Program: Sustainability Studies, B.A. - Albion College

Mar 16, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Requirements for Major in Sustainability Studies

The major in sustainability studies at Albion College is an interdisciplinary, international program that is grounded in the social sciences and designed for students who are engaged in today’s and tomorrow’s sustainability challenges. Students develop an understanding of human prosperity, social justice, and ecological integrity as essential elements in a sustainable world. Students explore the relationships among the economy, lifestyle, politics and policy, the physical environment, natural resource use, climate change and biodiversity preservation. A required international experience stresses the global dimensions of sustainability and introduces other nations’ approaches to sustainability. Students prepare for careers as sustainability professionals in corporate and civic settings, policy advocates, and educators.

The requirements for the major in sustainability studies are as follows:

Nine and One-quarter to Ten Units of Courses Including:

ENVN 101: Fundamentals of Environmental Studies (1 Unit)
ENVN 102: Introduction to the Environment (1 Unit)
ENVN 220: Economics, Politics, and Environmental Policy (1 Unit)

One of the Following:

ANTH 271: Nature and Society: An Introduction to Ecological Anthropology (1 Unit)
ANTH 357: Violent Environments (1 Unit)
OR
PLSC 237: Controversies in Global Politics (1 Unit)

Two of the Following:

With at least one from the arts and humanities list, and both from different departments.

Arts and Humanities Courses
ARTH 315: Earth, Art, and the Environment (1 Unit)
ENGL 384: Idea of Nature (1 Unit)
PHIL 301: Environmental Ethics (1 Unit)
Social Science Courses
PLSC 302: Public Policy, Interest Groups, and the American Welfare State (1 Unit)
HIST 337: Environmental History (1 Unit)
COMM 311: Environmental Communication (1 Unit)

Note

In some cases, courses may require prerequisites, class standing or permission of the instructor. Please discuss these options with your adviser.

PBSV 289: Innovative and Sustainable Cities
Study abroad in an approved program, with a minimum of three courses summing to a minimum of 2.25 units approved in advance. A list of programs and approved courses is available from the director of the Center for Sustainability and the Environment.

Two Cognate Courses Including:

GEOL 111: Geography and Geographic Information Systems (1 Unit)

One of the Following:

ANTH 240: Ancient Civilizations (1 Unit)
BIOL 240: Conservation Biology (1 Unit)
GEOL 104: Earth Resources and the Environment (1 Unit)
GEOL 106: Natural Disasters (1 Unit)
GEOL 115: Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate (1 Unit)
PHYS 102: The Physics of Urban and Environmental Problems (1 Unit)

Experiential Requirement Including:

Select From:

Participation in the bi-weekly Center for Sustainability and the Environment Seminar unless excused because of a conflicting obligation.
Selection from one approved opportunity for experiential learning (up to one-half unit). This can include one of the following:

Honors Program or departmental honors thesis
FURSCA
ENVN 201: Ecology and Environmental Field Trip (1/2 Unit)
OR
ENVN 206: Sustainable Living Seminar (1/2 Unit)
An approved internship or summer work experience