The Sustainability Studies Minor Program

Minor Requirements

The minor will consist of eighteen credits. Six of those credits will be earned in two required courses:

SUS 201: Topics in Sustainabilty (or SUS 202, depending upon semester)

SUS 450: Advanced Seminar in Sustainability Studies

The twelve remaining credits may be taken in any courses cross-listed with Sustainability Studies (noted in COIN by an SUS designation), but which are not also used to fulfill a major requirement; of those twelve credits, six must be in courses at the 300-level or higher.

The undergraduate Sustainability Studies Minor is a multidisciplinary approach in which students gain an understanding of the theory and practice of sustainability. This program looks to discover and examine humanity's philosophies and practices, past and present, as they relate to the natural and social world, and consider what new or alternative philosophies and practices might be capable of providing a sustainable, balanced, and ethical future for the planet and its inhabitants.

The minor (coursework here) helps students develop both broad understanding and practical skills and opportunities that will contribute to their marketability to potential employers, including private businesses that have greened their production methods, public agencies, think tanks, and non-profit organizations. These understandings and skills include:

The addition of the important sustainability knowledge base to their present baccalaureate degree.
The ability to identify unsustainable practices and to offer the latest science and technological solutions to reduce the impact of these practices.
The potential to affect contemporary policy implementation at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
A deeper understanding of the local and global challenges to sustainability from economic, environmental and social perspectives.

What You Study

There are several ways to access sustainability studies at UMass Dartmouth:

On campus students may complete the minor by taking courses both in the classroom and online through Professional and Continuing Education. Take a look at our list of current courses and all sustainability courses.

Off-campus students may register for sustainability courses through Professional and Continuing Education. Online learning allows the student to juggle the demands of work, school and family to reach your educational goals without compromising your work or family time.

A fully online post-baccalaureate certificate for off campus students is under development. Interested students should watch for updates on this site, and contact Susan Jennings, sjennings@umassd.edu, to receive information regularly.

For More Information, please contact Susan Jennings, Office of Campus and Community Sustainability, or sjennings@umassd.edu. Tel. 508-910-6484.