Minor in Sustainability

Minor program requirements

Students in the minor program must take SUST 1001 Introduction to Sustainability, at least one course in each of the four pillars listed below, and at least 3 credits in experiential learning. At least 9 credits in coursework (e.g., SUST 1001; and SUST 3096 Research in Sustainability or SUST 3097 Culminating Experience in Sustainability; and one pillar course) must be unique to the minor and cannot be double counted toward any other major and/or minor program. At least 6 credits must be taken at the 2000-level or above (e.g., SUST 3096 or SUST 3097 and one pillar course).

 The sustainability minor rests on four pillars:

• Pillar I: Sustainable Ecosystems—Earth Sciences and Public Health
• Pillar II: Sustainable Economies—Business, Markets, Technology, and Trade
• Pillar III: Sustainable Communities—Culture, Politics, and Society
• Pillar IV: Sustainable Practices—Leadership, Values, Norms, and Behaviors

The experiential learning requirement is a capstone for the minor. Students can fulfill this requirement in their junior or senior year through community service, fieldwork, an internship (paid or unpaid), or directed research. Students can enroll in either SUST 3096 or SUST 3097 to fulfill the requirement. Successful completion of SUST 1001 and the approval of the course instructor are required prior to enrollment in SUST 3096 or SUST 3097.

Each semester, GW departments and programs offer special topics courses that can fulfill the pillar requirement. Topics relevant to the minor must be approved by the program director or their designee. Consult the Schedule of Classes for topics offered.

With prior approval of the program director or academic advisor for the sustainability minor, courses taken in study abroad programs can be used to fulfill one of the pillar requirements.

Sustainable Ecosystems: Earth Sciences and Public Health Pillar

One 3-credit course from this pillar must be selected as part of the minor program. If a course fits the pillar but is not listed here, it can be approved by the program director. This list of course options does not include special topics courses. Topics relevant to the pillar can count toward the minor with the prior approval of the program director. Visit the sustainability minor website for current course offerings. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
BISC 1005	The Biology of Nutrition and Health
BISC 1006	The Ecology and Evolution of Organisms
BISC 1007	Food, Nutrition, and Service
BISC 1008	Understanding Organisms through Service Learning
BISC 2454	General Ecology
CHEM 2085	Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 3140	Geochemistry
GEOG 1002	Introduction to Physical Geography
GEOG 2134	Energy Resources
GEOG 2136	Water Resources
GEOG 2137	Environmental Hazards
GEOG 3275	Sustainable Food Systems
GEOL 1001	Physical Geology
GEOL 1005	Environmental Geology
GEOL 2106	Oceanography
GEOL 3131	Global Climate Change
GEOL 3138	Hydrogeology
GEOL 3191	Geology of Energy Resources
Interdisciplinary Courses
GFI 2034	Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture
GFI 3003	World on a Plate
SUST 2004	Introduction to Sustainability Communication
SUST 3002	Climate Change and Policy
School of Engineering and Applied Science
CE 1020	Introduction to a Sustainable World
CE 2510	Environmental Sustainability
CE 3520	Environmental Engineering Design: Drinking Water Treatment
CE 3521	Environmental Engineering Laboratory
CE 3604	Physical Hydrology
CE 4530	Wastewater Treatment Design and Reuse
School of Public Health and Health Services
PUBH 3132	Health and Environment
PUBH 3133	Global Health and Development
PUBH 3150	Sustainable Energy and Environmental Health

Sustainable Economies: Business, Markets, Technology, and Trade

Required

One 3-credit course from this pillar must be selected as part of the minor program. If a course fits the pillar but is not listed here, it can be approved by the program director. This list of course options does not include special topics courses. Topics relevant to the pillar can count toward the minor with the prior approval of the program director. Visit the sustainability minor website for current course offerings.

Sustainable Communities: Culture, Politics, and Society Pillar

Required

One 3-credit course from this pillar must be selected as part of the minor program. If a course fits the pillar but is not listed here, it can be approved by the program director. This list of course options does not include special topics courses. Topics relevant to the pillar can count toward the minor with the prior approval of the program director. Visit the sustainability minor website for current course offerings. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
AMST 2440	The American City
AMST 3810	Planning Cities
ANTH 3501	Anthropology of Development
ANTH 3502	Cultural Ecology
ANTH 3513	Anthropology of Human Rights
ANTH 3804	Origins of the State and Urban Society
CIAR 4560	Topics in Interior Architecture (Sustainability and Human Wellness in Today's Built Environment)
ENGL 1365	Literature and the Environment
GEOG 2127	Population Geography
GEOG 2141	Cities in the Developing World
GEOG 3143	Urban Sustainability
or GEOG 3143W	Urban Sustainability
PHIL 2133	Philosophy and Nonviolence
PHIL 2134	Philosophy of Human Rights
PHIL 2281	Philosophy of the Environment
PPPA 2701	Sustainability and Environmental Policy
PSC 2240	Poverty, Welfare, and Work
PSC 2367	Human Rights
SMPA 3195	Selected Topics in Journalism and Mass Communication (Climate, Politics, Policy, and Media)
SOC 2169	Urban Sociology
Interdisciplinary Courses
GFI 2033	Global Agriculture, Climate Change, and Gender
SUST 2002	The Sustainable City
SUST 3002	Climate Change and Policy
SUST 3093	Topics in Sustainability (Gender and Sustainable Development)
School of Public Health and Health Services
EXNS 1114	Community Nutrition
PUBH 2114	Environment, Health, and Development

Sustainable Practices: Leadership, Values, Norms, and Behaviors

Required

One 3-credit course from this pillar must be selected as part of the minor program. If a course fits the pillar but is not listed here, it can be approved by the program director. This list of course options does not include special topics courses. Topics relevant to the pillar can count toward the minor with the prior approval of the program director. Visit the sustainability minor website for current course offerings.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
ANTH 3407	Conservation in a Changing World: Human and Animal Behavior
GEOG 3132	Environmental Quality and Management
HSSJ 1100	Introduction to Human Services and Social Justice
HSSJ 2200	Principles of Ethical Leadership
PSC 2220	Public Opinion
Interdisciplinary Courses
GFI 3005	Systems Thinking for Sustainable Agrifood System Transformation
GFI 3011	Hands-On Comprehensive Food and Garden Education For Youth
SUST 2004	Introduction to Sustainability Communication
SUST 3093	Topics in Sustainability (Environmental Ethics and Justice)
School of Business
MGT 3305	Human Capital Sustainability
ORSC 2116	Leading Change
ORSC 2123	Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
PSTD 1010	Introduction to Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
School of Public Health and Health Services
PUBH 3151	Current Issues in Bioethics