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Applied Sustainability

Faculty

  • Professor Hurley; Associate Professors Clark, Joseph, J. Karreth; Assistant Professors Berry, Rice; Visiting Professor Ashcroft; Director of Sustainability Keppen (Coordinator)

  • Applied Sustainability (APS) is an interdisciplinary minor comprised of integrative learning experiences across areas of study designed to introduce students to the sustainability field. The minor program provides students with curricular opportunities for developing knowledge and critical analytical skills in the environmental, societal, and economic dimensions of sustainability studies. Co-curricular and experiential learning are incorporated into the minor so that students have the opportunity to practice and reflect on applied skills. A minor in APS consists of 24 credits plus an applied learning experience. Required courses include:

    Core:

    Students must take at least one course from two of the following three categories (other courses may be taken as an elective):

    • Environment and Sustainability: ENVS-100
    • Society and Sustainability: PSJ-200, ENVS/SOC-220, or ENVS/RELS-261
    • Economies and Sustainability: ECON-120 (with permission from the coordinator of APS) or ENVS-340

    Electives:

    Students must take at least one course from each of the following three categories. A fourth course is required and can be taken from any of the categories or from the list above if not taken for the core requirement.

    • Environment and Sustainability: ENVS-242, 243, 332, 362, 450W, 452W, 454W, or ENVS/MCS-302
    • Society and Sustainability: ENVS-428W, HIST/GWSS-126, MCS-335, POL-343, 356, SOC-255
    • Economies and Sustainability: ECON/GWSS-210, ENVS-338, HIST-330, IDS/GWSS-441, or POL-359

    XLP:

    • See additional information below

    Other recommended courses include: ENVS-244, and other courses not selected from above.

    Students who plan to continue on within the field of Applied Sustainability after graduation are advised to talk with the APS coordinator to determine the specific courses, and/or additional courses, that may be recommended for continuing on in a particular aspect of this field.

    For majors in the field of Environment and Sustainability (ENVS) majors who wishing to minor in Applied Sustainability, no more than 12 credits can be counted toward both their APS minor and their major.

    Special topics and new courses that contain substantive content germane to sustainability may count toward the minor with the permission of instructor and the APS minor coordinator. Study abroad courses may count toward the minor with permission of the student’s academic advisor and the APS minor coordinator.

    To fulfill the minor, students must also complete an applied learning experience (XLP) the focus of which is germane to sustainability, from among the following options, with permission of the APS coordinator:

    • Office of Sustainability Fellows Program
    • Internships (ENVS-381 or 382, others as appropriate)
    • Semester-long research (directed, independent, or honors) with participating faculty
    • On campus or off-campus practicums (ENVS-001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, others as appropriate)
    • Bonner Leaders Program • Melrose Fellows
    • Model UN
    • Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good Fellows
    • U-Imagine
    • Summer Fellows research
    • Study Abroad
    • Or other approved experience

    Use of Bonner Leaders, Melrose Fellows, Model UN, Parlee Center Fellows, U-Imagine, Study Abroad or Summer Fellows to fulfill the applied learning experience of the APS minor requires the joint approval of the APS minor coordinator and the director or advisor of the respective program.