The core principle of sustainability is the desire to meet the basic material needs of the current generation without 
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In order to achieve this goal, we must recognize and address the conflicts and trade-offs involved in balancing environmental integrity, social equity, and economic stability. Such complex work necessarily involves contributions from a wide range of disciplines and it also requires a re-examination of the relationship between human value systems, cultural practices, and the associated long-term implications for the ecosystem.
This is a Green Leaf program.
Policies
Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
For policies governing all undergraduate programs, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Minor Requirements
Total credits: 16
This is a Green Leaf program.
Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this program.
Candidates for the minor must complete coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVPP 480 | Sustainability in Action (Mason Core) | 4 |
| INTS 210 | Sustainable World (Mason Core) | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Electives
A maximum of two courses from a single department or program can be counted for elective credit. Preapproved courses are listed here and others may be substituted. See the undergraduate coordinator for additional electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 8 credits from the following: | 8 | |
| Ecosphere - Introduction to Environmental Science I-Lecture (Mason Core) and Ecosphere- Introduction to Environmental Science I- Lab (Mason Core) | ||
| Environment and You: Issues for the Twenty-First Century (Mason Core) | ||
| Business and Sustainability | ||
| Tackling Wicked Problems in Society the Environment | ||
| Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries | ||
| Economics of Environmental Policy | ||
| Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Restoration | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Policy | ||
| Intermediate Environmental Policy | ||
| RS: Ecological Sustainability (Mason Core) | ||
| Marine Conservation | ||
| Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus | ||
| RS: Ecological Sustainability (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Chemistry I (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society (Mason Core) | ||
| Air Pollution | ||
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Physical Geography (Mason Core) | ||
| Human Geography (Mason Core) | ||
| Dynamic Atmosphere and Hydrosphere (Mason Core) | ||
| Dynamic Geosphere and Ecosphere | ||
| Global Environmental Hazards | ||
| Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core) | ||
| Population Geography (Mason Core) | ||
| Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development | ||
| Physical Climatology | ||
or CLIM 312 | Physical Climatology | |
| Severe and Extreme Weather | ||
or CLIM 314 | Severe and Extreme Weather | |
| Physics of Renewable Energy | ||
| Materials Science with Applications to Renewable Energy | ||
| Environment and Culture | ||
| EcoArt (Mason Core) | ||
| Environmental Engineering and Science | ||
| Sustainable Land Development | ||
| Environmental Engineering Systems | ||
| Conservation Theory | ||
| Biodiversity Monitoring | ||
| Human Dimensions in Conservation (Mason Core) | ||
| Environmental Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core) | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Global Networks and Communities (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Conservation Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| The Mysteries of Migration: Consequences for Conservation (Mason Core) | ||
| Environmental Justice (Mason Core) | ||
| Conservation Biology (Mason Core) | ||
| Plants and People - Sustenance, Ceremony, and Sustainability | ||
| Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core) | ||
| Wilderness Travel and Sustainability | ||
| People With Nature | ||
| Human Behavior in Natural Environments | ||
| Introduction to Natural Resources Law | ||
| Globalization and Social Change (Mason Core) | ||
| Sustainable Tourism | ||
| Total Credits | 8 | |