Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.58
Liaison Stephen Ellis
Submission Date April 26, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Boston University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Dennis Carlberg
Associate Vice President for Sustainability
BU Sustainability
"---" 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):
B.A. in Environmental Analysis and Policy

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

Students in the Environmental Analysis & Policy major are trained broadly in the social sciences with a clearly defined specialization in the environmental field. Students receive an extensive introduction to the principal energy, resource, and environmental issues that confront society, and the analytical tools that are used to understand them. Such tools include cost-benefit analysis, basic computer modeling skills, policy formulation and analysis, technology assessment, and statistics. Students learn about the social and institutional framework in which environmental and natural resource planning, management, and policy making take place. Students take classes in the natural and physical sciences to ensure they understand the biophysical basis of environmental issues.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
B.A. in Earth & Environmental Sciences

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

The major in Earth & Environmental Sciences engages students in the study of the Earth and its habitable environments with a focus on the key natural and physical processes that shape our planet, from the geologic past to the present, and into the future. Students gain a broad foundational understanding of concepts and research techniques in the physical, life, and interdisciplinary natural sciences that inform society about the physical world and environment in which we live. Each student, in consultation with his or her advisor, chooses a focus for in-depth coursework in one of three areas: Ecosystems, Earth & Climate, and Earth Observations. All levels of the curriculum emphasize analysis of data for critical evaluation of scientific arguments related to the study of Earth and environmental systems.The BA in Earth & Environmental Sciences prepares students for graduate study in the field or for entry-level employment in a variety of professions including environmental consulting, ecosystem management, private sector industry, governmental and private scientific agencies, science journalism, and environmental law.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
B.A./M.A. in Energy & Environment

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

The BA/MA program in Energy & Environment offered through the Department of Earth & Environment combines advanced undergraduate and graduate coursework to provide students with foundational knowledge and advanced analytical skills to prepare them for professional opportunities in energy and environmental fields at a variety of organizations including government agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofits. The program provides qualified juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in one coherent program. The program is open to students pursing the major in either Environmental Analysis & Policy (EAP) or Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES). The MA is awarded in Energy & Environment by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS).


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):
Environment & Development Track, available when studying toward B.A. in International Relations

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

The Environment and Development Track within the International Relations program offers a wide variety of courses covering a broad range of related topics. These courses inform students about key debates, policy, and management issues surrounding efforts to integrate environmental protection measures with the promotion of economic and social development to achieve sustainable development. Some courses focus on the activities of major international organizations and industrialized and developing countries while other courses emphasize more regional and/or issue-specific perspectives and concerns.


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 Sustainable Energy

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

The Minor in Sustainable Energy, open to all undergraduates, teaches students the interdisciplinary nature of energy studies. The curriculum includes the essential elements of energy from the business, economics, policy and engineering perspectives, as taught by faculty in those areas. The program is a collaborative effort among faculty in the Department of Earth and Environment in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Management, and the College of Engineering.


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):
Concentration in Energy Technologies, available when studying toward B.A. in Engineering

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

The Energy Technologies concentration is designed for undergraduate engineering students to acquire a fundamental understanding of the environmental impacts of various energy technologies and put them in a position to pursue a career in green technology. The diverse elective courses will include the analysis of recent environmental policy; the electro-chemistry of fuel cells and battery cells; the planning, operation and marketing of sustainable power systems; and the emergence of sustainable energy as the defining environmental challenge of our time. As the engineering discipline of energy and environment continues to grow, students with a specialized background in this concentration will be well-prepared for this emerging field. The 16-credit concentration is available to students in any of the College of Engineering’s bachelor’s degree programs. The concentration is noted on students’ official transcripts and will prepare students for careers in clean energy, energy conversion and environmentally sustainable systems.


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 Environmental Analysis & Policy
http://www.bu.edu/earth/education/undergraduate/majors/environmental-analysis-and-policy/

Specialization in Ecology & Conservation Biology (available when studying toward B.A in Biology)
http://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/programs/biology/ba-ecology-conservation/

Minor in Earth & Environmental Sciences https://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/programs/earth-environment/minor-in-earth-environmental-sciences/


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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