The Minor in Sustainability and Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary minor designed to help undergraduate students gain environmental science literacy; develop an understanding of the environment and an appreciation of sustainability from a variety of perspectives such as business and engineering; and create and/or participate in a project related to local environmental and sustainability efforts. Students pursuing the minor will have the opportunity to take a variety of classes addressing sustainability and environmental studies culminating in a capstone course. The capstone course will provide the students a chance to build upon their previous coursework in the minor through a semester long research project, service-learning activity or internship.
The minor may be appropriate for undergraduate students who are interested in the environment and sustainability. Possible areas of interest could include sustainable agriculture, environmental degradation, supply chain sustainability, environmental history or environmental economics.
Requirements
To complete a minor in sustainability and environmental studies, students must take a minimum of 15 credit hours from the approved list of courses listed below.
Must take BOTH of the following:
- BIOL 209: Environmental Science (1st course)
- Capstone Course: Including EDUC 409: Service Learning in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BIOL 320: Intern Research, or similarly approved high-impact experiences.
Must take THREE of the following:
- BADM 323 – Quality Management (Prereqs: BADM 205, STAT 160 or equiv.)
- BADM 324 – Purchasing and Materials Management (Prereqs: BADM 205, STAT 160 or equiv.)
- BADM 329 – Project Management (Prereqs: none)
- BADM 409 – Human Resource Management (Prereqs: none) BIOL 314 – The Vascular Flora of South Carolina (Prereqs: BIOL 102/112 or 140/141)
- BIOL 406 – Ecology (Prereqs: BIOL 140/141)
- BIOL 407 – Conservation Ecology (Prereqs: BIOL 102/112 or 140/141 or 209)
- BIOL 409 – Marine Biology (Prereqs: BIOL 140/141)
- BIOL 414 – Environmental Physiology (Prereq: BIOL 205)
- BIOL 412 – Special Topics in Biology*** (Corporate Ecological Sustainability)
- BIOL 421 – Toxicology (Prereq: BIOL 102/112 or 140/141)
- BIOL 426 – Freshwater Biology (Prereqs: BIOL 140/141) CIVL 322 – Introduction to Environmental Engineering (Prereqs: CIVL 320, CHEM 151, CHEM 161, BIOL 150, BIOL 151, MATH 231 or 234)
- CIVL 408 – Water and Wastewater Systems (Prereqs: CIVL 322, CHEM 152, CHEM 162, MATH 231, MATH 234) EART 201 – Earth Science for Educators (Prereqs: none) ELEC 427 – Energy Systems Engineering (MATH 131 & PHYS 221/271) HIST 392 – Special Topics in History*** (Environmental History) MECH 417 – Renewable Energy (Prereqs: MECH 310) PHYS 243 – Meteorology (Prereqs: none)
- PHYS 301 – Biological Physics (Prereqs: PHYS 271 & 272)
- PHYS 343 – Applied Climatology (Prereqs: PHYS 243) PSCI 433 – Special Topics in International Politics*** (Global Environment)
*Note: Only one course can be counted for both a major and a minor
**CIVL 322 and CIVL 408 can be appropriate for non-CE STEM majors. These non-CE STEM majors must complete CHEM 151/161 as a pre-requisite for CIVL 322 and CIVL 322 as a prerequisite for CIVL408. The CE department must be notified prior to attempting registration to open the course to non-CE STEM majors.
***Special Topics Courses will require approval from the Program Director on a case-by-case basis.