Sustainability (B.A./B.S.)

Sustainability Core Requirements (22 hours)

• BIOL 310 - Environmental Science

•  

• BIOL 454 - Environmental Ethics OR
• PHIL 454 - Environmental Ethics (C)

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• ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]
• POLS 226 - Introduction to Public Policy
• SUST 111 - Sustainable Society [SGR #3]
• SUST 113 - Sustainable Environment [SGR #6]
• SUST 113L - Sustainable Environment Lab [SGR #6]
• SUST 489 - Sustainability Capstone

Environmental Science Specialization (30-32 hours)

This specialization is only available to B.S. students.

Sustainability B.S. student choose one specialization (15 cr. from course groups or specialization electives plus foundational requirements)

• Biological Systems Course Group (at least 2 courses):

• BIOL 311 - Principles of Ecology (C)
• BIOL 311L - Principles of Ecology Lab (C)
• BIOL 407 - Plants and Civilization (C)
• BIOL 407L - Plants and Civilization Laboratory (C)
• BIOL 408 - Landscape Ecology
• BIOL 408L - Landscape Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 410 - Conservation Biology (C)
• BIOL 412 - Freshwater Ecology
• BIOL 412L - Freshwater Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 440 - Restoration Ecology (C)
• BIOL 440L - Restoration Ecology Lab (C)
• BIOL 466 - Environmental Toxicology & Contaminants (C)
• BIOL 484 - Remote Sensing (C)
• BIOL 484L - Remote Sensing Lab (C)
• GEOG 484 - Remote Sensing (C)
• GEOG 484L - Remote Sensing Lab (C)

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• Earth Systems Course Group (at least 2 courses):

• ESCI 411 - Principles of Geomorphology
• ESCI 412 - Earth and Water Resources
• SUST 412 - Earth and Water Resources
• ESCI 415 - Energy and Sustainability
• PHYS 415 - Energy and Sustainability
• ESCI 416 - Global Climate Change
• ESCI 473 - Fundamentals of Hydrogeology

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• Environmental Science Electives:

• BIOL 420 - Introduction to Biostatistics & Computational Biology (C)
• BIOL 420L - Introduction to Biostatistics & Computational Biology Laboratory (C)
• BIOL 442 - Introduction to River Studies
• ESCI 442 - Introduction to River Studies
• CHEM 310 - Fundamental Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 310L - Fundamental Organic Chemistry Lab
• CHEM 482 - Environmental Chemistry (C)
• ESCI 405 - Oceanography
• ESCI 425 - Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
• SUST 491 - Independent Study (C) *
• SUST 492 - Topics (C) *
• SUST 496 - Field Experience (C) *

Human and Natural Systems Specialization (15 hours)

This specialization is available to both the B.A. and B.S. degree students.

Sustainable Communities Emphasis (at least 3 courses from the Social Systems course group and 1 from Natural Systems course group)

Science and Society Emphasis (at least 3 courses from the Natural Systems Course Group and at least 1 from Social Systems course group)

• Social Systems Course Group (at least 1 course):

• ANTH 426 - Collapse of Societies
• SUST 426 - Collapse of Societies
• ANTH 470 - The Anthropology of Food
• ECON 410 - Economic Growth & Development
• ECON 472 - Resource & Environmental Economics (C)
• HIST 372 - The American West
• PHIL 440 - Civic Engagement
• POLS 320 - Public Administration (C)
• POLS 407 - Environmental Law & Policy (C)
• PSYC 232 - The Psychology of Living Well
• SOC 432 - Collective Behavior and Social Change (C)
• SOC 450 - Race and Ethnic Minorities
• SPCM 418 - Environmental Communication

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• Natural Systems Course Group (at least 1 course):

• ESCI 412 - Earth and Water Resources
• SUST 412 - Earth and Water Resources
• ESCI 415 - Energy and Sustainability
• ESCI 416 - Global Climate Change
• BIOL 311 - Principles of Ecology (C)
• BIOL 311L - Principles of Ecology Lab (C)
• BIOL 410 - Conservation Biology (C)
• BIOL 440 - Restoration Ecology (C)
• BIOL 440L - Restoration Ecology Lab (C)
• CHEM 482 - Environmental Chemistry (C)

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• Human and Natural Systems Electives:

• ENGL 403 - Grant Writing
• BIOL 408 - Landscape Ecology
• BIOL 408L - Landscape Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 412 - Freshwater Ecology
• BIOL 412L - Freshwater Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 417 - Field Ecology
• BIOL 417L - Field Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 418 - Ecosystem Ecology
• BIOL 420 - Introduction to Biostatistics & Computational Biology (C)
• BIOL 420L - Introduction to Biostatistics & Computational Biology Laboratory (C)
• BIOL 442 - Introduction to River Studies
• BIOL 466 - Environmental Toxicology & Contaminants (C)
• BIOL 484 - Remote Sensing (C)
• BIOL 484L - Remote Sensing Lab (C)
• ESCI 411 - Principles of Geomorphology
• ESCI 425 - Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
• ESCI 442 - Introduction to River Studies
• ESCI 473 - Fundamentals of Hydrogeology
• GEOG 484 - Remote Sensing (C)
• GEOG 484L - Remote Sensing Lab (C)
• INTS 452 - Globalization and Development
• POLS 404 - Local Government Administration and Politics
• POLS 421 - The Nonprofit Sector
• POLS 455 - International Human Rights
• POLS 457 - Globalization and Development
• PSYC 460 - Psychological Perspectives on Diversity
• SOC 410 - Methods of Social Research (C)
• SPCM 422 - Persuasion (C)
• SPCM 485 - Communication and Conflict Resolution (C)
• SUST 491 - Independent Study (C) *
• SUST 492 - Topics (C) *
• SUST 496 - Field Experience (C) *
• WMST 455 - International Human Rights [W]

Note:

*Inclusion of SUST 491 and 492 is subject to approval of the chairperson of the Sustainability and Environment Department to ensure suitability for the specialization.

B.A. and B.S. Distribution Requirements:

The following SUST courses count toward the B.A. and B.S. distribution requirements:

Sustainability Double Major (31 hours)

 Sustainability Double Major  

Students who choose Sustainability as one of two majors complete a 31-credit hour version of the Sustainability major. Double-majors complete all core requirements for the major (22 hours) and select a specialization. In the specialization, 9 hours of coursework are required with at least one course selected from each course group for the selected specialization.

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan. 

• Sustainability, B.A.-Human and Natural Systems specialization 4-year plan guide  
• Sustainability, B.S.-Human and Natural Systems specialization 4-year plan guide  
• Sustainability, B.S.-Environmental Science specialization 4-year plan guide  

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
2. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate the cultivation of knowledge, skills, values and motivation that will enable them to make a difference in the civic life of communities and promote the quality of life in a community and engage in activities of personal and public concern that are both individually life enriching and socially beneficial to the community
4. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
5. Students will connect ideas and experiences in order to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus. 
6. Students will intentionally engage with diversity in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions leading to opportunities for equal access to participation in educational and community programs for all members of society.
7. Students will demonstrate mastery of social or environmental sustainability knowledge within their chosen area of specialization.
8. Students will work with others respectfully to accomplish shared goals.
9. Students will use a systems-thinking approach to assess issues.
10. Students will deliver well-organized content orally to designated audience(s).
11. Students will compose readable prose that effectively conveys content to designated audience(s).
12. Students will apply their knowledge of sustainability to a real-world issue through community-based or other experiential learning activities.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization