Course Descriptions
Sustainability Studies students must complete two core courses and 4 elective courses. Two electives must be numbered 300 or higher.
Electives can be taken from SUS designated courses as well as approved courses offered by other departments.
Required Courses
SUS101: Principles of Sustainability
3 Credits
This course focuses on the fundamental principles of sustainability, providing a larger context for the topics covered in the elective courses. Topics covered include: What is Sustainability?, Climate Change and Environmental Challenges, Systems Thinking/Systems Analysis, "Natural" Systems and Function, Human Interactions with Natural Systems, and Ethics and Values.
- OR -
SUS202: Topics in Sustainability
3 credits
A multidisciplinary introduction to sustainability, defined as balancing present human needs and desires against the future's capacity to support human needs and desires. Faculty and students from various disciplines will explore current and alternative social systems through the lens of a single topic. Topics will change depending on the participating faculty. Past topics include Food, Water, Consumption, Campus Biodiversity, and Green Architecture. May be repeated with change of topic.
SUS450: Advanced Seminar Sustainability
3 credits
An integration study of concepts from various fields in sustainability. Students will critically review how individuals and/or institutions apply knowledge relating to sustainable best practice to restore and enhance natural, human, and financial capital and to create intergenerational value and well-being.
Elective Courses
Sustainability Studies minors must complete 12 elective credits, at least six of which must be numbered 300 or higher. Electives courses include all courses with the "SUS" prefix and approved courses offered in other departments.
Approved Sustainability Electives offered by Other Departments
Click here for a list of current courses and course descriptions.
ANT/SOC 350 - Readings in Sociological & Anthropological Literature: Sustainability in Action
ANT/SOC 367 - Culture, Power, and Inequality in a Globalized World
ANT/SOC 420 - Senior Seminar: Dealing with Disaster
ARH 349 - Development of Modern Architecture
BIO 103 - Topics in Biology: Ecology
BIO 112 - The Ocean Environment
BIO 143 - Ecology and Environmental Issues
CEN 304 - Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CHM 130 - Chemistry and the Environment
DES 300 - Concepts in Design: Design for Environment
ENL 200 - Studies in Literature: Reading and Writing about the Ocean
IST 444 - Topic in Indic Studies: Sustainable Living
IST 444 - Topic in Indic Studies: Sustainable Entrepreneurship in India
MAR 110 - Natural Hazards and the Ocean
MGT 312 - Legal Framework of Business (NOTE: Business majors may NOT count MGT 312 as an SUS elective)
MTX 110 - Environmental Science and Business
PHY 162 - Science, Technology & Society: The Environment
PHY 171 - Planet Earth I
PHY 172 - Planet Earth II
PHY 183 - Introduction to Global Climate Change
PHY 419 - Advanced Traffic Engineering
PSC 235 - Environmental Policy
PSC 251 - World Political Issues and Ideas: The Politics of Everyday Things
PSC 347 - Environmental Law
PSC 348 - Ocean Policy and Law
PSC 384 - International Law & Organization
PSC 400 - Seminar in American Politics & Ideas: State and Local Public Policy
PSC 477 - Topics in International Relations: Global Environmental Politics
PSC 477 - Topics in International Relations: Climate Action
SOC 381 - Social Impact of Science and Technology
WMS 210 - Topics in Women’s Studies: Women’s Health and the Environment
WMS 210 - Topics in Women’s Studies: Gender, Migration, and Globalization
