Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.62
Liaison Michael Kensler
Submission Date Jan. 11, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Auburn University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Nanette Chadwick
Director, Academic Sustainability Programs
Biological Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for undergraduate students?:
Yes

The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (1st program):
Environmental Science

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (1st program):

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary degree, incorporating studies such as physics, chemistry, biology and geology. Environmental solutions also frequently require mathematical expertise, as well as specific knowledge of air, water and soil environments. This program is structured to prepare students with both broad and deep knowledge as an environmental scientist. As an environmental science major, students gain an understanding of contemporary issues facing society as a whole, as well as the historical, social, economic, and political contexts that scientists face in dealing with environmental issues on local and global scales. The environmental science major is specifically tailored to produce graduates to succeed in a field that is continually changing with new challenges and solutions.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Biosystems Engineering

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):

Biosystems engineers design systems to provide the necessities of human life: safe and plentiful food to eat, pure water to drink, clean fuel and energy sources, and a safe, healthy environment in which to live. Biosystems Engineers at Auburn apply engineering to problems and opportunities presented by living organisms and the natural environment.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Environmental Design

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design is a multidisciplinary degree that emphasizes a blend of sustainable practices from a local and global context, within a framework of comprehensive design and systems thinking. It builds in students an understanding of the interconnected nature of all design and construction disciplines. The Environmental Design degree allows students to customize their educational experience, by providing the opportunity to minor in multiple subjects that are of a particular interest to the student, including the Minor in Sustainability Studies.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates for undergraduate students?:
Yes

The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):
Minor in Sustainability Studies

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):

This minor offered at Auburn University is open to all undergraduates, and provides interdisciplinary education in the 3 integrated systems involved in sustainability issues: economic, social, and environmental systems. Sustainability is a rapidly-growing field of studies, and is the focus of new interdisciplinary degrees, certificates, and minor programs at universities across the country. There is increasing demand for students with training and job skills for the green economy, and a widening array of sustainability-related careers to choose from.

The Minor in Sustainability Studies requires 15 semester hours. Minor students are required to take SUST 2000 Introduction to Sustainability or HONR 1027 Sustainability in the Modern World (= honors intro course), and SUST 5000 Senior Capstone in Sustainability. In addition, minor students take 9 hours (usually 3 courses of 3 credits each) of electives. At least 3 elective hours must be outside their major college, and 6 elective hours must be at the 3000 level or above. Minor students select among at least 30 approved elective classes that cover at least 2 of the 3 major systems in sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. All elective course credits must be completed before or concurrently with the capstone course. Students may take no more than one elective concurrently with the capstone, which is a projects-based course that is strongly recommended to be taken in the senior year.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Minor in Community and Civic Engagement

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):

The Minor in Community and Civic Engagement is open to all undergraduates on campus, and develops in students a heightened sense of responsibility to their communities. This includes a wide range of activities, including developing civic sensitivity, participation in building civil society, and benefiting the common good. Community and Civic Engagement encompasses the notions of global citizenship and interdependence. Through civic engagement, individuals—as citizens of their communities, their nations, and the world—are empowered as agents of positive social change for a more democratic world.

Requirements for the Community and Civic Engagement Minor (CCE) are 15 credit hours with a minimum of 9 credits at the 3000-level or higher. A 1-hour Capstone Course requires students to draw upon the knowledge obtained throughout their coursework, and to perform relevant service projects. Students must have completed 15 credits toward a Minor in Community and Civic Engagement prior to enrollment in this course. The one-hour credit given for the completion of the capstone does not apply to the published number of credit hours required for completion of the Minor in CCE. Students must take at least one course from each of the four CCE categories (Context; Public Issue; Public Skills, Tools, & Methods; and Service Learning), and the additional course may be taken in any of the four categories. A list of all CCE courses is listed on the minor website. Courses taken in fulfillment of the College Core or for other majors and minors may not be counted toward the Community and Civic Engagement minor. To be given credit for completing the minor, the student's calculated GPA in the minor must be a minimum of 2.5.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Minor in Hunger Studies

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):

The Hunger Studies Minor is open to all undergraduates on campus. It educates students about the complex and diverse issues associated with social, economic, and environmental systems surrounding food supply and demand. Students take 15 credits for the minor. The core of the minor is HUSC 2000/2003/2007 Hunger: Causes, Consequences, and Reponses (3 credits), plus HUSC 4000 Hunger Studies Capstone (3 credits). In addition, students take 9 elective credits, comprising 1 course of 3 credits each, from (1) Knowledge of hunger issues, (2) Leadership and Advocacy to solve problems associated with hunger in systems, and (3) Global Citizenship, to gain an understanding of international issues in hunger.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The name, brief description and URL of all other undergraduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:

Minor in Natural Resource Economics and Environmental Policy

http://bulletin.auburn.edu/undergraduate/collegeofagriculture/agriculturaleconomicsandruralsociology/naturalresrenvironmentpolicy_minor/

Minors in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science:
Natural Resources Ecology
Nature-Based Recreation
Urban Environmental Sciences
Watershed Science Management
http://wp.auburn.edu/sfws/students/prospective-students/majors/minors-at-sfws/


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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