Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.83
Liaison C Jane Hagen
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Virginia Commonwealth University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Joseph Costa
Sustainability Projects and Program Coordinator
Sustainability
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Majors and Degree Programs

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:
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program:
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies prepares students for careers in the environmental field, including government service, nonprofit management and employment in private industry. VCU's curriculum also provides students with a foundation for graduate work in environmental sciences or related fields. The program distinguishes itself by the strong real-world approach to its major. It recognizes the importance of a practical understanding of policy to the environmental scientist and of science to the environmental policy-maker. This means that students will have unique opportunities to integrate their training, as it will be used in the real world.

The website URL for the undergraduate degree program:

Additional Degree Programs (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Bachelor of Science in Urban & Regional Studies

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A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Studies provides a solid foundation for professional work or advanced study aimed at addressing some of the most important challenges and issues facing the U.S. and other world regions, such as urban sprawl, economic marginalization, ethnic and racial conflict and environmental degradation. The program covers a wide range of topics related to these issues, including transportation, housing, land use, environmental management, regional and international development, human-environment interaction, globalization and socioeconomic change.

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The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
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A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
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The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
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Minors, Concentrations and Certificates

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:
Minor in Environmental Studies

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:
As a degree option, the minor in environmental studies can be combined with a related major — proving useful to students planning careers in any area concerned with environmental processes and problems. The minor also may prepare students for study at the graduate level in such concentrations as ecology and environmental systems. A minor in environmental studies consists of 24 credits from required and elective courses.

The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:

Additional Minors, Concentrations and Certificates (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Sustainable Innovation Undergraduate Certificate

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A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
The Certificate in Sustainable Innovation is designed to provide students in any VCU baccalaureate program the option of adding a formal certificate program in sustainability and sustainable approaches to problem-solving. The Certificate in Sustainable Innovation will use a systems-thinking approach to problems of sustainability across all of the academic disciplines.

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The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Minor in Urban & Regional Studies

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A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The minor in Urban & Regional Studies may be combined with another major, providing students the opportunity for a diverse learning experience. The Minor may help prepare students for careers or graduate studies related to community engagement, development planning, and design. A minor in urban & regional studies consists of 18 credits from required and elective courses.

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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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Optional Fields  

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