Sustainability

Minor in Sustainability

For anyone who breathes, drinks water, and eats food, it is crucial that we learn how to live sustainably in the world that provides us with these resources. Specifically, how can we impact the natural environment as lightly as possible, provide economic opportunities that nurture both natural and social capital, and treat all human beings equally? These diverse approaches are often referred to as the “three-legged stool” of sustainability, because if any of these legs is omitted, the whole structure will collapse.

Students who minor in Sustainability at TCU will be introduced to environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability, and will have the opportunity to explore one of these approaches in greater depth. After completing this minor, students will have a knowledge base emphasizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of human interactions with the natural world and implications for sustainable development, both locally and globally. The interdisciplinary nature of the program will also facilitate the development of the critical-thinking skills needed to operate effectively in diverse academic and industry environments.

A campus-wide faculty committee, with representation from several colleges, acts as stewards of the program, along with the Institute for Environmental Studies.

Students wishing to earn a Minor in Sustainability must take 18 hours of coursework (this is the list of approved courses). There is one required core course, ENSC 10143 Contemporary Environmental Issues. Of the remaining 15 hours of electives, 3 hours must be taken from within the Social Sciences and Humanities cluster and 3 hours must be taken from within the Natural Sciences cluster. The remaining 9 hours can be selected from any of the approved courses and can be grouped to form an area of emphasis (e.g., a group of BIO/ENSC courses providing, for example, an emphasis in ecology and the environment, or a group of SOCI/ANTH/HIST courses providing, for example, a potential emphasis in food and social justice). A student may not take more than 2 courses from any one department. Courses taken for the major may not be applied toward the minor. No grade lower than a C- may be applied to the minor. Any course substitutions or exceptions must be approved by the Program Director.