Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability

Students from within or outside NRE may desire a minor in Sustainability. This broad tract will bring student's attention to utilization of ideas and practices that ensure ecological systems are maintained in viable condition for the foreseeable future. Students engaged in this study will understand the limitations and current use of resources supporting energy, agriculture, water, and waste management and envision practical strategies for improving resource utilization to achieve a sustainable future. Upon understanding of the concepts within the sustainability framework, students may focus on one of primary areas of sustainability; environmental, natural resources, agricultural, energy, or societal by selecting from relevant courses.

Students pursuing the interdisciplinary minor in Sustainability will take the following courses to develop understanding of the current environmental conditions: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
NRE 120	Discussion in Environ Sci (CT)	3
NRE 320	Nature Enviro Problems	3

In addition to 6 hours of background coursework, students will take 9 hours of interest-specific courses on solutions for obtaining sustainability in diverse fields. This interdisciplinary minor requires that at least 9 hours of 300-400 level courses be taken from departments other than a student’s major department.   

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Environmental (choose 9 hours)
NRE 220	Human Dimensions Nat Res (CT)
GEO 406	Population Geography
NRE 321	Resol Environ Problems
NRRM 432	Wilderness/Protected Area Mgmt
BSC 460	Conservation Biology
Agricultural (choose 9 hours)
NRE 321	Resol Environ Problems
NRE 200	Introduction to Agriculture
NRE 402	Sustainable Agriculture
DTS 202	Introductory Foods
BSC 430	Plant Ecology (note prerequisites)
Energy (choose 9 hours)
NRE 212	Energy
NRE 321	Resol Environ Problems
GEO 422	Environmental Geography
MGT 370	Energy Management Principles (note prerequisites)
MGT 380	Principles of Renewable Energy (note prerequisites)
Societal (choose 9 hours)
NRE 220	Human Dimensions Nat Res (CT)
NRE 321	Resol Environ Problems
SOC 401	Population & Human Ecology
SOC 466	Culture and Environment
Natural Resources (choose 9 hours) 1
NRE 220	Human Dimensions Nat Res (CT)
NRRM 432	Wilderness/Protected Area Mgmt
NRRM 360	Tourism Planning & Management
NRRM 362	Ecotourism: Admin and Mgmt
GEO 406	Population Geography
SOC 401	Population & Human Ecology

¹Natural Resource and Recreation Management majors wishing to obtain a minor in Sustainability may replace NRE 120 and NRE 320 with GEO 222 and ECN 250 to allow them to take 9 hours of coursework external to their major.