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

Program Overview:

Sustainability can be defined as working toward systems that are socially just and economically prosperous and that support flourishing natural environments both now and into the future. The Landscape Conservation specialization provides students with the knowledge, approaches, tools, and skills used in the natural and social sciences to assess sustainability challenges and to develop solutions related to natural landscapes. The Communication and Engagement specialization provides students with the knowledge, approaches, tools, and skills in communication and social engagement to assess sustainability challenges and to develop solutions. The Policy and Governance specialization equips students to evaluate how policy and governance knowledge, approaches, tools, and skills can be used to assess sustainability challenges and to develop solutions. The Sustainable Development specialization provides students with the knowledge, approaches, tools, and skills in policy, international studies, comparative studies, and public health to assess sustainability challenges and to develop solutions.

DELIVERY: On-campus

37-49 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

Students in this major must also complete requirements for a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences .

Sustainability Core Requirements (22 credit hours)

Select from the following elective group or optional specialization(s) 15 or 27 credit hours:

Students may pursue the no-specialization track. Students may complete more than one specialization, but distinct courses must be used in each specialization.

B.A./B.S. to M.S. Accelerated Options

Undergraduate Sustainability majors may elect to complete both the B.A./B.S. and M.S. concurrently. Students who pursue the accelerated option will be awarded their undergraduate degree first, but may be awarded both degrees upon completion of the graduate requirements. Students may apply for admission to the M.S. program after completing 75 undergraduate credit hours and may begin taking graduate level courses upon completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours and acceptance into the accelerated graduate program. Additional information about the accelerated degree can be found on the accelerated program catalog page  for the M.S. in Sustainability.

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 credit hours) and 9 credit hours in a specialization or in the no-specialization track. 

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.) 4-year plan guide 
• Sustainability (B.S.) 4-year plan guide  
• Sustainability (B.A., Communication and Engagement) 4-year plan guide 
• Sustainability (B.S., Communication and Engagement) 4-year plan guide  
• Sustainability (B.S., Environmental Science) 4-year plan guide
• Sustainability (B.A., Landscape Conservation) 4-year plan guide 
• Sustainability (B.S., Landscape Conservation) 4-year plan guide  
• Sustainability (B.A., Policy and Governance) 4-year plan guide 
• Sustainability (B.S., Policy and Governance) 4-year plan guide  
• Sustainability (B.A., Sustainable Development Specialization) 4-year plan guide 
• Sustainability (B.S., Sustainable Development Specialization) 4-year plan guide 

Related programs:

• Conservation Biology, B.S. 4-year plan guide
• International Studies, B.A. 4-year plan guide
• Political Science, B.A.. 4-year plan guide
• Political Science, B.S. 4-year plan guide
• Sociology, B.A. 4-year plan guide 
• Sociology, B.S. 4-year plan guide

Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs

This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.