SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Bachelor of Arts in sustainable community development is designed to prepare students for careers assisting communities in the adoption of practices that promote sustainable practices. Sustainable community development involves balancing economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social well-being, also referred to as the "triple bottom line." While many university programs in sustainability focus on application of new technologies or design standards, this program emphasizes sustainability through the humanities and social sciences.
The curriculum covers a broad range of courses offered by various departments within the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, while also providing valuable hands-on experience through junior or senior-year internships. The interdisciplinary and internship aspects of the program are unique, helping students become adaptable and employable citizens, able to work and communicate across subject areas. The U.S. government predicts that jobs in occupations related to sustainability should increase 52 percent by 2016, compared to only 14 percent for all other professions. Many employers are realizing a broad, interdisciplinary approach is needed in today's world of integrated economic, environmental and social values.
Bachelor of Arts in sustainable community development requires several specific university and college core courses, a 36-hour set of major core courses, and a 12-hour set of electives chosen from a list of courses related to sustainable communities. Courses unique to the major include: SUS 101 Environment and Culture; SUS 450 Sustainable Community Development Capstone; and SUS 495 Internship in Sustainable Community Development.
Required Courses (36 hours): SUS 101 Environment and Culture; GEO 220 Introduction
to Geographic Information Systems; GEO 230 Cultural Geography; GEO 434 Conservation Geography; HIS 437 American Environmental History; PHI 390 Environmental Ethics; SOC 351 Globalization; SOC 357 U.S. and World Population Change; SOC 378 Research Methods; SOC 446 Environmental Sociology; SWK 340 Organizations and Communities; SUS 450 Sustainable Community Development Capstone.
12-hours (four courses) of electives from: SUS 495 Internship in Sustainable
Community Development; ANT 231 Cultural Anthropology; COM 408 2012-2013 General Bulletin 389 Principles of Leadership; COM 435 Intercultural Communication; GEO 305 Biogeography; GEO 320 GIS Applications; GEO 439 Urban Geography; PBA 300 Introduction to Public Administration; PBA 400 Management of Public Organizations; PBA 415 Public Budgeting and Financial Administration; PSC 337 Theories of Democracy; PSC 449 Urban Affairs; SOC 379 Data Analysis; SWK 210 Introduction to Social Welfare; SWK 225 Human Behavior and Social Environments.