Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.77
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Amherst
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Darci Connor Maresca
Project Manager, Sustainability Programming
ECo
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Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for undergraduate students (I.e. an interdisciplinary academic program that concentrates on sustainability as an integrated concept)?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program:
Sustainable Food and Farming

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program:

This degree program attracts students who care about: 1) good food, 2) small farms, and 3) local solutions to food, climate and energy challenges.

Students in the Sustainable Food and Farming major prepare for work in diverse fields such as:

growing and marketing real food,
farm-based educational systems,
food advocacy, community development and public policy.

They can concentrate on a diverse range of work opportunities from permaculture and organic farming to medicinal herbs and community food systems.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Sustainable Community Development

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

The Sustainable Community Development major gives students the opportunity to consider a variety of perspectives on creating a more sustainable world through planning and design. The curriculum is flexible and interdisciplinary, allowing a student to broadly explore ways of envisioning sustainable communities. Students will become familiar with the theories and techniques of design and planning for creating sustainable communities, conserving the environment, and responding to other social, cultural, economic and political challenges of the built environment.


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

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

In the Natural Resources Conservation major students learn about the ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and how these systems can be managed to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystem functions while providing sustainable benefits to society. The program provides students with rigorous academic training in the natural, conservation, and social sciences with hands-on field skills and field experiences.

Students in the Natural Resources Conservation major focus in one of the following six concentrations:
1. Environmental Conservation
2. Fisheries Ecology & Conservation
3. Forest Ecology & Conservation
4. Urban Forestry & Arboriculture
5. Water Resources
6. Wildlife Ecology & Conservation


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

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Minors available include: Building & Construction Technology; Environmental Science; Geography; Natural Resources Conservation; Plant & Soil Sciences; Sustainable Community Development

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:

descriptions and details of these 6 minors (and several other sustainability-related minors ) can be found from their respective websites, all linked at:
http://www.umass.edu/ses/education/minors-certificates.

We offer multiple certificate programs as well, listed in this credit under "Additional Minors, Concentrations, Certificates"


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Sustainable Food & Farming Online Certificate

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

The 15-credit Certificate in Sustainable Food and Farming is designed for adults looking to make a career change, returning Veterans, or those of you pursuing a lifelong interest related to food, gardening, homesteading or farming.

The Certificate may be completed entirely ONLINE, but many of our courses are also available on campus. The certificate has helped prepare students in three broad areas of study:

Sustainable Farming/Marketing and Homesteading
Agricultural and Farm-based Education
Public Policy, Community Development and Advocacy

Our online program has been particularly attractive to the fastest growing farm demographic in New England, women-owned and managed farms. We know how busy your lives can be, so our online classes may be taken on your own schedule.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Sustainable Business Practice Certificate

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

Isenberg’s Sustainable Business Practice Certificate will give you the knowledge you need. You’ll be able to help companies implement socially, environmentally and economically responsible business practices that are also strategic, savvy, innovative and cost effective. And you’ll learn how to identify business opportunities related to sustainability.

The program is flexible enough to fit your needs and rigorous enough to make you competitive. Learn from experts—the same faculty who teach on campus—who will introduce you to the challenges of sustainability and how business organizations can play a constructive role in addressing them. As part of the Isenberg School of Management, you’ll experience a world-renown business education and a strong alumni network.

To earn a Sustainable Business Practice Certificate, you take 5 courses adding up to 15 credits. You can track your progress with the certificate checklist.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused undergraduate minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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