Sustainability (Minor)
Director of the minor in Sustainability:
Philip Sakimoto, Physics
Advisory Committee:
Samuel Miller, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Chair
Ellis Adams, Geography
Jon Coleman, History
Alan Hamlet, Civil Engineering
Jason McLachlan, Biological Sciences
John Mellor, Architecture
Jennifer Tank, Environmental Change Initiative
The minor in Sustainability is a course of study for undergraduates from broadly diverse academic disciplines. It examines the footprint of humanity on Earth’s systems and ways to reduce that footprint to achieve social well-being and environmental protection. Faculty from multiple colleges teach the principles and practices of sustainability from varied perspectives to provide a unique and dynamic curriculum. The curriculum is designed to augment disciplinary coursework in an area of major study so that students learn to integrate diverse ways of thinking and appreciate interdisciplinary problem-solving.
Students in the minor receive training in the principles and practices of sustainability through formal courses and independent study. Graduates of the minor will be equipped with knowledge and skills about sustainability, an ability to communicate about sustainability, and an imperative to implement sustainable practices. Graduates will be prepared to make substantive contributions to the development of more sustainable practices, practices that benefit their personal and professional lives, the lives of others, and the lives of future generations. Students will also be well positioned for in-depth study on sustainability at the post-baccalaureate level. Finally, the study of Catholic traditions and social and environmental ethics will help students understand the role that religious commitment can play in achieving sustainability.
Additional details about the minor in Sustainability can be found online at susminor.nd.edu.
Students can apply for admission to the minor in their first year, sophomore year, or junior year by contacting the director of the minor. They are required to take a gateway course Sustainability: Principles and Practices (SUS 20010), an interdisciplinary course taught by faculty from multiple departments across the University. This course should be taken at or near the beginning of study in the minor.
Students then select from a list of approved courses totaling at least three 3-credit courses and one 1-credit course. The 3-credit courses fall into four categories: Design (SUS1), Natural Systems (SUS2), Social Institutions (SUS3), and Individual Behavior and Values (SUS4). Courses are tagged as such using the course attributes which are searchable via the University’s online Class Search. Students must take at least one 3-credit course from three out of the four elective categories. At least two of these courses must be from outside of their major College. The 1-credit course is an experiential or seminar course designated by the attribute SUSE. These include field-based courses and seminars, and also immersion experiences through the Institute for Social Concerns. Students planning to study abroad are encouraged to petition for approval of relevant courses at their international institution before they leave campus.
Students begin defining capstone projects in the spring semester of their penultimate year. These are to be research projects, but may also be fine arts or community service projects with a research base. To facilitate this process, they will enroll in a non-credit, asynchronous independent study course SUS 38002. Students studying abroad in the Spring, or students who want an early start, may enroll in SUS 38002 in their penultimate Fall semester instead of in the Spring. Following guidance provided by the Director of the Minor, they will be required to identify a faculty member who has agreed to serve as their advisor and to submit a preliminary proposal for their capstone project. Students will receive feedback on their proposals from the Sustainability Minor Advisory Board and may be required to resubmit their proposals with modifications to gain approval. Students wishing to start their project earlier (for example, the summer before their junior year) should submit their full proposal before they begin their research. Students will enroll in one credit of independent study in the fall of their final year (SUS 48001), during which they will submit a full proposal and begin the substantive part of their project, and one credit of independent study in the spring (SUS 48002), during which they will complete their project work, submit a report on their research findings, and present their work at a College of Science research fair and/or other relevant venue. Students wishing to partner with another student for their capstone project or to combine their capstone with a thesis in their home department are encouraged to consult with the director of the minor.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SUS 20010 | Sustainability: Principles and Practices (Gateway Course) | 3 |
| Students must take at least one 3-credit course from three out of the four elective categories. | 9 | |
SUS1: Design | ||
SUS2: Natural Systems | ||
SUS3: Social Institutions | ||
SUS4: Individual Behavior and Values | ||
| SUSE: experiential or seminar course | 1 | |
| SUS 38002 | Capstone Independent Research Prep | 0 |
| SUS 48001 | Sustainability Capstone Independent Research (Fall) | 1 |
| SUS 48002 | Sustainability Capstone Independent Research (Spring) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |