The minor in Sustainability [18 credits] will allow students to connect an interdisciplinary suite of courses along a single thread and a common language. Students will explore the challenges of sustainability (climate change, food availability, social justice, pollution, social equity, natural resource depletion, etc) and consider a myriad of ways to innovate and create effective solutions through systems-thinking and interdisciplinary design. This is achieved by having the students complete courses that span the breadth of topics related to sustainability and rely on our diverse faculty expertise. Sustainability is meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of the future, and there are four different “pillars”:
• Environmental: Ensure that natural resources are protected, ecosystems remain healthy, and minimize harm to the environment.
• Social: Promote healthy, resilient, and equitable communities that meet all basic human needs (ex: access to healthcare, education, a safe & inclusive environment, and a fair wage)
• Economic: Create systems and business practices that support long-term financial stability, a fair distribution of wealth, and efficient use of resources.
• Cultural: Ensure that future generations can enjoy a diversity of cultural traditions, languages, locations, arts, and practices.
I. Foundation
- Complete the following:
II. Environmental & Economic Lens
- Complete two of the following:
III. Social & Cultural Lens
- Complete two of the following:
III. Sustainability Elective
- Complete one other course from the Environmental & Economic or Social & Cultural Lens lists.
*Note: in addition to the courses listed above, other sustainability-themed class sections offered by the College may be taken to fulfill the Environmental & Economic, Social & Cultural Lens requirements. Consult with the sustainability minor advisor for more information and approval.
Minor Policy
- Minors may be declared any time before the completion of the drop/add period in the first term of the senior year or before completion of 87 credit hours, whichever comes later.
- Successful completion of at least one course in the minor is a prerequisite to such declaration.
- Only two of the required minor courses may also count toward major or another minor’s requirements.
- A minimum of one-half the required credits for the minor must be completed at Sage.
- GPA in Minor required (minimum): 2.200 or higher