Sustainability Studies and the Environment is an interdisciplinary program focused on the connections between the three “e’s” of sustainability: environment, equity and economy. Through experiential learning and internships, students in the program practice environmental stewardship with a focus on social and environmental justice. Students analyze the scientific and ethical challenges to sustainable local and global systems and gain the skills to design, promote and implement solutions to support the equitable sustainable development of resilient communities.
Contact Information
Learning Outcomes
The student completing the Sustainability Studies and the Environment major will be able to:
- Critically analyze the three ‘E’s of sustainability--environment, economy, and equity--through the lenses of academic disciplines and articulate their interconnections.
- Employ core Benedictine principles to propose creative individual and collective behavioral changes that address sustainability challenges and build just and resilient communities.
- Apply tools of advocacy and policy to promote equitable sustainable development through experiential community work.
- Evaluate, design and implement actions supporting the ecological, organizational, and cultural sustainability of local and global system.
Requirements
Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Sustainability major.
Program Requirements
Major Credits: 42-46
Major Residency Credits: 16
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Program Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BIO 1103 | Current Environmental Topics | 4 |
| CHM 1010 | Chemistry and Sustainability | 4 |
| SUS 1117 | Introduction to Sustainability | 4 |
| SUS 4555 | Sustainability Studies and the Environment Internship 1 | 0-4 |
| SUS 4999 | Independent Study (Senior Capstone) | 2 |
| Four (4) credits from each of the following areas | ||
| Ethics/Philosophy: | 4 | |
| American Indian Philosophy | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| The Ethics of Consumption | ||
| Topics in Religion (Catholic Social Teaching and the Environment) | ||
| Creative Communication | 4 | |
| Writing Nature | ||
| Design Thinking | ||
| Topics in Sustainability (Music: Environmental Activism) | ||
| Societal Health & Well-being | 4 | |
| Healthcare Across Cultures | ||
| Health, Happiness, and Human Well-being | ||
| Topics in Sustainability (Sustainability Practica (can take 2 times)) | ||
| Understanding Systems of Privilege and Oppression | ||
| Topics in Social Work (Sustaining Life--Water and Environmental Justice ) | ||
| Sustainable Economics and Policy | 4 | |
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Community Nonprofits | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Designing Successful Products | ||
| Topics in Indian Studies (Native American Law and Policy) | ||
| Global Sustainability | 4 | |
| Contemporary Africa | ||
| Environmental History of the Americas | ||
| Politics of Globalization | ||
| Environmental Politics | ||
| Topics in Sustainability (Frontiers in Sustainability) | ||
| Eight (8) upper division credits from the catagories listed above or the electives listed below or upper division credits in a closley related area of interest with approval of the program director. | 8 | |
| Public Art Practicum | ||
| Argumentation | ||
| Intermediate German II | ||
| Organization Development | ||
| Population-Based Care | ||
| American Social Welfare Policy | ||
| Total Credits | 42-46 | |
- 1
Internship also requires a portfolio to be completed.
Degree Requirements
To graduate from the College of St. Scholastica, baccalaureate students must meet the following minimum degree requirements.
Total Credits: 128
Upper Division Credits: 42
Residency Requirement: 32
Minimum GPA: 2.0