University of Massachusetts Amherst
AC-3: Undergraduate Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Darci
Connor Maresca Project Manager, Sustainability Programming ECo |
Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree, or certificate program for undergraduate students?:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program:
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.
In the Sustainable Food & Farming program (offered both on-campus and fully online), students develop a deep understanding and appreciation of farming practices, growing and marketing “real” food, farm-based educational systems, food advocacy, community development, sustainability, and public policy. They can concentrate on a diverse range of work opportunities from permaculture and organic farming to medicinal herbs to sustainable community food systems.
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, and food advocacy, community development and public policy. Students can concentrate on various work opportunities, from permaculture and organic farming to medicinal herbs and community food systems.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Create a more sustainable world through planning and design. Sustainable Community Development students love cities and regions and are committed to making them work for everyone as well as for nature. Our program draws on various disciplinary fields and seeks built environment and policy solutions that balance equity, economics, and environmental considerations. The curriculum is flexible and interdisciplinary, allowing students to broadly explore ways of envisioning sustainable communities. The UMass Sustainable Community Development program offers four areas of concentration: Urban Studies, Landscape Studies, Horticulture Studies, and the Built Environment.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The Natural Resources Conservation (NRC) program is for investigators and problem-solvers with a passion for nature, ecology, and sustainability. NRC students develop a broad understanding of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems combined with practical experiences needed to sustainably manage resources, protect ecosystem functions and conserve biodiversity. With rigorous academic training in the natural, conservation and social sciences, what sets NRC graduates apart is the hands-on experience through field-based courses, research projects with world-class ecologists, and internships.
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
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
Arboriculture & Community Forest Management, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/arboriculture-community-forest-management
Architecture, http://www.umass.edu/architecture/content/bachelor-fine-arts-architecture
Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration (BDIC), https://www.umass.edu/bdic/content/bdic-major
Building & Construction Technology, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/building-construction-technology-bs
Civil & Environmental Engineering, http://cee.umass.edu/undergraduate-program
Earth Systems, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/earth-systems-bs
Economics, https://www.umass.edu/economics/undergraduate/academics/major
Environmental Science, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/environmental-science-bs
Food Science, https://www.umass.edu/foodsci/sites/default/files/Food%20health%20and%20well%20curriculum.pdf
Geography, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/geography-ba-bs-0
Geology, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/geology-ba-bs
Horticulture Sciences, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/horticultural-sciences-bs
Landscape Architecture, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/landscape-architecture-bs
Landscape Contracting (Associate's Degree), https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/landscape-contracting
Management, Sustainable Business Practices, https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/majors/management
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, http://mie.umass.edu/mie/undergraduate
Microbiology, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/microbiology-bs
Nutrition, https://www.umass.edu/sphhs/nutrition/undergraduate-program/nutrition-and-society-track
Plant & Soil Sciences, https://www.umass.edu/ses/program/plant-soil-sciences-bs
Public Health Sciences Program, https://www.umass.edu/sphhs/public-health/current-majors/degree-information-and-requirements
Resource Economics, https://www.umass.edu/resec/academics/undergraduate-program/academic-requirements
UWW Sustainability Studies, http://www.umass.edu/uww/areas-study/sustainability-studies
Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors or concentrations for undergraduate students?:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration:
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration:
The 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 and concentrations"
Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
iCons—The Integrated Concentration in STEM—is a 20-credit undergraduate certificate program whose mission is to inspire a diverse generation of innovators with the attitudes and skills needed to solve society's problems. iCons does not replace a major, it enhances a major by providing opportunities to engage with real-world issues as part of interdisciplinary teams - skills that translate directly to careers at the leading edge of science, technology, and innovation. Students apply knowledge from their disciplines to existing problems of global significance, such as pandemics, endocrine disruptors, or the development of algae biofuels.
Society faces daunting technological problems in areas such as renewable energy, climate change, drug design, and clean drinking water. Complex problems demand multi-faceted solutions. iCons provides meaningful interdisciplinary training for students who aspire to be tomorrow's industry leaders.
Website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
Our UMass Sustainable Business Practice Concentration will give students the knowledge they need to help companies implement socially, environmentally and economically responsible business practices that are also strategic, savvy, innovative, and cost-effective. Students will also learn how to identify business opportunities related to sustainability.
This concentration is intended to equip our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make meaningful contributions to firms’ ongoing sustainability efforts and identify business opportunities created by the range of emergent environmental and social issues. The underlying knowledgebase required to make such contributions include an understanding of the significant environmental and social concerns facing our global economy, appreciation for the role of professional management and modern business structure in addressing pressing social issues, knowledge of various metrics that can be used to assess firms’ environmental and social performance, and awareness of sustainability practices and strategies currently being adopted by leading firms and an understanding of what constitutes “best practice” within various industries.
The following courses are required in order to pursue this concentration:
MGMT 366 – Foundations of Sustainable Enterprise
SCH-MGMT 488 – Strategic Management for a Sustainable World
MGMT 491B Foundations of Social Entrepreneurship
Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused undergraduate minors and concentrations:
Certificate Program for Native American and Indigenous Studies, https://blogs.umass.edu/nativestudies/
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Pulled this information from the School of Earth & Sustainability website and other college/department program sites. Cross checked with the Sustainable UMass site and this list with the sustainability courses.
Pulled this information from the School of Earth & Sustainability website and other college/department program sites. Cross checked with the Sustainable UMass site and this list with the sustainability courses.
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.