The Auburn Gulf Scholars Program curriculum is flexible, interdisciplinary and comprehensive. All Gulf Scholars classes count toward the Minor in Sustainability Studies, so students will be able to earn the minor while completing the Gulf Scholars Program. Program requirements are (1) SOCY 3600, (2) one Gulf elective or another Gulf learning experience, (3) a Gulf Impact Project, and (4) participation in extra-curricular activities.
Curriculum and Classes
SOCY 3600 Understanding Nature, Self and Society through Writing
SOCY 3600 will allow students to critically interrogate their relationship with nature and to examine the social dynamics that not only shape the meanings of nature, but also affect its processes and contemporary value. As the initial course in the program, it focuses on personal reflection, creative writing and growth to prepare students to become Gulf change agents. The course will allow students to reflect and evaluate their personal wellness, ethical and theoretical self through the lens of Gulf sustainability.
One Gulf Elective or an approved Gulf Learning Experience
Students may either chose a Gulf elective from a list of classes that we will provide every semester or participate in a Gulf learning experience with approval of the GSP director (examples of potential learning experiences are an independent study class, research project, study at a satellite location, etc.).
Example of GSP Electives:
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SUST 2000: Introduction to Sustainability
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ANTH 4960: Water, Waste, and Tourism in Quintana Roo, Mexico (Study Abroad)
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BUSI 3250: International Business
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CIVL 4230: Urban Hydraulic System Design
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CPLN 5020: Cities, Planning and Climate Change
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CPLN 5040: Land Use Planning
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CPLN 5060: Sustainable Transportation Planning
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CPLN 5080: Affordable Housing Planning and Policy
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CPLN 5110: Sustainable Urbanism and Growth Management
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CPLN 5400: Historic Preservation Planning
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ENGL 2260: American Literature after 1865 (only Prof. Matthew Spencer sections)
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FISH 5220/6220: Water Science
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GEOG 2100: Environmental Geology
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HONR 1027: Honors Sustainability
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JRNL 4850: Reporting Social Issues of Change
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NATR 4535: Coastal Zone Management
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NATR 5250: Wetland Ecology and Management
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NATR 5320: Ecosystem Services
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PARK 4200: Nature, Recreation, and Health
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POLI 2120: Cities and Urbanization
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POLI 3250: Introduction to Public Administration
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WILD 2050: Wildlife Conservation History and Law
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WMST 3500: Gender, Beauty, and Culture
Gulf Impact Project
Students must complete a Gulf Impact Project with a community partner. This requirement is flexible, and students have four options to complete the project:
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Enroll in the Gulf Impact Project class (SUST 5000) and complete the project in a studio/project-based setting.
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Apply for and receive funding from the Auburn Undergraduate Research Fellowship and work with a faculty mentor and a community mentor to complete the project.
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Complete the project in an existing thesis or capstone class in their major or in a different major, with permission of the instructor.
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Complete an independent study course with a faculty mentor.
Extra-curricular and co-curricular activities
One goal of the Gulf Scholars Program is to form a cohesive cohort of students working on coastal sustainability issues that will form lasting friendships and professional support networks. Students will be invited to participate in these activities at least once a month. Our preliminary schedule for 2024-25 is below:
|
Date |
Time |
Topic |
|
Aug 30 |
11:00am – 1:00pm |
kick-off lunch
|
|
Sept 20 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Change Agentry Workshop 1 Movement Building Principles |
|
Oct 11-13 |
Friday afternoon - Sunday |
Weekend field trip to the Gulf Coast |
|
Oct 4 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Campus Kitchen/Food Pantry Tour and Volunteering |
|
Oct 18 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Change Agentry Workshop 2 Emotional Intelligence |
|
Nov 1 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Urban water management walk |
|
Nov 15 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Change Agentry Workshop 3 Personal Mastery |
|
Jan 17 |
12:00 pm- 1:30 pm |
Change Agentry Workshop 4 Mental Models |
|
Feb 7 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Tour of LEED Building |
|
Feb 21 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Change Agentry Workshop 5 Shared Vision |
|
April 4 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Change Agentry Workshop 6 Team Learning/Systems Thinking |
|
April 18 |
12:00 - 1:30 pm |
End of year celebration party/awards |
