https://www.creighton.edu/program/sustainability-major-ba
Sustainability Program
Director: Jay Leighter, Ph.D.
The Sustainability Program offers a wide range of courses from an interdisciplinary faculty that focuses on complex problem solving and the balancing of environmental, humanistic, sociocultural, and economic demands. The program is responsive to environmental degradation and global urbanization, particularly, but emphasizes the value of a sustainability education in public policy, community development, and social justice. The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sustainability is intended for students interested in pursuing careers that improve conditions for sustainability in communities, government, non-profits, civic organizations, business or law.
Sustainability Studies has been recently reconfigured with concentrated attention toward research methods, service, and justice. Course requirements emphasize scientific understanding of the environment and strong community relationships faculty and students in complementary academic programs and with our Office of Sustainability Programs.
Students are strongly encouraged to pursue study abroad, research, and internship opportunities as part of completion of the program.
Faculty
Professors: Matthew Averett, Fine and Performing Arts; Richard Miller, Theology; Amy Nelson, Fine and Performing Arts; Samantha Senda-Cook, Communications Studies
Associate Professors: Jay Leighter, Communication Studies; Sabrina Danielson, Cultural and Social Studies; Daniel DiLeo, Cultural and Social Studies; Peter Gallo, Management and Marketing; Laura Heinemann, Cultural and Social Studies; Anne Ozar, Philosophy; Graham Ramsden, Political Science and International Relations; Jacob Rump, Philosophy; Adam Sundberg, History
Assistant Professors: Ulil Amri, Cultural and Social Studies; Alana Haynes Stein, Cultural and Social Studies; Tyler Talbot, English; Ryan Wishart, Cultural and Social Studies
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Major in Sustainability requirements (44 credits):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ECO 203 | Introductory Microeconomics | 3 |
| or SOC 313 | Power and Society: Political Sociology in Action | |
| EVS 123 | Science for a Changing Planet: An Introduction to Earth Systems | 3 |
| EVS 124 | Earth System Science Laboratory | 1 |
| EVS 201 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| SUS 400 | Sustainable Practice: The Examined Life | 3 |
| EVS 491 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| Research Methods | 9 | |
| Choose any 9 credits from the list below: | ||
| Making Maps that Matter: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Violent Environments and Sustainability | ||
| Food, Society, and Environment | ||
| Food for Thought: Sustainability, Food, and Communication | ||
| Cultural Communication | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Research Design for the Social Sciences | ||
| Power and Society: Political Sociology in Action | ||
| Philosophical Ethics: Energy and Environment | ||
| Sustainability Service and Justice | 6 | |
| Choose 6 credits from list below: | ||
| Environment & Society: Sociological Perspectives | ||
| What's for Dinner, Honey?: Food, Culture, Gender, and Health | ||
| Arts and Civic Engagement: Empty Bowls | ||
| National Parks-Created through Communication | ||
| History of Environmental Inequalities | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Theological Ethics: Social Action and Political Advocacy | ||
| Divine Providence, Catholic Social Teaching, & the Problem of Climate Change | ||
| Electives | 15 | |
| Choose 15 credits from list below: | ||
| Social Inequality and Stratification | ||
| Thoreau and Environmentalism | ||
| Introduction to Anthropology: Culture, Ecology and Sustainability | ||
| Nutritional Anthropology: Introduction to Foodways and Food Studies | ||
or ARH 170 | Cities and People: Urban History and Social Justice | |
or HIS 179 | A History of (Un)natural Disasters | |
or SOC 170 | Social Science and Social Problems | |
or THL 175 | The Human Induced Climate Crisis: Origins and Solutions | |
| Climate Change and the City | ||
| General Biology: Organismal and Population | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Studies | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| Environmental Philosophy | ||
| History of Environmental Inequalities | ||
| Global Environmental History | ||
| Physical Climatology and Climate Change | ||
| Philosophy and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Divine Providence, Catholic Social Teaching, & the Problem of Climate Change | ||
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Courses
SUS 000. SUS Transfer Credit. 1-21 credits.
SUS 400. Sustainable Practice: The Examined Life. 3 credits.
This is a course about living sustainably. This course holds as a guiding thesis that humans have become dangerously disconnected from the life forces that sustain them. The primary goal of this course is to help students become more aware of this connection and to adjust the way they live accordingly. P: Critical Issues in Human Inquiry course; Oral Communication course; Senior standing.
SUS 491. Senior Seminar. 2 credits. FA, SP (Same as EVS 491)
This course is the capstone course required for all Environmental Science and Sustainability majors. Each student will design and deliver a professional presentation on an environmental topic agreed upon by the student and faculty seminar coordinator(s). lf time allows, seminars may also be given by invited, outside speakers. The course provides an opportunity for students to interact with natural and social scientists as well as others engaged in environmental research, policy, and practice. Students will learn about the fields of interest of peers and hear from others working in environment-related fields. P: Oral Communication.