Skip to Main Content

Sustainability Science Minor

The Sustainability Science minor blends scientific knowledge with insights into the political, economic, business, and social dimensions essential for achieving sustainable practices and adopting sustainable technologies. Students gain practical analytical skills and comprehensive knowledge to effectively address real-world sustainability challenges and to actively contribute to creating sustainable solutions for society.

The minor requires a total of 18 credits from a list of curated courses spanning multiple departments. In this manner it was designed to be accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds, providing flexibility while maintaining a rigorous focus on sustainability.

Requirements

Total credits: 18 (All credits must be selected from the approved course list.)

Credit distribution: At least 9 credits must be above the 100-level, including a minimum of 6 credits at the 300-level or higher.

Discipline Diversity: No more than 2 courses from any single department. Up to 6 credits may come from the Interdisciplinary Perspective category. Students may apply no more than 6 credits from their major toward the minor.

Science Focus: A minimum of 12 credits (4 courses) must come from the designated Science category courses, including at least one Foundational course.

List of approved courses

Science category

Biology

  • Understanding Environmental Problems (50:120:202)

  • Elements of Ecology (50:120:203)

  • General Ecology + lab (50:120:351)

Chemistry

  • Consumer Chemistry (50:160:101) *Future title change to Sustainable Chemistry

  • Green Chemistry (50:160:420)

  • Principles of Environmental Chemistry (50:160:450)

Computer Science

  • Introduction to Data Science (50:198:185)

  • Big Data Algorithms (50:198:462)

  • Applied Probability (50:198:467)

Earth Science

  • Introduction to the Earth (50:460:101)

  • Earth and the Environment (50:460:301)

Mathematical Sciences (Statistics)

  • Elementary Applied Statistics (50:960:183)

  • Introduction to Data Science (50:960:185)

  • Introduction to Statistics I & II (50:960:283 & 284)

  • Statistical Models (50:960:489)

Physics

  • Elements of Modern Physics (50:750:232)9

  • Energy and Sustainability (50:750:374) *Future title change to Sustainable Energy

Interdisciplinary Perspectives category

Digital Studies

  • Digital Trash (50:209:303)

Economics

  • Microeconomic Principles (50:220:102)

  • Introduction to Data Science (50:220:120)

  • Foundations of Economics (50:220:222)

  • Econometrics (50:220:322)

Philosophy

  • Environmental Ethics (50:730:250)

  • Environmental Psychology (50:830:402)

  • Ethics and the Future of Humanity (50:730:329)

Political Science

  • U.S. Environmental Politics (50:790:366)

  • International Environmental Politics (50:790:367)

  • Energy Security Policy (50:790:427)

Urban Studies

  • Community Organizing and Advocacy (50:975:331)

Visual, Media, and Performing Arts

  • Biodesign (50:080:129)

School of Business

  • Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (52:010:101)

  • Principles of Marketing (52:630:201)12

  • Ethics and Social Responsibility in Business (52:629:301)

  • Operations Management (52:620:325)

Contact person:

Dr. Sean M. O'Malley, Department of Physics, omallese@camden.rutgers.edu