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.
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.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences | ||
ECON 2151 | Economic Development | |
ECON 2136 | Environmental and Natural Resource Economics | |
ECON 2180 | Survey of International Economics | |
GEOG 2148 | Economic Geography | |
GEOG 3275 | Sustainable Food Systems | |
PSC 2439 | International Political Economy | |
Interdisciplinary Courses | ||
GFI 2002 | US Food Production and Agricultural Policy | |
GFI 2003 | Introduction to Regional Food Systems | |
GFI 3003 | World on a Plate | |
SUST 2005 | Responsible Fashion | |
SUST 3093 | Topics in Sustainability (Measuring Sustainability) | |
School of Business | ||
BADM 2001 | Markets and Politics | |
or BADM 2001W | Markets and Politics | |
IBUS 4401 | Managing the Multinational Enterprise | |
IBUS 4402 | Managing in Developing Countries |
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.
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.
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 |