Problems of environmental degradation, social justice and economic inequality are more pressing than ever, and the demand for people with the determination and skills to address them has never been greater. Employers in all fields seek to hire Auburn graduates who understand the complexities of the world’s challenges, who think outside the box and who can find innovative, sustainable solutions to those challenges. Billions of dollars are invested annually in green technology, renewable energy, green jobs and ethical business solutions around the world.
With a diverse selection of 90+ courses and study abroad programs, the interdisciplinary minor in sustainability studies offers students the opportunity to gain wide-ranging expertise and hands-on experience with the most crucial issues in contemporary society.
Why Minor in Sustainability Studies?
Sustainability Studies students come from a wide variety of majors, and courses in the minor run the gamut from engineering and biology to history and philosophy. The minor trains students to view the world through multiple disciplinary lenses, and to bring those perspectives together in search of creative solutions to contemporary challenges.
Sustainability students care about the world around them, on both a global and a local scale. Courses in the minor help them identify, evaluate and implement ways they can make a positive difference for themselves, their communities and the world.
Courses in the minor emphasize a wide range of skills and knowledge that are sought after by employers, including interdisciplinary and systems thinking, creative problem-solving and hands-on experience. A minor in sustainability studies signals to employers that you have specialized expertise in and commitment to questions of economic, environmental and social viability. Recent graduates have gone on to prestigious graduate programs and found employment in a wide range of fields including interior design, environmental services, land and water management, engineering, business, consulting and the public and nonprofit sectors.
Get your hands dirty working in a community garden; wade into rivers and ponds to collect samples; explore local parks and forests to learn about Alabama’s flora, fauna and natural resources; or mentor children from the local community. For many of your sustainability-affiliated courses, the woods, streams, gardens and neighborhoods of Auburn and its surrounding communities will be your classrooms. Affiliated study abroad programs in Fiji, Spain, Denmark, Australia, Costa Rica and beyond let you earn credit towards the minor while you explore the world.
Sustainability studies minors find that the lessons they learn in the classroom permeate every aspect of their lives, from consumption patterns and diet to self-care and personal relationships. Sustainability's systems-thinking and interdisciplinarity push students to consider multiple perspectives and the ramifications of their actions, while an expanded awareness of the impacts of individual actions empowers them to make informed choices on a daily basis.
Minor Requirements
Students from any major may pursue the minor in sustainability studies. The minor requires 15 credit hours with at least 9 hours at the 3000-level or above. Sustainability studies offers a variety of courses. Classes that are offered every semester are listed on the course listing page. Courses can also be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Required Courses
SUST 2000 (or HONR 1027): Introduction to Sustainability, 3 credits
SUST 5000: Senior Capstone in Sustainability, 3 credits
Electives
Nine credits of electives are required from the following list of classes. Study abroad opportunities may also count as electives, with the approval of the Director of the Academic Sustainability Program.
Our electives are categorized by the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that are addressed in each class:
SDG 1 No Poverty
SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being
SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water
SDG 15 Life on Land
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Students can choose any elective they want. Focusing on one or two SDGs can allow students to learn more deeply about sustainability in one or two areas, while taking classes over a broad range of SDGs can help students learn about systainabiilty broadly. To find the electives that address each SDG, use the menu below. Choose “all electives” to see a list of all of the electives that count toward the Minor in Sustainabilty Studies. To learn more about the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, and how Auburn is addressing the SDGs, visit: https://sustain.auburn.edu/learn/sustainable-development-goals/
Anthropology
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ANTH 3700: Political Ecology (Fall) [SDG 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 15]
ANTH 3950: Archaeological Curation (Every other year) [SDG 16]
ANTH 4930: Cultural Anthropology Field School in Sitka, Alaska [SDG 3, 8, 12, 14, 15]
ANTH 4960 Special Topics: Water, Waste, and Tourism in Quintana Roo, Mexico (3 credits)
Animal Science
ANSC 2010: Animals and Society [SDG 14, 15]
Applied Biotechnology
Biology
BIOL 3060: Ecology (Every semester, PR 8 hours Biology) [SDG 14, 15]
BIOL 4970: Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability: Costa Rica (3 credits)
BIOL 4970: Conservation and Research in the Peruvian Rainforest (3 credits)
BIOL 5090: Conservation Biology (Fall, PR BIOL 3060) [SDG 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
Biomaterials and Packaging
BIOP 2120: Frontiers in Sustainable Materials (Every semester)[SDG 7, 9, 11, 12]
BIOP 4840: Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment (Fall, PR BIOP 3390 or instructor permission) [SDG 7, 9, 11, 12, 13]
Biosystems Engineering
BSEN 3230: Natural Resource Conservation Engineering (Spring; PR BSEN 3310 or instructor permission) [SDG 9, 14, 15]
BSEN 5510: Ecological Engineering (PR BSEN 3230) [SDG 6, 9, 14, 15]
BSEN 5540: Biomass and Biofuels Engineering (Fall, PR CHEM 1040, Math 2650 & BSEN 3310) [SDG 9, 12]
Business
BUSI 3250: International Business (every semester) [SDG 8, 9, 16]
Civil Engineering
CIVL 3510: Transportation Engineering [SDG 11]
CIVL 3230: Introduction to Environmental Engineering [SDG 6, 7, 13]
Consumer and Design Sciences
CADS 2000: Global Consumer Culture (Every semester) [SDG 7, 10]
CADS 5310: Sustainable Design and LEED Accreditation (Spring) [SDG 7, 9, 11]
Community Planning
CPLN 5000: History and Theory of Urban Form [SDG 9, 11]
CPLN 5010: Introduction to Community Planning (Every semester) [SDG 7, 9, 10, 11, 12]
CPLN 5040: Land Use Planning (Spring) [SDG 11, 16]
CPLN 5060: Sustainable Transportation Planning (Spring) [SDG 11]
CPLN 5110: Sustainable Urbanism and Growth Management (Spring) [SDG 11]
Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences
CSES 1020: Crops and Life (Spring) [SDG 12, 15]
CSES 5000: Soils and Environmental Quality (Fall) [SDG 6, 12, 13, 14, 15]
CSES 5300: Soil Chemistry [SDG 15]
CSES 5400/3: Bioenergy and the Environment (Spring, Summer & Online) [SDG 7, 9, 12, 13]
Electrical and Computer Engineering
ELEC 5970: Renewable Energy [SDG 9]
Engineering
ENGR 3970: Regional Sustainable Technologies and Practices in Northern Spain (6 credits)
English
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ENGL 4040: Public Writing (Annually) [SDG 4]
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ENGL 4310: Renaissance English Literature. Please note that this is a "special topics" course. ONLY the listed topics are acceptable for the minor without the permission of the director of the Academic Sustainability Program. For other topics, approval is needed. [SDG 4]
ENGL 4310: Environmental Literature in Early Modern England
ENGL 4450: Black Male Joy within American Absurdity (Every other year) [SDG 10, 16]
ENGL 4700: Topics in Literature. Please note that this is a "special topics" course. ONLY the listed topics are acceptable for the minor without the permission of the director of the Academic Sustainability Program. [SDG 14, 15]
ENGL 4700: Writing About Nature in the 21st Century (Intermittent)
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ENGL 4710: Gender and Literature (Every other year) [SDG 5]
ENGL 4740: Environment, Literature and Culture (Spring) [SDG 13]
Entomology
ENTM 2040: Insects (Fall) [SDG 14, 15]
ENTM/PLPA 5330: Integrated Pest Management (Spring of even-numbered years, PR BIOL 1030) [SDG 8, 15]
ENTM 5500: Bee Biology and Management (Spring, PR BIOL 1030, BIOL 1037 or instructor consent) [SDG 15]
Environmental Design
ENVD 2200: Readings in Landscape Architecture (Spring, Instructor Permission)
Film and Media Studies
MDIA 3750: Race and American Film History (Intermittent) [SDG 10]
Forestry
FORY 4500: Forest Economics (Spring) [SDG 8, 9, 13, 15]
FORY/FOWS 4970: Special Topics (approval required from the director of the Academic Sustainability Program) [SDG 15]
FORY 4970: Special Topics. Please note that this is a "special topics" course. ONLY the listed topics are acceptable for the minor without the permission of the director of the Academic Sustainability Program. [SDG 15]
FORY 4970: Coastal Law (Summer)
FORY 5540/5543: Environmental Law (Spring) [SDG 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
Forestry & Wildlife Sciences
FOWS 3800/3810: The Role of Forests in Human Livelihood and Health in Africa: South Africa and Madagascar (5 credits)
FORY/FOWS 4970: Special Topics (approval required from the director of the Academic Sustainability Program) [SDG 15]
FOWS 5220: Landscape Ecology (Spring of even-numbered years, PR BIOL 3060 or WILD 3280) [SDG 13, 14, 15]
FOWS 5270: Natural Resource Policy (Every semester) [SDG 16, 17]
FOWS 5340: Invasion Ecology (Spring) [SDG 14, 15]
FOWS 5620: Natural Resource Finance and Investment (Spring) [SDG 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15]
Geography
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GEOG 2010: Human Geography (Every semester) [SDG 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16]
GEOG 2020: Physical Geography (Every Semester) [SDG 8, 9, 11, 16]
GEOG 5010: Urban Geography (Spring) [SDG 9, 11]
GEOG 5210: Climatology (Fall) [SDG 13, 14, 15]
GEOG 5510: Human-Environment Interaction (Spring of odd-numbered years) [SDG 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
GEOG 5550: Geography of Water Resources (Fall) [SDG 6, 13, 14]
GEOG 5850: GIS Applications - Environmental Justice (Spring) [SDG 9, 15]
History
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HIST 3020: Women in American History (Fall of odd-numbered years) [SDG 5, 10, 16]
HIST 3060: Issues in African American History [SDG 10, 16]
HIST 3080: The Civil Rights Movement (Every other spring) [SDG 10, 16]
HIST 3090: History of Appalachia (Fall of odd-numbered years) [SDG 10, 14, 15]
HIST 3550: American Environmental History (Intermittent) [SDG 13]
HIST 3970: Please note that this is a "special topics" course. ONLY the listed topics are acceptable for the minor without the permission of the director of the Academic Sustainability Program. [SDG 10, 13, 16]
Global Environmental History (Intermittent)
Issues in Af-Am Hist: Migration, Movement, and Landscape (Intermittent)
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Gender and Technology in Historical Perspective (Intermittent)
Race and Landscape at Auburn
History of American Energy
Gender and Medicine
Horticulture
Human Development and Family Science
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HDFS 4700: Gender in Close Relationships (Spring) [SDG 5, 10, 16]
Human Sciences, General
HUSC 5940: Sustainability in Action: Fiji (6 credits)
International Programs - Special Topics
INTL 1977: Honors College Special Topics in International Sustainability (Pre-Freshman Study & Travel) (2 credits)
Landscape Architecture
LAND 5250: Construction II: Materials & Detailing (Spring) [SDG 9, 11, 12, 15]
Materials Engineering
MATL 2210: Materials for Sustainable Energy Production and Storage (1 Credit) [SDG 7, 9]
MATL 2220: Materials and the Environment (1 Credit) [SDG 9, 12]
MATL 2230: Mineral Resources: Availability and Processing (1-Credit) [SDG 9, 12, 15]
*NOTE: Take all three MATL 2210/2220/2230 to count as one 3-credit course. One of these courses is offered each fall / spring and the courses do not need to be taken in sequence.
Mechanical Engineering
MECH 5050: Renewable Energy Resources and Applications (Spring of even-numbered years; PR ENGR 2010, ENGR 2200 or instructor permission) [SDG 7, 9]
Natural Resources Management
NATR 2050: People and the Environment (Fall) [SDG 13, 14, 15]
NATR 4240: Watershed Management (Spring) [SDG 6, 11, 14, 15]
NATR 5050: Urban Ecology (Fall of even-numbered years) [SDG 11, 15]
NATR 5250: Wetland Ecology and Management (Spring, PR BIOL 3060: Ecology) [SDG 13, 14]
NATR 5310: Environmental Ethics (Every semester) [SDG 13]
NATR 5320: Ecosystem Services [SDG 6, 13, 14, 15]
NATR 5430: Human Dimensions of Fisheries, Wildlife and Natural Resources (Spring) [SDG 12, 13, 14, 15]
NATR 5630: Conservation Planning (Spring) [SDG 11, 12]
NATR 5880: Ecological Economics (Fall) [SDG 8, 10]
Parks and Recreation
PARK 4310: Sustainable Nature Tourism (Spring) [SDG 8, 12, 14, 15]
Philosophy
PHIL 1120: Introduction to Environmental Ethics [SDG 12, 13, 16]
Political Science
POLI 3680: Environmental Policy [SDG 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16]
POLI 5550: Environmental Policy and Administration (Intermittent) [SDG 16]
Public Relations Communication
PRCM 4970: Special Topics in Public Relations. Please note that this is a "special topics" course. ONLY the listed topics are acceptable for the minor without the permission of the Director of the Academic Sustainability Program. [SDG 16]
PRCM 4970: Public Interest Communication (Intermittent)
Rural Sociology
RSOC 3560: Environment, Society and Justice (Fall) [SDG 13, 14, 15, 16]
RSOC 3620: Community Organizations [SDG 11, 16]
RSOC 5650: Sociology of Natural Resources and the Environment (Spring) [SDG 12, 13]
Sociology
SOCY 1100: Current Issues in Race and Ethnicity (Spring) [SDG 10, 16]
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SOCY 3500: Social Inequality (Every semester, PR SOCY 1000 or 1007) [SDG 3, 5, 10, 16]
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SOCY 5680: Social Movements (Intermittent, PR SOCY 1000 or 1007) [SDG 3, 5, 10, 16]
Speech, Lanaguage, and Hearing Sciences
Supply Chain Management
Theatre
THEA 4690: Artists and Communities (Spring of even-numbered years) [SDG 11, 16]
University Courses
UNIV 1110: Live Green, Save Green (Fall) [SDG 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13]
Veterinary Medicine - Biomedical Sciences
VBMS 3050: Tropical Veterinary Science and the Great Barrier Reef (2 credits)
Wildlife Sciences
WILD 3280: Wildlife Ecology, Conservation and Management (Fall, PR BIOL 1020) [SDG 15]
Women's Studies
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WMST 3500: Gender, Beauty, and Culture [SDG 5]
World Languages - Italian
FLIT 3050: Italian Cinema (approval required from the director of the Academic Sustainability Program) [SDG 16]
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FLIT 3510: Introduction to Italian Culture in English (approval required from the director of the Academic Sustainability Program) [SDG 5, 16]
Study Abroad
Study abroad classes can count for the minor in sustainability studies. For approval please contact the director of the Academic Sustainability Program.
Minor in Sustainability Studies - Gulf Scholars Track
Students in the Minor in Sustainability Studies can earn the Gulf Scholars Certificate from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine without taking any additional classes. The Gulf Scholars Program offer students in the Sustainability minor with scholarship funding, extracurricular activities, and engaged research opportunities. All the classes in the Gulf Scholars Program (GSP) count toward the Minor in Sustainability Studies.
The Minor in Sustainability Studies-Gulf Scholars Program curriculum includes the following classes:
SUST 2000 - Introduction to Sustainability (core class for the Minor in Sustainability Studies, and elective GSP class)
SUST 5000 – Capstone in Sustainability (core class for both programs)
SUST 4600 (zero credits) - monthly excursions and field trips throughout the semester
Nine additional credits of sustainability electives that count toward the Minor in Sustainability Studies.
To learn more about the Gulf Scholars Program and to apply, see our website, or contact Rebecca Retzlaff at rcr0001@auburn.edu.
Course Contracts
Course contracts are a great way for sustainability studies minors to receive credit for classes that are not ordinarily part of the Academic Sustainability Program. If you are enrolled or plan to enroll in a course that addresses sustainability-adjacent issues, or which you can complete with a special focus on issues of sustainability, you may want to create a contract with the instructor that will allow you to earn credit for the course towards your minor.
In order to count a class as an elective toward the sustainability studies minor, it must have a significant sustainability-related component. In many cases, students can choose to focus on sustainability themes within the existing structure of the class: you might select a sustainability-related topic for your final paper, for instance, or complete service-learning or field studies in relevant venues.
To request a course contract, the first step is to talk to the instructor of the class and ask them if you can complete the class for credit toward the minor in sustainability studies, and decide how you will focus on sustainability in the class. Next, contact the director of the Academic Sustainability Program at acadsustain@auburn.edu, to discuss the course contract. You will need to provide a written description of how you will incorporate sustainability into the class.
Course Additions
Faculty who would like to add their class to the minor in sustainability studies should send a request to Rebecca Retzlaff, director of the Academic Sustainability Program, and include their syllabus.
