Bachelor of Science in Sustainability

UNA’s SUSTAINABILITY DEGREE IS NOW ONLINE!

The Department of Geoscience at the University of North Alabama now offers a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability - completely online! UNA’s Sustainability degree prepares students for primary sectors in the industry, including Food and Agriculture, Energy Resources, Water Resources, and Waste. Apply today to start your flexible, affordable degree.

UNA’s Sustainability program prepares students who want to have a positive impact on the quality of life for future generations navigating a changing world.  Our program focuses on the primary economic sectors of Sustainability – Food and Agriculture, Energy Resources, Water Resources, and Waste. Our students study the factors contributing to Earth’s changing climate, investigate issues in the sustainability of global ecosystems, explore the application of sustainable practices in business, and learn about the necessity to incorporate environmental justice in our public policies. Through coursework and experiential learning opportunities, our graduates are provided with the necessary tools to make a difference and are prepared for a career in Sustainability or for the next step into graduate studies.

Our Sustainability faculty are dedicated to the success of students within the program. UNA’s small class sizes are ideal for this program and enable instructors to serve as mentors for students both in and outside of the classroom. The addition of an online option empowers students to create a flexible schedule and allow time for internships while staying connected to campus and instructors.  

costs

Cost
$340 per credit hour
plus additional fees

time

Time to Complete
2-4 years depending
on core course completion status

modality

Modality Offered:
Online and In Person

credientials

Credentials:
Bachelor of Science
in Sustainability

Why North Alabama?

UNA’s Sustainability degree is now offered alongside our Geography and Geographic Information Science (GIS) programs within the Department of Geoscience. UNA is proud to offer students an applied program with a range of courses and degree options tailored not only to inspire curiosity and creativity among our students but also to provide a skill set that sets them apart. Whether at the graduate or undergraduate level, our students are engaged in research projects that draw largely from faculty specialty areas in (but not limited to): agriculture, urban geography, climate, geopolitics, environmental hazards, cultural geography, nature-society interactions, economic geography, and sustainability. 

All our programs are uniquely designed to offer ample experiential learning opportunities for our students. For example, before they graduate, our students have plenty of opportunities for: internships, cooperative education positions, projects through funded faculty research, field courses, study abroad, conference travel and presentations, internal and external grants and scholarships, and other fun-filled departmental activities. Because of these opportunities for hands-on experience, the majority of our students place in jobs before they graduate.

Curriculum

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN SUSTAINABILITY

General Education Component Credits
Area I - Written Composition 6
Area II - Humanities and Fine Arts 12
Area III - Natural Sciences and Mathematics 11
ES 131 - Earth Science/Physical Geology or ES 133 Earth Science/Earth Systems (4)
BI 101 - Introductory Biology (4)
MA 112 - College Algebra (3) or MA 113 - College Trigonometry (3) or MA 125 - Calculus I (4)
Area IV - History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences  12
SOC 222 - Current Social Problems (3)
EC 251 - Macroeconomics or EC 252 - Microeconomics (3)

 Area V - Major Core Requirements in Sustainability 

Course Credits
ES 146 - Sustainable Earth 4
ES 200 - Climate Change 4
ES 251 - Environmental Systems 4
ES 220 - Sustainable Ecosystems 3
ES 301 - Water Resources 3
ES 302 - Energy 3
ES 303 - Sustainable Food and Agriculture 3
ES 304 - Waste 3
ES 320W - Environmental Justice 3
ES 481 - Topics in Earth Science 6-8

Prescribed Supporting Courses:

Course Credits
CH 101 - Introductory Chemistry 3
CH 101L - Introductory Chemistry Laboratory 1
GE 184 - Digital Earth 3
GE/EC 321 - Economic Geography 3
GE 354 - Remote Sensing 4
GE 384 - Geographic Information Systems 4
OHS 301 - Occupational Safety and Health 3
PS 303 - World Politics 3
PS 412 - Introduction to Public Policy 3
Minor
A minor is not required for a major in Sustainability
General Elective
Electives to bring the overall credit hour total to 120.
Total Hours 120

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