Sustainability

This minor or specialization allows students to study a broad range of sub-fields. You'll learn how to approach the world's problems from many angles and find green solutions.

Students working outside

Ready to change the world?

You'll address today's growing environmental concerns with innovative strategies — like improved conservation, sustainable development and the restoration of natural resources — and develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental functions.

Our campus culture is focused around green initiatives. Take our Management and Academic building for example. It earned Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. And it uses 34% less water and 38% less energy than similar buildings of the same size.

Complete the following three courses:

The Environmental Forum (ENVI 201) is a required two-credit course (taken in the fall and again in the spring, for a total of four credits) focusing on topics related to sustainability and the environment, encouraging an active dialog between students and invited expert speakers, and providing an integrative thread to the minor. In addition, this course has a service-learning component that connects sustainability to the community.  Note: CHEM 221 (Cultural Ecology and Sustainability: Lessons from Iceland, May 2022) can be used in place of one the Environmental Forum courses.

PHIL 129 Environmental Ethics (4 credits, offered each spring).

Select one course from each elective discipline outlined below.

Scientific Issues

BIOL104 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
BIOL243 Evironmental Sustainability 3
BIOL245 Principles of Ecology 4
CHEM227 Energy & Global Warming 4

Economic and Political Issues

ECON145 Economics of Sustainability and Resource Use 4
ECON235 From Farm to Table: The Political Economy of Food Systems 3
ECON247 Environmental Economics 4
POLS217 American Public Policy 4

ECON 235/HON 335 – not open to first year students.

Social Issues

BUS224 Social Action Leaders 4
BUS229 Corporate Social Responsibility: Managing People, Planet, & Profit 4
HIST205 Global Environmental History 4
SOCI220 Working for Social Justice 4
SOCI222 Organizing for Social Change 4
SOCI245 Global Health 4
SOCI249 Inequalities 4
SOCI321 Sociology of Food 4

BUS 229: part of LC – open to sophomores

BUS 224: open to sophomores

 

BIOL 104, CHEM 227, ECON 145, BUS 229, HIST 205, BIS 224, SOCI 220, SOCI 222, SOCI 245: These courses do not have prerequisites.

Spotlight on Sustainability Students and Alums

Sustainability Club meeting with Helen Drinan

Charlotte Rivard '19 Lands Internship at NASA

Charlotte tells us about her experience as the Sustainability Club President and her internship at NASA this summer!