Michigan State University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Department of Community Sustainability offers a Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. This program of study is concerned with who uses natural resources, how they use them, and how positive outcomes of use can be enhanced and negative impacts can be mitigated. It examines resource use and allocation through the lenses of community engagement, sustainability and environmental justice. Students benefit from a broad range of interdisciplinary courses, as well as disciplinary and methods courses carefully selected to enhance students’ technical knowledge. Professional internship and education abroad experiences are encouraged to provide students with experiences beyond the classroom and the university campus. Graduates of this program are prepared to enter professions in environmental, natural resource, agricultural and community development fields through careers in education, government, private industry, non-profit organizations, and public relations and communications or enter a professional or graduate school program.

"The Department of Community Sustainability offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism. By combining a body of specialized professional knowledge with the study of natural, social, management and behavioral sciences, the program provides an opportunity for students to obtain a broad, interdisciplinary education which emphasizes a professional area of knowledge integrated with the tenets of sustainability. The major is designed to prepare students for professional positions related to the management and enjoyment of the outdoors. Such positions include management of public parks, forests and protected areas, non-profit lands and facilities such as camps, and commercial enterprises that provide goods and services to outdoor enthusiasts. Meeting people’s outdoor leisure needs, enhancing the quality of life, and providing sustainable economic and social development are hallmarks of the major.

Students in the Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism major acquire an understanding of natural resource recreation and tourism that integrates sustainability and effectively links theory with practice while engaging the community. This includes the concepts of leisure, tourism, recreation and sustainability, as well as operation of recreation delivery systems, policy, administration, management, planning and evaluation.

Government, non-profit and for-profit entities offer a variety of career opportunities in the parks, recreation and tourism field. These opportunities include careers in park and land management, recreation and conservation law enforcement, nature and cultural interpretation, non-profit camp and adventure organization management, commercial recreation enterprise management of cruise ships, resorts, marinas, adventure travel firms, outfitting and guiding services and in coordinating and promoting tourism systems at from the local, state and federal levels through convention and visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and industry associations. Graduates are also well prepared for graduate studies relating to the park, recreation and tourism field, as well as a broad range of social and natural science disciplines."

Environmental Economics and Management prepares students for careers that require consideration of environmental sustainability and economic performance goals for the public sector and businesses. The business component has a particular focus on resource, agricultural, and food industries, as these have strong environmental linkages. The major develops skills in environmental economics and policy analysis as well as core business disciplines such as accounting, marketing, and supply chain management. Business skills and knowledge are developed to help manage or create environmentally and socially responsive business organizations that also deliver shareholder value. The major prepares students for sustainability related employment opportunities with state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, the agricultural and food industry, and consulting firms. The major also offers students the opportunity to prepare for graduate study in environmental economics and policy or business programs.

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Education (AFNRE) - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5379

Global and International Studies in Social Science - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7758

Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5694

Urban and Regional Planning - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7616

Fisheries and Wildlife - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=0338

Forestry - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=0338

Environmental Geography - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7732

Horticulture - Sustainable and Organic Horticulture - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=0386

Crop and Soil Sciences - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5360

Biosystems Engineering (BE) - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=2445

Environmental Engineering - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=8062

Packaging -https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=0405

Construction Management - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5257

Landscape Architecture - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5265

Environmental Geosciences - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=3930

Environmental Sciences and Management - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=3287

Environmental Biology/Zoology - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=3946

Environmental Biology/Microbiology - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=3965

Environmental Biology/Plant Biology - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7059

Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (RISE) - http://naturalscience.msu.edu/students/rise/

Knight Center for Environmental Journalism - http://j-school.jrn.msu.edu/kc/

The Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies is available as an elective to all students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. Students completing the minor will gain knowledge and skills essential for understanding the biological and physical environment that is inhabited and influenced by humans; managing complex interactions between humans and natural systems; and understanding how policy-making impacts and shapes environmental and sustainability outcomes. The College of Natural Science is the primary administrative unit for the minor with support from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, the Eli Broad College of Business, College of Engineering, and College of Social Science.

The Minor in Sustainable Natural Resource Recreation Management is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. Focusing on the management of people, facilities, natural resources and organizations that provide natural resource recreation opportunities, it targets students considering careers in public land management, commercial recreation enterprises, non-profit resource based camps and educational facilities, rural community development, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, criminal justice (conservation/recreation law enforcement), landscape architecture, environmental policy or agriculture. The minor offers students the opportunity to integrate knowledge of social, biological and physical sciences, natural resources and ecosystems to sustainably manage for outcomes that include outdoor recreation.

The Minor in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems is designed to foster active learning about agriculture and food systems for undergraduate students from different disciplinary backgrounds. Contemporary agriculture and food systems issues will be considered in biological, ecological, social, and economic contexts.

Sustainable Bioproducts Science and Technology - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5442

Applied Development in International Agriculture and Natural Resources - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5434

Bioethics - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5174

Cities: Environment, Design, and Society - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7791

Conservation, Recreation and Environmental Enforcement - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5415

Energy - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=8075

Entrepreneurship and Innovation - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=6098

Environment and Health - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7769

Environmental Economics - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5406

Environmental Social Science - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7802

Forestry - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5427

Global Studies in Social Science - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7749

Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5697

History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=2749

Horticulture - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5335

International Development - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7768

Law, Justice and Public Policy - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7790

Marine Ecosystem Management - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5416

Peace and Justice Studies - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=7750

Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy (STEPPS) - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=3207

Urban and Community Forestry - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5429

Women's and Gender Studies - https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=5703