Northern Arizona University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Dayna
McKay Data Analyst Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree, or certificate program for undergraduate students?:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program:
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program:
The Environmental and Sustainability Studies program at NAU constructs an interdisciplinary base of knowledge and skills that integrates humanistic disciplines and perspectives with natural and social scientific approaches to develop real-world solutions to our environmental and sustainability challenges, from the local to the global.
Our BS degree program begins with a firm grounding in natural systems, to ensure all students understand how physical and biological processes maintain life, and how humans are affecting, and are affected by, the natural world. In addition to the natural sciences, students will also obtain a solid understanding of the environment by focusing on the social sciences and humanities to develop a critical appreciation of the historical, political, economic, and ethical forces that have shaped our current environmental issues. This will prepare students for work in non-profit, government, and community-action organizations.
Students will work together in field and lab environments to apply rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods to environmental and sustainability issues, exploring interdisciplinary impacts and solutions that range across space and time. Interdisciplinary experience is centered around focus areas or specific environmental problems, rather than disciplines. This structure produces students well-trained in both the fundamentals of multiple disciplines as well as specific knowledge needed to understand, analyze, and become engaged in particular issues and professions. Additionally, for the BA degree, students will attain foreign language competency and experience with cross-cultural communication to better understand the impact of environmental issues on global communities.
This issue-based approach allows students to attain a wide knowledge base to approach the solution of specific problems by working individually and together with other students. To culminate learning in the program, students develop an individually designed research project or internship addressing an environmental issue of importance to them, which helps to further prepare students for a range of professional or graduate opportunities.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The Environmental Science program at NAU constructs an interdisciplinary base of knowledge and skills to explore and develop real-world solutions to environmental problems.
Our program provides a firm grounding in the natural and social sciences to ensure all students understand how chemical, physical, and biological processes maintain life, and the complex relationships among humans and the environment. Students work together and individually in the classroom, field, and laboratory to practice applying the scientific method to address environmental problems and explore creative solutions that apply cutting-edge technologies.
The broad range of emphases available within our program* allows students to delve deeper into a specific knowledge base, then work individually and often together in Environmental Science courses to solve problems by applying the perspectives and knowledge they developed in their emphasis with students from other emphasis areas. To culminate the learning in the program, students develop an individually designed research project or internship addressing an environmental issue of importance to them, which in turn, is expected to further prepare students for a range of professional or graduate opportunities.
* Emphases: Climate Change, Environmental Geology, Applied Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Administration and Policy, Environmental Communication, or Environmental Management.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Society’s demand for essentials such as clean air, food and water, sustainable land use, and consumer products pose large-scale, practical problems. Environmental engineers use engineering, biological, and chemical principles to design and operate pollution control and impact mitigation systems. Environmental engineering is a newer engineering discipline, growing out of civil and chemical engineering. This exciting engineering field requires a solid understanding of core concepts including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, statics, thermodynamics, surveying, and fluid hydraulics. These courses serve as a basis for advanced content in:
- Air quality, emissions, and pollution control (sampling, modeling, and the design of devices to remove particulate and gaseous pollutants)
- Water and wastewater quality and treatment (sampling, modeling, and the design of biological/chemical/physical treatment methods for large and small communities)
- Hazardous and solid waste engineering (site assessment, risk assessment, remediation methods, landfill design)
- Environmental health (toxicology, industrial hygiene, ecological impacts)
In addition to this content, our environmental engineering curriculum will provide you with a solid foundation in design, project management, and preparation for professional licensure.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
https://catalog.nau.edu/Catalog/results?cat=ALLBACHELORS&catalogYear=2324
Ap Indigenous Studies (BS)
Bio & Nat Res Sciences (BS)
Biology (BS)
Biology (BS) 2M
Biology (BS) PB
Ecol & Evol Biology (BS)
Environmental Engr (BS)
Environmental Engr (BSE)
Environmental Sciences (BS)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies (BA)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies (BS)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies (BS) 2M
Environmental & Sustainability Studies (BS) PB
Forestry (BSF)
Geographic Sciences & Community Planning (BS)
Geology (BS)
Geology (BS) PB
Health Sciences-Public Health (BS)
Health Sciences-Public Health (BS) PB
Health Sciences-Nutrition & Foods (BS)
Health Sciences-Nutrition & Foods (BS) 2M
Justice Studies (B)
Justice Studies (B) 2M
Microbiology (BS)
Parks & Rec Mgt (BS)
Parks & Rec Mgt (BS) PB
SecEd-Biology (BSED)
SecEd-General Sci (BSED)
SecEd-Physics (BSED)
Small Business Admin (BA)
Small Business Admin (BS)
Social Work (BSW)
Sociology (B)
Sociology (BS)
Sociology (BS) 2M
Women's and Gender St (BS)
Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors or concentrations for undergraduate students?:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration:
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration:
Issues of sustainability, climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental justice, biodiversity, and increasing demand for finite food, water, and energy resources become more critical every day. The Environmental Studies minor at Northern Arizona University assists students to better understand—and improve—our relationship with the natural world.
Students study ecosystems and the ways humans interact with them using the perspectives of the natural and social sciences and the humanities. They work extensively with full-time professors who have practical experience in the environmental sciences and sustainability. They have many opportunities for field study and research; our faculty members include undergraduate students in all research projects. They will learn how to develop solutions for these issues and prepare for a career in research, industry, education, government, or public service.
Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Having a basic understanding of climate change and the potential impacts of a changing climate is crucial for being an informed citizen and empowering effective social engagement. This includes identifying effective and sustainable strategies to both mitigate and adapt to a changing climate system.
You will study the basic science necessary to understand climate change, including the role that both natural processes and humans have played in shaping Earth’s climate system. You will interact with full-time professors who have expertise in various aspects of climate change ranging from paleoclimatology, future changes in climate, atmospheric sciences, carbon cycling, energy policy, sustainability, and the social and political factors that shape how society understands and responds to climate change. By completing this minor, you will gain a more holistic understanding of the complexity of climate change so that you can be a more informed citizen, effect change through social engagement, and better understand the environmental and social problems that arise from a changing climate system. This minor will better prepare you for a career in research, industry, education, government, or public service.
Website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
Problems like climate change, species loss, and increased demand for finite resources become more critical every day. The Environmental Sciences minor allows students to better understand and improve their relationship with the natural world.
Students study ecosystems and the ways humans interact with them using the perspectives of the natural and social sciences and the humanities. Students work extensively with full-time professors who have practical experience in the environmental sciences. They have opportunities for field study and research; undergraduate students are included in all research projects. Students learn to solve environmental problems and prepare for a career in research, industry, education, government, or public service. To culminate the learning in the program, students develop an individually designed research project or internship addressing an environmental issue of importance to them, which in turn, is expected to further prepare students for a range of professional or graduate opportunities.
Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused undergraduate minors and concentrations:
https://catalog.nau.edu/Catalog/results?cat=ALLMINORS&catalogYear=2324
Applied Indigenous Studies
Biology
Enviro Communication
Enviro Sciences
Enviro Sustainability
Geographic Info Systems
Geology
Indigenous Health Studies
Native American Studies
Nutrition and Foods
Parks & Rec management
Queer Studies
Sustainable & Resilient Communities
Women's and Gender St
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.