Sustainability Studies

Division of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Associate Dean: Deborah Beall

The Sustainability Studies program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers related to environmental sustainability within a large range of professional fields. The College’s grounds, which include Spencer Crest Nature and Research Center, serve as an outdoor classroom and lab space for many of the required academic classes. The program explores the interplay between the natural environment, the built environment, and society through an interdisciplinary lens. Within the two-year scope of this program, students will complete a variety of courses from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in addition to fulfilling SUNY’s general education requirements. The program will provide students with hands-on experience in sustainability through coursework, independent research, internships, and unique learning experiences. Upon completion of this program, students will have marketable skills for employment or to advance their education at a transfer institution. Students with degrees in Sustainability may pursue careers in many vocations, including outdoor education, environmental policy, sustainability planning, conservation management, corporate responsibility, and many others.

Students in this program must meet 7 of the 10 SUNY Knowledge and Skills areas, 2 core competencies (Critical Thinking and Information Literacy), and have 30 SUNY General Education credits. Please note that of the 7 Knowledge and Skills areas, the following 4 are required: Communication-Written and Oral; Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning; Natural Sciences and Scientific Reasoning; and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice. For more information on the SUNY General Education requirements please see General Education Requirements.

Graduates are prepared to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the natural, manmade, and social environments and their interactions as they contribute to the complexity of environmental issues;
• Differentiate among and apply models from various disciplines to environmental problems to find sustainable solutions;
• Clearly communicate issues and problems related to social, environmental, and economic sustainability orally and in writing;
• Use the scientific method and social science research methods to document and analyze problems related to environmental sustainability.

Applied learning in the form of an internship or service learning is a required part of the program. This requirement was included to help students clarify career objectives and prepare for those eventual careers. To determine the best fit for the student’s career goals they will sit down with their academic advisor and/or the Applied Learning Coordinator. In addition to hosting applied learning projects at the nature center on campus, host sites will be identified by faculty and the Applied Learning Coordinator.

The Sustainability Studies program is offering classes in-person on campus and through online learning. Please see an advisor to schedule the best program options for you.