Sustainable Development Minor

Education for sustainability, often defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by paying equal attention to issues of environmental impact, social equity, and economic prosperity," is an imperative for colleges and universities; so much so, the United Nations has named 2005-2015 the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Because universities are an integral part of the global economy/community, we have a fundamental responsibility to teach, train and conduct research for sustainability - creating a framework addressing environmental, social, and economic factors. We believe the success of higher education in the future will be judged in part by our ability to put forth a bold agenda, making sustainable development a cornerstone of our academic and administrative practices.

This interdisciplinary minor involves courses on sustainability and environmental studies from a variety of departments. Experiential, project-based and service learning curricula will be encouraged. In the long term this minor is expected to foster increased contributions to UCCS and other local organizations toward environmental issues and projects that seek to increase fair and equitable working and living conditions for all; do this in an environmentally and economically sustainable way; and, most importantly, create a more responsible, active set of global citizens.

Academic Requirements

Students seeking the Minor in Sustainable Development must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework, 12 of which must be upper division. There are three components or general areas in sustainability - environment, equity, and economy. A student must choose one core course in at least two of the three areas outlined below and select at least one course from any listed under the third area. The student must also complete the one credit course GES 480 - Sustainability Seminar. This one hour course is an independent research project, with the project usually completed in the context of another course. The student receives the one hour of credit by expanding and presenting this work at a Sustainability Symposium at the end of the student's final semester.

Special topic courses, internships, independent studies or other courses that are not listed below but may qualify to be included on an ad hoc basis in the minor require the consent of the Director of the Sustainable Development Minor. Students may double count up to nine credit hours between a major and the Sustainable Development Minor. Such double counting is permitted for at most one major and one stand-alone minor pair. Coursework applied toward a minor may also be applied toward general education requirements.

For more information about the Sustainable Development minor, please visit the web site or contact the director, Dr. David Havlick.

Core Course Selections

(Choose at least one course from each of two of the following three core areas)

Environment
BIOL 375	Conservation Biology (cross-listed also as GES 375)
CHEM 151 / BIOL 151	Environmental Science
GES 325	Geography of Climate Change
GES 470	Geographical Issues: Saving Place
Geol 370	Environmental Geology
PES 150	Introduction to Energy Science
Equity
Anth 343	Anthropological Approaches to Globalization
GES 456	Cultural and Political Ecology
Soc 438	Globalization and Development
Economics
Comm 429	Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility
Econ 398*	Special Topics in Economics
HRMG 485**	Directed Research in Human Resources and Management
	* Ecological Economics only
	** the major project in this course must be related to sustainable development
(Additional courses from this list may be taken to fulfill the general 18 credit requirement)

Additional Course Selections

(The remaining credits will come from the following list -- at least one course must be taken in an area not taken in the core course section)

Environment
Anth 363
Chem 153 / Biol 153	Environmental Science LAB
GES 100	Environmental Systems: Climate and Vegetation
GES 417	Writing Place
GES 434	Soils
GES 441	Resource Management and Conservation
GES 442	Conservation and U.S. Public Lands
GES 445	Analysis of Environmental Systems
GES 448	Environmental Problems of Colorado
GES 450	Water Resources and Water Problems
GES 451	Applied Hydrology
GES 492	Geography of Food
MAE 2302
PES 151	Introduction to Energy Science II
PES 160 / 162	Introduction to Solar Energy
PES 250	Energy Fundamentals
Equity
GES 350	Nature and Society
GES 455	Disasters and Society
GES 456	Cultural and Political Ecology
Hist 489	Environmental History: The West and the World
Phil 414	Environmental Philosophy
PSC 429	International Environmental Politics
PSC 435	Environmental Policies and Administration
SOC 422 / 522	Sustainable Urban Development
Economics
Econ 330	Environmental Economics I
Econ 430	Environmental Economics II

Required 1 Credit Course

GES 480

Sustainability Seminar (1 credit)

 

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