Sustainability (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2024–Spring 2025 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Program Website: Sustainability
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab.

Program Information

The Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability is designed to train students to research, identify, implement, and monitor sustainable practices, processes, systems, and framework in human habitats.  Graduates will be equipped to contribute to sustainability service and research that benefits the local, national, and global communities.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department's Learning Outcomes Measurement.  For details, contact department.

Degree Summary

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Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Accelerated BA Sustainability/MA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Sustainability
Sustainability majors who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Sustainability can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit toward a master’s degree.  Students accepted into the Accelerated BA/MA program take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor's degree and eventual master's degree.

Special Requirements for Accelerated Master's Degree Program Admission

1. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better
2. Completion of URBS 131, 231, 232, 303, 331 with a minimum GPA of 3.0 

Core courses should include URBS 631, SUST 602, and research methods. 

The fifth year consists of graduate coursework leading to completion of the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies:  Concentration in Sustainability.  The accelerated curriculum allows students to apply 9 credit hours of graduate core course work taken during their undergraduate studies towards the completion of both the BA and Master’s degrees.

Advising to ensure the requirements are met without extraneous credit hours is imperative and strongly recommended for timely degree completion and financial considerations for the accelerated degrees.  Please be sure to consult with advisors and the director of the master’s program. 

Accelerated BA Sustainability/Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Sustainability majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree in Urban Planning (MUP) can speed up the process by apply some of their undergraduate credit toward a master's degree. Students can apply 12 credit hours of graduate coursework taken during their undergraduate studies towards the completion of both the BA and MUP degrees.

Students should apply to this program in their junior year but are recommended to speak to the director of the BA in Sustainability, the director of the MUP, and A&S advising earlier. Students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 to be admitted to the accelerated program.

For more information, please see the admissions tab and the track requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in Sustainability requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. 

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

Admission and Application to the Accelerated  Sustainability BA/Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Students who are interested in either of the accelerated program will fill out an application with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) at any time. The application will be held until the student has completed at least 60 credit hours but less than 90 credit hours (usually in their 6th semester). At this point they will be formally "admitted" to the accelerated program. The student must have a GPA of 3.00 to be admitted to the accelerated program.

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

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 Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

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 In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

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 May be incorporated into other degree requirements

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 Outside of courses used to meet major requirements with 15 hours at the 300 level or above (in addition to courses counted toward General Education)

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Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

Track Requirements

Policy and Governance in Sustainability

Academic Plan Code(s): SUSTBA_PGS

Sustainable Societal and Urban Systems

Academic Plan Code(s): SUSTBA_SUS

Sustainable Societies

Academic Plan Code(s): SUSTBA_SS

Accelerated BA Sustainability-Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

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URBS 505 is both a Sustainability Core course and an Accelerated Pathway course that counts toward the 9 credit hours shared between the undergraduate and graduate degree.

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Accelerated Pathway course credits in URBS 601 and URBS 603​ will be used to satisfy 6 of the 18 credit hours that are typically taken as Natural and Social Science Electives.

Flight Plan

Flight Plan for Accelerated BA-MUP

The accelerated flight plan is the same as the stand-alone flight plan for the BA listed in the table above for years 1 and 2.  

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.