Minor in Sustainability Studies
About the Minor
Sustainability is most commonly defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is characterized by three overarching concerns: maintaining ecological and environmental health; creating economic welfare; and ensuring social justice. The aim of the Minor in Sustainability Studies is to help students understand the ways in which these three concerns are interrelated and to explore how they best can be pursued at local, national, and global scales.
The Minor is thoroughly interdisciplinary, benefiting from the teaching and research of faculty from multiple departments and colleges. It is explicitly designed to complement any major area of study.
The Minor in Sustainability Studies has three components.
- A gateway course, “Facets of Sustainability” (IDS 2935), introduces all students to the theory, principles, and practices of sustainability as approached through a variety of topical concerns and academic fields.
- Students subsequently select 4-5 courses from a menu that spans multiple disciplines to gain a broad exposure to sustainability-related curricula.
- Students may apply to participate in the Minor's capstone course, "Sustainability in Action" (IDS 4940). The capstone course allows you to develop practical experience and skills by way of internships, service learning opportunities, or integrated research projects. Students accepted into this capstone course need only complete 4 courses from the clusters. Students who do not participate in "Sustainability in Action" must complete a fifth course from the clusters.
Learn more about the course requirements for Minor in Sustainability Studies.
Putting Your Minor to Work
Governmental, professional, academic, corporate, and small business employers are ever more concerned with sustainability at the local, national, and global levels. By way of an interdisciplinary series of courses and practical experiences, the Minor in Sustainability Studies prepares students for global citizenship while providing the knowledge and skill sets that are increasingly in demand in the marketplace.
- Explore some of the careers that have sustainability components.
- Explore some of the academic programs that have sustainability components.
- Explore efforts at the University of Florida to create a sustainable campus through the Office of Sustainability.
Enrolling in the Minor in Sustainability Studies
Fill out the Apply to Add or Cancel a Minor form. Bring the completed form for review to the CLAS Academic Advising Center in Farrior Hall, 100 Fletcher Drive.
N.B. You must have at least 45 hours to apply for a minor. Students on college probabtion cannot apply for a minor.
To apply to participate in the capstone course, “Sustainability in Action,” set up a meeting with the Faculty Advisor in your junior or senior year, after you have completed “Facets of Sustainability” and at least two other courses selected from the clusters. Explore examples of the various internships, service learning opportunities, and integrated research projects that students have undertaken.
Advising
The Faculty Advisor for the Minor in Sustainability Studies is Professor Leslie Paul Thiele, Department of Political Science, 302 Anderson Hall. You can contact him at thiele@ufl.edu or by phone (352) 273-2380.
