Why Choose Nazareth for Global Sustainability?

In this interdisciplinary program, you’ll benefit from faculty expertise in areas such as natural sciences, sociology, political science, legal studies, economics, English literature, religious studies, philosophy, and public health. Begin with introductory courses, select your core courses, and have the opportunity to take electives and concentrate your study in a discipline of your interest.

Apply your learning to a study away/abroad experience where you’ll look at issues currently impacting different cultures, such as:

• Semester-long trip to Costa Rica to examine environmental sustainability
• Winter break trip to Texas to assist in disaster relief
• Spring break trip to Ecuador to look at food sustainability
• Summer trip to Canada to study glaciers and climate change

Discuss and debate current issues in the news and what actions could be taken, considering the different disciplinary facets of any sustainability concern. In your capstone course, demonstrate your learning by developing a feasible action plan to address a current sustainability issue.

Program Highlights

• In this interdisciplinary program, examine current issues in sustainability from the perspective of the social sciences, humanities, sciences, health sciences, and business. Take core courses from a variety of options within different departments and disciplines to gain a holistic understanding of global sustainability concerns.
• You’ll have opportunities for study away/abroad experiences to apply core principles to real life situations. These include semester-long study abroad, short-term (1- to 4-week) trips to study a specific issue in greater depth, and possible local opportunities to spend time with people of different cultures and the impact that sustainability issues is having on their quality of life.
• Examine in depth current issues of food security, water quality, energy needs, climate change, and resource allocation as it relates to people of different cultures and backgrounds. Required colloquia will bring together students and faculty within the program to discuss and debate different perspectives on current issues.
• Develop and use the skills needed to fully understand environmental issues from diverse academic perspectives as you synthesize information into a feasible action plan. This multidisciplinary approach aligns with what is needed to fully appreciate the factors that have contributed to current situations and what approaches are possible to resolve problems.
• While Nazareth’s environmental science and sustainability major is science focused, the global sustainability major more broadly balances and applies the perspectives of science, social science, humanities, business, legal issues, and policy.
• Among the courses: 
• Environmental Humanities connects new developments in the field of ecocriticism and global environmental studies. 
• Natural Disasters in American Society examines extreme events to reveal the inner dynamics of American society and its political system and public policies.
• Environmental Law examines environmental policy and laws about topics such as air and water quality, control of toxic substances, waste management and hazardous releases, protection of natural resources, U.S. energy policy, and international environmental law.
• Epidemiology
• Sustainable development and society