Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.37
Liaison Jay Price
Submission Date April 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Preston Jacobsen
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:
Sustainability Concentration, BA (Interdisciplinary Programs Major)

A brief description of the undergraduate degree 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 website URL for the undergraduate degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Geology and Environmental Studies Major (Environmental Studies Concentration)

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

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.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Environmental and Soil Sciences, BS

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

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.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):

-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


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:
Sustainability Minor

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

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 website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Environmental Studies Minor

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

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.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Environmental and Soil Sciences Minor

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

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.


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:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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