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B.S. Environmental & Sustainability Sciences (Sustainability Concentration)

  • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences 1
  • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences 2
  • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences 3
  • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences 4
  • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences 5

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."~ Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

 

An Integrative Approach


turquoise waves gently crashing onto sandy beach

students holding field sampling equipment while standing in a marsh

Coastal environments are critical for society. Although they only cover 10% of the land mass, coastal environments are home to 40% of the world's population. The University of South  Alabama offers a B.S. in Environmental & Sustainability Sciences designed to address the need for a broad understanding of the natural world and its interaction with the demands of  human society and development. A key component of environmental science is its interdisciplinary nature and how an integrative approach can be used to develop mutually beneficial solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges.


 

Great Blue Heron on Three Mile Creek on USA's main campusPhoto Courtesy of Byron Hamilton

 


grad student holding fish

learn more about the efforts on USA's main campus

Learn more about sustainability initiatives at the University of South Alabama



 

student taking sample in shallow creekPhoto Courtesy of Olivia Pickett

student wearing life vest holding large catfish while standing on a boat

Photo Courtesy of  Dr. C. Martin

 

Three Pillars of Sustainability

There are three aspects of sustainability, also known as environmental, social, and economic pillars. When these three pillars are equally addressed, we can build a future where the environment is not compromised by economic growth. 

students wearing yellow vests for cleanup around waterway

mobile skyline at night from the water

cypress trees on a large body of waterPhoto Courtesy of Dr. Sean Powers

Job Opportunities for Environmental & Sustainability Sciences Majors


Career Fields

Sustainability
Renewable Energy
Conservation
Agriculture
Urban Planning and Development
Natural Resource Management
Education
Environmental Toxicology

Types of Employers

Environmental Consulting Firms
Health & Safety 
Nonprofit Agencies
Research Labs
Education & Outreach
Government Agencies

  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Fish & Wildlife Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Forest Service
  • Alabama Department of Environmental Management

 

Job Titles

Environmental Scientist
Environmental Technician
Environmental Consultant
Natural Resource Manager
Environmental Health  & Safety Officer
Biologist
Water Quality Scientist
Nature Conservation Officer
Environmental Educator
Conservation Technician
Ecologist
Research Assistant
Invasive Species Specialist


Opportunities for Community Engagement


Take Part In Community Engagement

  • Work at a local oyster farm 

  • Volunteer for local beach clean-up efforts

  • Help remove invasive species

  • Feed and care for local wildlife at the

  • Environmental Studies Center

Serve in Local Conservation Groups

  • Mobile Bay Keeper

  • Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

  • South Alabama Land Trust

  • Alabama Coastal Foundation

  • The Nature Conservancy

Course Offerings

▼   Required Core Courses 

Students must earn a "C" or higher in all Program Core Courses 

Course ID                                                            Course Description Credit Hours
ENV 100 Gulf Coast Sustainability Seminar 1
ENV 101 Environment & Society 3
ENV 337 and ENV 337L Environmental Sciences I 4
ENV 339 Climate Change-W 3
ENV 335 and ENV 335L  Environmental Conservation & Sustainability-W 4
ENV 421  Environmental Policy 4
GIT 460                 Intro to Geographic Information Technology 4
▼   Additional Requirements for Environmental & Sustainability (Sustainability Concentration)
STEM Requirements for Sustainability Sciences Concentration

Minimum GPA of 2.0 required
Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
BLY 101 & BLY 101L Life Science I with Lab 4
BLY 102 & BLY 102L Life Science II with Lab 4
CH 101 & CH 101L Survey of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry with Lab 4
ST 210 Stat Reason and Application 3
▼   Sustainability Sciences Electives Requirements: Must have 16 hours with at least one course from each pillar of sustainability  
Three PIllars of Sustainability
Must Choose At Least One Course from Each PIllar  (16 hours total)
Social Pillar
AN 256 Anthropology of Food
AN 442 Cultural Resource Management
BLY 490 Special Topics (Global Change Biology and Psychology)
BMD 351 Global Health-w
EDF 335 Intern. Devel & Global Ed
GEO 414 Urban Geography & Planning
HY 310 American Environmental Hy-W
MGT 305 Organizational Comm-W
MGT 462 Negotiation/Dispute Resolution in Business
PSC 250 Comparative Politics
SY 401 Disasters and Society
SY 467  Environmental Sociology
Economic Pillar
CE 412 Management & Sustainability of C.I.
CE 512 Management & Sustainability of Infr
ECO 390 Environmental Economics
EE 489 Renewable Energy
HTM 410 Sustainable and Eco-Tourism
SM 300 Global Tourism
Environmental Pillar
BLY 205 Intro Environmental Science
BLY 484 Conservation Biology
ENV 334 Enviro Monitoring and Assessment
ENV 420  Natural Resource Management
GEO 101 Environmental Geography
GEO 114 People, Places, Environment
GEO 405 Natural Hazards and Disasters
GEO 490 Special Topics
Remaining elective hours should be selected from any course in the above three groups not already taken
▼   Graduation Plan for B.S. Environmental & Sustainability Sciences (Sustainability Concentration)  

Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences

(Sustainability Concentration)

Total Hours:  120 

    
The Graduation Plan is an example of course progression.

Individual student plans may vary.

Students should consult with an academic advisor to create a personalized plan.

 *Note up to six (6) credits can be shared within the Major and Minor.

First Year – Fall Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
CAS 100 (Gen Ed) First Year Experience- College Success 2
BLY 101/101L (Gen Ed) Life Science I with Lab 4
CH 101/CH 101L (Gen Ed) Survey of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry with Lab 4
ENV 100 Gulf Coast Seminar 1
ENV 101 Environment & Society 3
EH 101 (Gen Ed) English Composition I 3
Total Hours 17

 

First Year – Spring Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
BLY 102/BLY102L Life Science II with Lab 4
CA 110 Public Speaking 3
MA 112 Precalculus Algebra 3
  Humanities & Fine Arts Elective 3
EH 102 (Gen Ed) English Composition II 3
Total Hours 16

 

Second Year – Fall Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
  Social Pillar Elective 3
  History, Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
  Humanities & Fine Arts Elective 3
  Foreign Language I 3
ENV 337/ENV337L Environmental Sciences I with Lab 4
  Total Hours 16

Second Year – Spring Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
  Sustainability Concentration Elective 3
  Foreign Language II 3
  History, Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
  History, Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
  Humanities & Fine Arts 3
  Total Hours 15

Third Year – Fall Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
GIT 460 Intro to GIT 4
ENV 339 Climate Change-W 3
  Sustainability Concentration Elective 3
  Minor Course 3
  Literature 3
  Total Hours 16

Third Year – Spring Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
ENV 335 & ENV 335L Enviro Conserv/Sustainability-W with Lab 4
ENV 421 Environmental Policy 4
  Economic Pillar Elective 3
  Minor Course 3
  Total Hours 14

Fourth Year – Fall Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
ST 210 Stat Reason & Application 3
  History, Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective 3
  Minor  Course 3
  Minor Course 3
  Total Hours 12

Fourth Year – Spring Semester

Course ID Course Description Credit Hours
  Environmental Pillar Elective 3
  Sustainability Concentration Elective 3
  Minor Course 3
  Minor Course 3
  Elective 3
  Total Hours  15