Appalachian State University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees in Sustainable Development emerge from the United Nations’ mandate to engender “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In practice, sustainable development prepares students to engage in the social, economic, and environmental transformations necessary to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable communities within an ecologically healthy world. The required core is designed to familiarize students with principles and practices of sustainability found in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The degree aims to prepare students to think critically and constructively about the practices of sustainable development and to have the knowledge and skills necessary to build a sustainable future. The study of sustainable development provides a strong preparation in sustainability for those who wish to pursue graduate work or wish to address sustainability in public, private, and non-profit sectors.

This mission is achieved through:
- integrative teaching and mentoring
- applied research, experiential education, and restorative creative endeavors; and
- effective and ethical community engagement, both locally and globally.

These efforts enable students to think critically and constructively as they work to build a sustainable future.

We envision a world where sustainability and sustainable development are integrated into all human endeavors. We imagine a world based on a deep appreciation for life, with lasting natural and cultural wealth, where well-being, social justice, and ecological integrity are valued and guarded with the same rigor as economic prosperity. Graduates of the Sustainable Development Program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively and ethically address sustainability challenges in public, private, and non-profit sectors through informed, engaged, and hopeful work.

The Sustainable Technology program reflects an approach to technological development, characterized by creative and sound engineering, that recognizes the social, environmental, political, economic, and technical aspects of a proposed technological solution to a problem facing a society. Generally, sustainable technologies are smaller-scale technologies that are ecologically and socially benign, affordable, and often powered by renewable energy. The field is interdisciplinary and draws from the physical and social sciences as well as from engineering, architecture, and technology. Areas of emphasis include energy conversion systems, waste and water management, community and shelter design, technology assessment.

Students in the Building Science program receive a very comprehensive and diverse educational experience, which prepares graduates for a variety of careers within the residential, commercial, industrial, performance, and design fields of the building industry. The program has three concentration areas, Construction Management, Architectural Technology & Design, and Sustainable Building Systems. Coursework emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency, sustainable design, construction processes and innovative materials using applied learning techniques and the most current computer software, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is applied to building design, estimating, engineering and scheduling.

Comprehensive list of sustainability-focused and sustainability-related degree programs:

https://sustain.appstate.edu/academics/degrees/

The Sustainable Technology program reflects an approach to technological development, characterized by creative and sound engineering, that recognizes the social, environmental, political, economic, and technical aspects of a proposed technological solution to a problem facing a society. Generally, sustainable technologies are smaller-scale technologies that are ecologically and socially benign, affordable, and often powered by renewable energy. The field is interdisciplinary and draws from the physical and social sciences as well as from engineering, architecture, and technology. Areas of emphasis include energy conversion systems, waste and water management, community and shelter design, technology assessment.

The college's Department of Management offers a minor in sustainable business (http://management.appstate.edu/academics) available to business and non‐business majors, that provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the ways that business and sustainability intersect. Students acquire knowledge and skills needed to design and manage businesses to promote environmental quality, minimize needed resources, promote healthy communities and increase long‐term effectiveness. 18 credit hours are required to complete the minor, including courses in sustainable business theory and practice, principles of sustainable development, creativity and design, environmental and resource economics, and change management or social entrepreneurship.

Degree programs in Sustainable Development are flexible, cross-disciplinary, and skills oriented. The degrees prepare students to think critically about the practices of sustainable development, have the knowledge and skills necessary to build a sustainable future, pursue graduate work, and address sustainability in public, private, and non-profit sectors.

-Anthropology (BA) concentration in Social Practice and Sustainability - http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=6090&returnto=859
-Building Sciences (BS) concentration in Sustainable Building Systems - https://www.appstate.edu/academics/majors/id/building-sciences-sustainable-building
-Building Science Minor - http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=6134&returnto=857
-Psychology (BS) concentration in Sustainability -
https://www.appstate.edu/academics/majors/id/psychology-sustainability
-Somatic Sustainability Minor - https://theatreanddance.appstate.edu/academics/degrees/dance-program/somatic-sustainabiity-minor
-Sustainable Business Minor - http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=6322&returnto=857
-Sustainable Design and Technology Second Academic Concentration - http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=6372&returnto=857
-Sustainable Development (BS) concentration in Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture - https://sd.appstate.edu/academics/degrees/agroecology-and-sustainable-agriculture-concentration-sd-bs
-Sustainable Development (BS) concentration in Community, Regional, & Global Development - https://sd.appstate.edu/academics/degrees/community-regional-global-development-concentration-sd-bs
-Sustainable Development (BS) concentration in Environmental Studies - https://sd.appstate.edu/academics/degrees/sustainable-development-bs-environmental-studies-concentration
-Sustainable Development Minor - http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=6104&returnto=857
-Sustainable Technology Minor - http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=6106&returnto=857

Programs and courses website URL for Department of Sustainable Development: http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=15&ent_oid=902&returnto=787

Programs and courses website URL for Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment: http://bulletin.appstate.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=15&ent_oid=903&returnto=787