With the planet projected to be home to 9 billion by the middle of the 21st century, environmentally friendly solutions to support this population are critical to our quality of life and long-term survival on this planet.
The Sustainability Science Program promotes a basic understanding of the scientific principles of sustainability and the fundamentals of the scientific approach to problem-solving. Through a rigorous academic program that integrates theory and hands-on practice, graduates will be prepared to transition seamlessly into a four-year Environmental Sustainability program.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Examine the concept of environmental sustainability in its contemporary context.
- Analyze the role evolution plays in biodiversity and why biodiversity is so important.
- Apply scientific principles and the scientific method to compare fundamental principles of population growth and population dynamics.
- Investigate the relationship between speciation, extinction, human activities, biodiversity, and the hydrologic cycle in the face of changing climate.
- Analyze the role food plays in public health issues worldwide.
- Identify the reasons why climate change contributes to public health issues.
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages to the use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- Discuss what it is going to take for society to develop sustainable practices that will be socially equitable for all.
Prerequisites
A passing score on the College’s mathematics placement test for both Algebra I and Algebra II or MAT-013 and MAT-014 is required for all Sustainability majors. In addition, a high school laboratory chemistry course with a minimum grade of “C” or CHM-020 and a high school laboratory biology course or BIO-010 with a minimum grade of “C” are also required.