Sustainability Studies

Bevis, Dodge, Johnson, Mynhardt 

 

The Sustainability Studies major is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to exploring the critical links between environmental health, social justice, and economic equity. Reflecting the complexity of these issues, the major explores the systems that create and sustain those issues. Through this study, students work to develop solutions that support a healthy environment, advance social equity, and build a fair economy, contributing to a livable planet for future generations. Due to the number of courses needing prerequisites, students are strongly encouraged to examine course descriptions and choices and speak with Sustainability faculty when planning a course of study.

 

Major: BIO 161 or BIO 165; ECO 224; ENV 265; GEO 236; SJ 161; one of MAT 217, PLS 239, PSY 217 or BIO 462; SUST457 or SUST471 (Culminating Experience), and four electives from at least two different disciplines from the electives list below. One of those electives must be a 300-level course (each of which has prerequisites; see below) from the sequences list. Total of 12-15 units.

 

Electives:

ARTD 224. Design Thinking and Problem Solving

BIO 225. Entomology

BIO 227. Herpetology

BIO 234. Plant Taxonomy

BIO 312. Conservation Biology

BIO 315. Ecology

ECO 221. Environmental Economics

ECO 337. Economic Development

GEO 221. Introduction to Geographic Information Science

GEO 334. Geomorphology

HIS 225. The History of the American Midwest

INS 161. Modern Africa

PLS 213. Introduction to Public Policy

PLS 321. Natural Resources Policy

PLS 359. Social Movements

SOC 217. Social Problems

SOC 231. Sociology of Food

SOC 235/THS 235. Confronting Addiction in Indiana

SOC236/THS 236. Social Justice in the Internet Age

SOC238. Society and Social Movements

SOC 338. Social Class and Inequality

THS 237. Religion, Ethics and the Earth

 

In addition to these courses, students are encouraged to petition SAAC with other courses, including special topics courses and semester abroad courses from international universities, that are substantially related to sustainability.

 

300-level sequences:

• BIO 185, BIO 231, BIO 312 Conservation Biology
• BIO 185, BIO 231, BIO 315 Ecology
• ECO 113 or 114, ECO 337. Economic Development
• GEO 16X, GEO 334 Geomorphology
• PLS 1XX (except PLS 160), PLS 321 Natural Resources Policy
• PLS 1XX (except PLS 160), PLS 359 Social Movements
• SOC 164, SOC 338 Social Class and Inequality