Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Contributing to a greener world
Do you worry about environmental threats, like climate change, air pollution and erosion? Do you want to help people, companies and communities create Earth-friendly and sustainable environments? Would you like to work toward improving the environmental footprint of your generation? With a degree in sustainability, you can make a difference.
Sustainability involves balancing economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social well-being. SFA's program emphasizes sustainability through the humanities and social sciences, increasing your knowledge and passion to advocate for sustainable practices in career and life.
Earn professional credentials
SFA is the only school in Texas enrolled in the International Association of Sustainability Professionals partnership program. Students who are enrolled in a sustainability major, minor or certificate become members of ISSP and, through their SFA courses, interact with material that prepares them to test for ISSP Sustainability Excellence Associate, or SEA, status. Course material is based on a job task analysis conducted by practicing sustainability professionals who identified six key domains of knowledge relevant to the workplace.
SEA status is the first step leading toward the Sustainability Excellence Professional credential, which is acquired after work experience and a subsequent test. Our program’s Sustainability 4395 and Sustainability 5395 courses, which may be repeated with two different internship hosts, help students gain some of this work experience before graduation. ISSP offers the SEA and SEP certifications in partnership with Green Business Certification, Inc., which oversees the LEED professional programs related to expertise in green building.
Promising job prospects
Sustainability professionals seek to improve an organization's environmental, social and economic impact. It is a growing field as more businesses look to implement sustainable practices and improve their Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) ratings. Careers often involve contributing to sustainable practices and policy in diverse government, corporate or nonprofit establishments. As an example, internships with clean energy-related organizations can help students gain experience and placement within this fast-growing field that helps enterprises reduce environmental impact and save funds at the same time.
Learn more about careers in sustainability
Study Abroad
An endowment has been created to support service-learning study abroad projects, including one planned for Panama in May 2022.
Internal degree advisors include:
- William Forbes, Geography and Sustainability
- Jerry Williams and Dianne Dentice, Sociology
- Sara Parks, English
- Rajat Mishra, International Business
- Wilma Cordova, Social Work.
External degree advisors include:
- Gavin Dillingham, Program Director, Clean Energy Policy, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
- Georgeann Elliott Moss, Executive Administrator, Sustainability Outreach and Initiatives, Dallas College (formerly the Dallas County Community College District)
Programs and requirements
Bachelor of Arts in sustainability (online optional)
Sustainability majors will receive a well-rounded education by completing courses over economic geography, environmental ethics, urban geography and more.
Online availability
SFA now offers an online bachelor’s degree in sustainability. Our degree builds core competencies in sustainability, empowering students to help communities enhance quality of life through "win-win" environmental, economic and socially beneficial initiatives. Coursework includes four core sustainability classes emphasizing fundamentals offered each fall, reading and writing classes (available during spring semester of even years), implementation and monitoring (offered spring semester of odd years), and field experience offered at any time. Internships occur in areas such as renewable energy, community gardens, sustainability monitoring and grant writing.
This program is designed to accommodate first-year, second-year or community college transfer students who are unable to relocate to campus. The online degree offers flexibility to choose courses that fit both your interests and schedule. For more information, contact Dr. William Forbes, program coordinator, at forbesw@sfasu.edu.
See the Undergraduate Bulletin for additional details, guidelines and requirements.
Minor in sustainability
Minor in sustainability to gain environmental awareness useful for career and life outside of work by studying the relationship between the environment and culture.
See the Undergraduate Bulletin for additional details, guidelines and requirements.
Undergraduate certificate in sustainability
An undergraduate certificate in sustainability requires coursework in environment and culture, and sustainability literature.
See the Undergraduate Bulletin for additional details, guidelines and requirements.
Graduate certificate in sustainability
A graduate certificate in sustainability complements a wide range of careers in the business sector as well as government and nonprofit organizations. The 12-credit certificate program includes courses studying sustainable factors in human sciences and sustainability.
A sustainability management concentration also is available within the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
For more information, please email sustainabilitydegree@sfasu.edu or contact the department below.