University of Tennessee at Knoxville
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Sustainability refers to the ability of a society to meet its needs without harming the quality of life for future generations. The actual practice of sustainability involves creating a society that reduces its impact on the natural environment and also creates a healthy economy and meets the social and emotional needs of its citizens. This is a very challenging task because, by all measures, our current society is not on a sustainable path. A major in sustainability requires a very broad training in the natural and social sciences and the humanities. The sustainability concentration provides scientific, socioeconomic, and philosophical background for understanding and mitigating human impact on the natural environment..

The common thread of the two concentrations that make up the G&ES degree program is that they deal with the universe around us—how it impacts us, how we impact it, and what it tells us about ourselves. Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. It includes the study of organisms that have inhabited our planet. An important part of geology is the study of how Earth’s materials, structures, processes and organisms have changed over time. Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, anthropogenic (human built) environment, and the sets of relationships between them.The Environmental Studies (ES) concentration in G&ES requires a sound and broad base in both biological and physical sciences to provide an understanding of how the world works. Courses in agriculture, sociology, philosophy, and economics are required in order to provide an understanding of the importance of human and economic values in making environmental decisions. Thus, a goal of the program is to offer a curriculum that emphasizes the relevance of human economic values and science in making prudent environmental decisions.

Many human activities adversely impact soil, water, and environmental quality, and there is a constant need for experts in the technologies required to collect sound information and to provide food, fiber, and shelter in an environmentally-sound manner. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Soil Sciences provides students with a strong grounding in basic sciences or engineering technology to prepare them for a broad range of possible careers. Students in this program choose between two general thrusts: Science and Engineering Technology. There are several concentrations within this major that further focus the areas of study on sustainability, including: Conservation, Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability Concentration; Environmental Science Concentration; and Land Surveying Concentration. Directed technical electives introduce students to natural resource problems and their management, including soil and water conservation issues, land use problems, waste disposal, reclamation of disturbed lands, watershed management, and sustainability.

-Forestry - Forest Resources Management Concentration -http://advising.utk.edu/guides/guide/forestry-forest-resources-management-concentration-major-guide-for-2015-2016/; -Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Major - http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7482; -Wildlife and Fisheries Science Major, BS, Wildlife and Fisheries Management Concentration: http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7550

There is a minor in sustainability that often complements other majors. Sustainability refers to the ability of a society to meet its needs without harming the quality of life for future generations. The actual practice of sustainability involves creating a society that reduces its impact on the natural environment and also creates a healthy economy and meets the social and emotional needs of its citizens. This is a very challenging task because, by all measures, our current society is not on a sustainable path. A major in sustainability requires a very broad training in the natural and social sciences and the humanities.

The minor in environmental studies provides sound scientific, socioeconomic, and philosophical background for understanding the earth’s environment with an opportunity to minor in one of the many environmentally related curricula offered by various colleges within the university.

Many human activities adversely impact soil, water, and environmental quality, and there is a constant need for experts in the technologies required to collect sound information and to provide food, fiber, and shelter in an environmentally-sound manner. Students in this minor program take core courses such as Introduction to Soil Science, Soil and Water Conservation and Soil Nutrient Management and Fertilizers.

-Bioenergy Concentration (Plant Sciences) http://plantsciences.utk.edu/bioenergy/ http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7324&hl=bioenergy&returnto=search; -Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration (Biology) http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7326&hl=ecology+and+evolutionary&returnto=search; Environmental Engineering Minor http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7380; -Environmental Issues Concentration (Sociology) http://catalog.utk.edu/content.php?catoid=18&navoid=1931; -Environmental Issues and Globalization Minor (Sociology) http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7526; -Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Minor http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7555; -Organic Production Concentration (Plant Sciences) http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7556; -Watershed Minor http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7568; -Wildlife and Fisheries Science Minor http://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=7552