University of New Hampshire
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Launched in spring 2016, UNH's Sustainability Dual Major provides an innovative pathway for undergraduate students to better understand environmental and social challenges and act on solutions needed to create a more sustainable world. Students from any UNH college or major can pair the Sustainability Dual Major with the first major; this course of study provides a powerful and unique interdisciplinary experience for students to better understand their chosen field of study through the complex lens of sustainability.  This makes the Sustainability Dual Major inherently (and intentionally) interdisciplinary in terms of  study and practice.  The goal is to help students make connections across issues of science and ethics, policy and technology, and culture and history to better understand and take action on pressing issues of our time. The Sustainability Dual Major is governed by a University Committee which consists of at least one representative from each UNH College and a representative from the UNH Sustainability Institute.

In 2019, a group of UNH faculty completed a set of four sustainability education goals (listed below) that have been adopted as learning objectives by the Sustainability Dual Major (Levesque and Wake, 2020).
1. Comprehend grand challenges: Students gain knowledge of the fundamental aspects of complex sustainability challenges.

2. Think in systems: Students have an ability to analyze and synthesize the interconnections among environmental, social, and economic aspects of complex systems, as well as how problems manifest at different scales (local to global) and at different times (connections between past, present, and future).

3. Advocate for values: Students can identify, assess, respect, and navigate the diverse values, interests, and types of knowledge inherent in sustainability challenges, while simultaneously addressing power imbalances and promoting social justice.

4. Apply knowledge to a lifetime of action:
Personal practice: Students understand how sustainability impacts their lives and can assess how their actions impact sustainability at personal, institutional, and societal levels.

Professional practice: All students, regardless of major, understand how their professional work contributes to sustainable communities, can apply disciplinary and other forms of knowledge and skills to contribute to sustainable solutions.

Collaborative practice: Students learn how to collaborate across disciplines and across sectors to jointly determine project goals, create knowledge, and develop innovative and effective solutions to sustainability challenges.

The Sustainability Dual Major consists of 32 credits, including three core courses and five elective courses. Students are required to take three (3) SUST courses (in order)

SUST 401: Exploring Sustainability

SUST 501: Sustainability in Action

SUST 750: Sustainability Capstone

Students choose elective courses (from a set of pre-approved electives that address at least one of the sustainability education goals) to complete the remaining 20 credits for the dual major. At least one elective must be from the natural & biological sciences list, and at least one from the social science and humanities list.

The ECS major is comprised of 14 core requirements providing integrative courses in both environmental conservation and sustainability, along with a foundation in biology, ecology, physical and social science, and the basic tools and skills applied to problem solving. These core requirements are typically fulfilled in the first two years. Beginning in their junior year, ECS students, in consultation with their advisers, create a seven course focus area based on an ecological system or natural resource of their choosing. The focus area provides advanced study in ecology and natural resources; social sciences; tools, skills, and/or natural history and should reflect the student's interests and future goals. Additionally, each ECS student completes a practicum experience and a capstone option.

The ECS major provides the opportunity for students to gain a common foundation of knowledge and skills emphasizing integration and critical thinking, while allowing for sufficient flexibility to pursue their interests and passions within a large and complex field of study. The design of the curriculum will allow each student at least four, and as many as six, free electives, which they may fulfill as they choose. Many students pursue international experiences, such as the UNH EcoQuest program in New Zealand, add a minor or dual degree (such as the dual degree in international studies), and/or pursue research opportunities with our faculty or through another of UNH's undergraduate research opportunity programs.

Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Conservation and Sustainability

- have a scientific understanding of ecological systems and how they function
- understand the interdependency between people and the environment
- are familiar with basic resource management policies and strategies
- have hands-on experience to sustainably manage human activities within the Earth’s ecological systems

Students select a specialization to develop expertise in:

- Land and Water Resource Policy and Management
- International Environmental and Natural Resource Policy and Sustainable Development
- Environmental Education, Communication, Public Participation and Leadership

The EcoGastronomy Dual Major is a collaboration with the University of New Hampshire's College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, and the Sustainability Institute.
EcoGastronomy integrates UNH strengths in sustainable agriculture, hospitality management, and nutrition. EcoGastronomy offers a unique academic program emphasizing the interdisciplinary, international, and experiential knowledge that connects all three fields. From growing and preparing food to getting first hand experience in international food cultures and issues of food security, the program provides students with an integrated academic experience.
As a dual major, EcoGastronomy provides a complement to any primary major.
It has four core required courses plus a required capstone, elective, and 12-credit immersive study abroad experience.

http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/curricula

Undergraduate Programs

Community & Environmental Planning Major 
Animal Science: Dairy Management, including study at UNH's organic dairy research farm 
Earth Sciences Teaching Major 
Economics Major: Public Policy and Sustainability option 
Environmental & Resource Economics Major 
Environmental Sciences Major 
Forestry Major 
Geography Major 
Humanities Major 
International Affairs Dual Major 
Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology Major 
Outdoor Education Major 
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Major 
Tourism Planning & Development Major 
Wildlife and Conservation Biology Major 
Zoology Major 

Issues of sustainable living involve every aspect of life. Humans are part of, and dependent upon, healthy functioning ecosystems. Sustainable living requires learning to live with ecosystem limits. Students increase their knowledge and awareness of environmental issues and problems, study and apply principles of sustainability, and develop thinking and communication skills in order to help solve complex problems and move humanity toward a more sustainable future. The minor consists of 20 credits (totaling 5 courses) with grades of C- or better, and no pass/fail courses. No more than eight credits used to satisfy major requirements may be used for the minor.

The agribusiness minor is designed to provide students in disciplines other than environmental and resource economics training in the economics and management of agricultural and other natural resource business firms. This program prepares students to work for private companies, governmental agencies, or nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations. Students who are interested in operating their own businesses will also find this minor very useful. The courses in the agribusiness minor emphasize the applications of economic and business management principles.

The green real estate minor will include the basic fundamentals of real estate (a class which is accredited by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission). Students will learn about local and regional planning, environmental economics and market forces, and environmental issues as they pertain to real estate. In addition, students may choose complementary classes, such as architecture, surveying, land design, soils, wetland delineation, law, etc. Students must complete five courses (18 to 20 credits), get a C- or better in each course, and maintain a 2.0 average or better.

Civil Technology Construction Management (2-Year) 
Classics Minor 
Community & Environmental Planning (2-Year and Minor) 
Community Leadership Major (2-Year) 
Dairy Management (2-Year) 
Earth Sciences Geology Minor 
Earth Sciences Oceanography Minor 
Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Minor 
Environmental Conservation Studies Minor 
Environmental Horticulture (2-Year) 
Environmental & Resource Economics Minor 
Forest Technology Major (2-Year) 
Ocean Engineering Minor 
Water Resources Management Minor 
Wetland Ecology Minor 
Wildlife and Conservation Biology Minor 
Zoology Minor