Sustainability Studies Minor

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There is an increased need for professionals versed in issues and practices of sustainable development. This Sustainability Studies Minor is designed for students seeking to develop sustainability competencies to broaden their career opportunities in both the private and public sectors. The minor provides students the analytical and conceptual framework of sustainability and provides practical tools for strengthening professional practice. The curriculum considers sustainability with respect to water, resources, energy, and development. Faculty from the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences teach the core courses that review the ecological, economic, and social equity dimensions of sustainability. The minor can be integrated with different fields such as economics, sociology, political science, management, business, tourism, education, engineering technology, and a variety of other interrelated fields where professional opportunities exist in sustainability. Students must complete each course with a grade of “C-” or better.

Required Courses

Students are required to select at least 12 semester hours from the list below.

GEG 1300 - Introduction to Human Geography Credits: 3
GEG 3360 - Economic Geography Credits: 3 *
GEG 3600 - Urban Geography Credits: 3 *
GEG 3610 - Principles of Land Use Planning Credits: 3 *
GEG 3700 - Urban Sustainability Credits: 3 *
GEG 3720 - Global Sustainable Development Credits: 3 *
Subtotal: 12 credits

Elective Courses

Students are required to select at least 9 semester hours from the list below.

GEG 3920 - Directed Study in Geography Credits: 2-6 *
GEG 4700 - Sustainability in Resource Management Credits: 3 *
GEG 4720 - Sustainability in Mitigation Planning Credits: 3 *
GEG 4950 - Internship in Geography Credits: 2-15 *
GEG 4970 - Sustainability Practice Seminar Credits: 3 *
ENV 1200 - Introduction to Environmental Science Credits: 3 *
ENV 3100 - Air Pollution Credits: 3 *
ENV 3250 - Colorado Water Law and Water Rights Administration Credits: 3 *
ENV 3400 - Water Resources Credits: 3 *
ENV 3540 - Advanced Geologic and Environmental Hazards-Denver and Vicinity Credits: 2 *
ENV 3620 - Population, Resources, and Land Use Credits: 3 *
ENV 3700 - Mountain Environments Credits: 3 *
ENV 3730 - Environmental Risk Assessment Credits: 3 *
ENV 4010 - Environmental Hazards and GIS Credits: 3 *
ENV 4400 - Landscape Ecology Credits: 3 *
ENV 4410 - Water Law Credits: 3 *
ENV 4420 - Wetlands Credits: 3 *
ENV 4430 - Habitat Planning Credits: 3 *
ENV 4910 - Global Environmental Field Problems: Variable Topics Credits: 3 *
ENV 4920 - Topics in Environmental Science: Variable Topics Credits: 3 *
ENV 4950 - Internship in Environmental Science Credits: 2-15 *
ENV 4960 - Global Environmental Challenges Credits: 3 *
GIS 1220 - Introduction to Geospatial Sciences Credits: 3
GIS 2250 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4 *
CET 3320 - Environmental Impact Statements Credits: 3 *
ECO 3450 - Environmental Economics Credits: 3 *
SOC 3750 - Social Change Credits: 3 *
SOC 3770 - Society and the Environment Credits: 3 *
Subtotal: 9 credits
Total for Minor: 21 credits
* Course requires additional prerequisites or corequisites