Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.02
Liaison James Speer
Submission Date June 30, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Indiana State University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 James Speer
Professor
Earth and Environmental 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):
Earth and Environmental Systems

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

The University offers a bachelor of arts (B.A.) and a bachelor of science (B.S.) in earth and environmental sciences with concentrations in atmosphere and surface processes and geoscience.

Coursework includes a core of courses and laboratory work in environmental science, world culture and environments, earth science, and conservation and sustainability. Students also complete a core of mathematics and science courses in chemistry, calculus, and physics. Electives are selected from areas such as environmental processes, water and geochemistry, geobiology, geoarchaeology, physical geosciences, and research.

In addition, each student selects a concentration in one (or more) of the following areas.

Atmospheric and Surface Processes: This concentration focuses on the field and laboratory techniques needed to understand earth surface processes and climate. Coursework includes physical geography, weather and climate, geomorphic processes, chemistry, and physics. Graduates are prepared for careers in fields such as land reclamation, surface water/soil contamination, and conservation of natural resources.
Geoscience: This concentration focuses on field and laboratory techniques needed to interpret earth and environmental processes, analyze and evaluate scientific data, and assess new environmental issues. Coursework includes earth history, mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, field geology, environmental geology, stratigraphy and sedimentation, chemistry, and physics. Graduates are prepared for professional careers as geologists or hydrogeologist in a variety of industries or in government agencies, including those dealing with distribution and quality of groundwater, pollution problems, waste disposal, and hazards such as flooding and erosion.


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

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

Environmental Health
This option is for students who wish to become environmental health specialists. Course work includes study in epidemiology; pollution prevention and control; water, air, soil, and food protection; industrial health and safety; toxicology; environmental field sampling and analysis; environmental law; hazardous substances and waste material; health promotion planning and evaluation; research; and statistics—plus an internship in environmental health. Graduates are eligible to take the state examination to become a registered environmental health specialist.


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

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

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

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

Sustainability not only encompasses a multidisciplinary perspective to solve problems from local to global scales, but also teaches the critical and systemic thinking skills that apply to myriad fields of study.


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):
Certificate in Sustainability Leadership

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

The Sustainability Certificate program explores the interconnections between economic, social, and environmental issues toward a basic understanding of sustainability. Students will learn these principles in addition to effective leadership skills, empowering students in all areas of study to use their knowledge of sustainability to better society. Upon successful completion of this program, students will demonstrate leadership skills in sustainability and be able to apply these skills to their chosen field. The program consists of three discussion-based seminar sessions, three assigned activities outside of seminars, 10 hours of community service related to sustainability, and one capstone presentation. The seminar sessions include: What is Sustainability? Making Change Theory into Practice This certificate is designed for upperclassmen who have declared a major, but all undergraduates may participate in this program.


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 Conservation

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

The study of ecosystems, world environments, the conservation and sustainability of natural resources, along with basic earth sciences are the focus of the Biology minor in Conservation.


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:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.