statistics Requirement - Credit(s): 3
    - Counts for Math/Quantitative Reasoning
  - World Language 101 - Credit(s): 4
Second Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - Dimension 1 Elective 1 - Credit(s): 4
  - Global Society: WCV - Credit(s): 4
  - World Language 102 - Credit(s): 4
  - Elective - Credit(s): 3
- Spring -14 Credit Hours
  - Global Society: CAI - Credit(s): 3
  - Dimension 1, Elective 2 - Credit(s): 3
  - Dimension 2, Elective 1 - Credit(s): 4
  - Elective - Credit(s): 4
Third Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - Dimension 2, Elective 2 - Credit(s): 3
  - Dimension 3, Elective 1 - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 8
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
  - Dimension 3, Elective 2 - Credit(s): 3
  - Electives - Credit(s): 12
Fourth Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - Dimension Elective - Credit(s): 3
  - Integrated & Applied Learning - Credit(s): 3
  - Electives - Credit(s): 9
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
  - Electives - Credit(s): 15

Total Credit Hours: 120

Note: Variation in the order of courses is possible, depending upon prerequisites. Consult course information in the bulletin or your academic advisor to customize your eight semester plan.

KEY - Participation in a Global Society (PGS)

Attributes:

Sub Areas

Abbreviation	Definition
DPP	Diversity, Pluralism, Power
WCV	World Cultures & Values
CGC	Contemporary Global Challenges
CAI	Creativity & Innovation
SST	Sustainability

Learning Areas

Abbreviation	Definition
ARTS	Arts
HUMA	Humanities
SOSC	Social Science