The IU Online BA in Sustainability Studies prepares students for such careers as sustainability
policy consultant, environmental advocate, environmental engineer, natural sciences manager,
environmental specialist, sustainability program coordinator, energy manager, ecotourism guide,
energy auditor. This consortial program is taught by IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU
South Bend, and IU Southeast. This consortial model allows students to take coursework from
several campuses and learn from a wide range of faculty. It provides flexibility to meet degree
requirements through multiple modalities. Students can complete this degree by completing
courses 100 percent online or through a combination of in-person and online offerings.
All students are responsible for fulfilling the general requirements of the bachelor's degree as
established by the College of Arts and Sciences, which include a minimum of 36 hours at the
300-400 level. Completion of the BS in environmental science requires a total of 120 credit
hours and a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average.

Learning Outcomes

1. Provides an interdisciplinary framework within which students study the foundations of
sustainability and learn how to apply this knowledge to the development and
implementation of sustainable values, innovations, practices, and technologies in our
homes, communities, and businesses.
2. Emphasizes connections between environment, economy, and society, and builds a
group of faculty and students prepared to address the complex socio-environmental
issues confronting our local and global communities.
3. Prepares students to leverage sustainability, leadership and innovation to realize career
opportunities presented by the green economy.
4. Fosters an ethical sensibility and capacity to deal with complex socio-environmental
issues.

Major requirements (42 credit hours) are broken down into the categories below. There are
numerous courses within each category to choose from and majors should consult with their
academic advisor for current course offerings. Find more information on this collaborative
degree at: https://online.iu.edu/degrees/sustainability-studies-bachelor.html 

To earn the BA in Sustainability Studies, students must complete 120 overall credit hours, statewide general education, any additional campus and school requirements, and the requirement of the 42-43 credit hour B.A. in Sustainability major, which are as follows:  

1. SUST-C 301 Fundamentals of Sustainability Studies (3 Cr) 
2. Scientific Foundations of Sustainability 

 Two courses—one chosen from each of the following two lists: 

• Introductory level sustainability science course (3 Cr) chosen from: 
  • BIOL-L 100 Humans and the Biological World 
  • GEOG-G 107 Physical Systems of the Environment 
  • GEOG-G 108 Physical Systems of the Environment Lab 
  • GEOG-G 110 Human Geography in a Changing World 
  • GEOL-G 101 Introduction to Earth Science 
  • GEOL-G 185 Global Environmental Change 
    
    
• Two upper-level sustainability science course (6-7 Cr) chosen from: 
  • GEOL-G 400 Energy: Sources & Needs 
  • BIOL-L 333 Environmental Science 
  • BIOL-L 325 Ecological Principles 
  • GEOL-G 476 Climate Change Science
  • SUST-C 330 Scientific Foundations of Sustainability

• AAAD-A 301 Community Planning and Development 
• GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation 
• POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics 
• POLS-Y 346 Politics of the Developing World 
• SOC-S 308 Global Society 
• SUST-C 340 Social and Behavioral Approaches to Sustainability 

• ENG-L 301 English Literature Survey I 
• ENG-L 390 Childrens Literature 
• SUST-C 350 Sustainability in the Arts and Humanities  

5.1 Methods & Techniques for Sustainability Studies (6 Cr) 

• SOC-S 261 Research Methods in Sociology 
• SOC-S 262 Statistics for Sociology 
• ECON-E 270 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Economics and Business 
• GEOG-G 338  Geographic Information Systems 
• GEOG-G 438 Advanced Geographic Information Systems 
• SUST-C 320 Methods and Applications in Sustainability  

5.2 Written Communication (3 Cr)  

• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills  
• ENG-W 234 Technical Report Writing  
• ENG-W 230 Writing in the Sciences 
• ENG-W 250 Writing in Context: VT Writing Nature 
• ENGL-W 270 Argumentative Writing  

• GEOG-G 314 Urban Geography 
• GEOG-G 320 Population Geography 
• GEOG-G 369 Geography of Food 
• GEOG-G 478 Global Change, Food, and Farming Systems 
• PHIL-P 306 Business Ethics 
• SUST-C 360 Business and Economics of Sustainability 

Two additional courses selected from the list of eligible courses for requirements 2-6.  Electives cannot be used to satisfy other BA Sustainability requirements. 

• SUST-C 490 Sustainability Practicum