Departments & Programs

Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Sustainable Energy and Resources Concentration Courses

The Sustainable Energy and Resources Concentration area provides students with a focus on sustainability in energy, water, and natural resource systems. Students pursuing this concentration area can expect to gain an understanding of global and regional climate and environmental systems and the challenges associated with development and exploitation of energy and natural resources. Potential career areas include applied work in the environmental, energy, or mining industries, careers in the government and non-profit sector, environmental advocacy organizations, or further academic pursuits with graduate study.

Students must select two courses from the following list:

  • GEOG-G 347 Water Security and Sustainability
  • GEOG-G 411 Sustainable Development Systems
  • GEOG-G 444 Climate Change Impacts
  • GEOG-G 451 Water Resources
  • GEOG-G 461 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
  • GEOL-G 476 Climate Change Science
  • PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics
  • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
  • SPEA-E 401 Human Behavior and Energy Consumption
  • SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation

Elective Courses: Students must select two courses from the following list.

  • ANTH-E 328 Ecological Anthropology
  • BUS-L 302 Sustainability Law and Policy
  • BUS-G 316 Sustainable Enterprise
  • GEOG-G 305 Environmental Change—Nature and Impact
  • GEOG-G 307 Biogeography: The Distribution of Life
  • GEOG-G 341 Ecological Restoration: Science and Politics
  • GEOG-G 347 Water Security and Sustainability
  • GEOG-G 405 Ecological Climatology
  • GEOG-G 411 Sustainable Development Systems
  • GEOG-G 444 Climate Change Impacts
  • GEOG-G 448 Capitalism and Nature
  • GEOG-G 451 Water Resources
  • GEOG-G 453 Water and Society
  • GEOG-G 461 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
  • GEOL-G 416 Economic Geology
  • GEOL-G 451 Principles of Hydrogeology
  • GEOL-G 476 Climate Change Science
  • PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics
  • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
  • SPEA-E 332 Introduction to Applied Ecology
  • SPEA-E 340 Environmental Economics and Finance
  • SPEA-E 363 Environmental Management
  • SPEA-E 400 Topics in Environmental Studies, Approved topics below
    • The Foundations of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
    • Environmental Sustainability
  • SPEA-E 401 Human Behavior and Energy Consumption
  • SPEA-E 422 Urban Forest Management
  • SPEA-E 431 Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
  • SPEA-E 451 Air Pollution and Control
  • SPEA-E 452 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
  • SPEA-E 456 Lake and Watershed Management
  • SPEA-E 460 Fisheries and Wildlife Management
  • SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs, Approved topics below:
    • Public Transit Management
    • Climate Change and Electricity
  • SPH-O 305 Integrated  Resource Management
  • SPH-O 360 Human Health and Natural Environments
  • SPH-T 301 Sustainable Tourism
  • SPH-V 310 Human Health and Natural Resources
  • Independent study, readings, research, or practicum in sustainable energy and resources from any department (3 cr.) with pre-approval of academic advisor (Note: This option can be used only once.)

Return to requirements for the Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Return to requirements for the Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies