Geography and GIS

Sustainability

This area of study offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human-environment systems and interactions in terms of their sustainability across space and over time. Sustainability generally refers to the capacity to meet contemporary social, economic, and environmental needs in a balanced manner and in ways that do not compromise the capacity of future generations to also meet these same needs. Students who concentrate in this area of study will be better prepared for a wide range of careers, including resource and ecosystem management; sustainable facilities management and business operations; environmental policy, consulting, education, and advocacy; and urban and regional sustainability planning.

Advising faculty members: Acheson, Hanlon, McCarragher

Courses Suggested

• GEOG 202 - Natural Resource Management and Sustainability
• GEOG 300 - Population Geography
• GEOG 316 - Introduction to Biogeography
• GEOG 405 - Geography of Food
• GEOG 416 / ENSC 445 - Conservation Biogeography
• GEOG 430 - Global Climate Change
• GEOG 403 - Advanced Urban Geography (Sustainability Focus)
• GEOG 451 - Topics in Human Geography (Sustainability Focus)
• GEOG 452 - Topics in Physical Geography (Sustainability Focus)
• BIOL 330 / ENSC 330 - Environmental Health and Waste Management
• BIOL 496 - Rainforest Service Learning for Educators
• ENSC 220 - Principles of Environmental Sciences
• ENSC 340 - Ecosystem Management and Sustainability
• ENSC 402 - Environmental Law
• PHIL 322 - Environmental Ethics
• POLS 497 - Environmental Law
• IS 334 - Natural Resources: Issues and Conflicts
• IS 336 - Global Problems and Human Survival
• IS 363 - Living Ecologically

These courses are only suggestive. Faculty members may tailor the selection of courses to the need and background of individual students. The department also suggests the inclusion of courses from other departments or from a formal minor as part of the requirements of this AOS.

To declare an AOS, you must fill out the AOS agreement form (which can be found on the forms page), obtain the required signatures and turn it in to the department secretary.

Note: All general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) as well as the 36 hour requirement for a major in Geography must be completed separate of the AOS. Courses in the AOS may not be substituted for these courses.

Other areas of study suggested while pursuing this AOS: Biogeography, Climatology / Meteorology, Development Studies, Globalization Studies, Urban Studies.