Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.55
Liaison Amy Brunvand
Submission Date April 5, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Utah
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Amy Brunvand
Librarian
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for undergraduate students (I.e. an interdisciplinary academic program that concentrates on sustainability as an integrated concept)?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program:
Environmental and Sustainability Studies BA/BS

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program:

Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENVST) students develop an understanding of ecological systems and the consequences of human-environment interactions, with grounding in earth systems and social science. The curriculum emphasizes human impacts on the environment, policy and decision making, ethics, and historical approaches to the human-environment relationship. This interdisciplinary program is unique in its emphasis on peer learning and community engagement regarding the environment, social responsibility, and sustainability.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Urban Ecology BA/BS

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):

The undergraduate degree in Urban Ecology focuses on exploring the interrelationships among social, environmental and economic systems, with an aim toward enhancing the vitality and sustainability of places and communities. For those seeking work at the graduate level, it also provides preparation for the Master of City & Metropolitan degree.
The program is designed to respond to the particular problems and opportunities that exist in the “new west.” These might be characterized as environmental management, fragile landscape protection, recreation and tourism, public lands planning, rapid population growth, rural towns, regional transportation, energy production and low density sprawl.

The field of Urban Ecology helps communities understand the complexity of issues that affect daily quality of life as well as the long-term health of the environment. It is a highly interdisciplinary field and the workday usually brings a variety of different activities including analytical work, community meetings, problem solving, and administrative actions. The undergraduate program in Urban Ecology will prepare students well for professional careers in environmental and sustainability planning, urban planning, public health, public policy, and community development.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Peace and Conflict Studies, BA/BS

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):

The Peace and Conflict Studies (P&CS) Program is an interdisciplinary program that deals with conflicts ranging from the interpersonal to the global level. The program enables students to understand the dynamics of peace and conflict and to contribute to the creation of more just and peaceable conditions in the home, the work place, and the world. Students choose from an interdisciplinary menu of courses that explore such topics as conflict theory, war and terrorism, just war theory, the history of peace efforts and non-violent social movements, community-based conflict management and resolution, and human rights. Students also take practical courses that challenge them to develop greater self-awareness, communication skills, and dialogue facilitation skills.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):

Atmospheric Sciences BS
http://www.atmos.utah.edu/

Civil and Environmental Engineering BS
http://www.civil.utah.edu/


Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates for undergraduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Minor

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:

Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENVST) students develop an understanding of ecological systems and the consequences of human-environment interactions, with grounding in earth systems and social science. The curriculum emphasizes human impacts on the environment, policy and decision making, ethics, and historical approaches to the human-environment relationship. This interdisciplinary program is unique in its emphasis on peer learning and community engagement regarding the environment, social responsibility, and sustainability. The following are core courses for all Environmental and Sustainability Studies Minor students

ENVST 2050 Intro. to Enviro. & Sust. Science (4) SF
ENVST 2100 Intro. to Enviro. & Sustainability (3) BF
ENVST 3364 Challenges to Global Sustainability (3) IR
ENVST 3365 Environmental Justice (3) DV, CEL
ENVST/GEOG 3210 Global Climate Change(3) SF
POLS 5322 Environmental Policy(3)


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Parks Recreation & Tourism BA/BS, Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Management emphasis B.A./ B.S.

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):

Among the many topics that are of concern to tourism and hospitality students are cultural and ethical implications of tourism, tourism policy, biodiversity and cultural heritage conservation, destination infrastructure and analysis, visitor management, customer service, meetings and event management, tourism economics, and destination marketing. This emphasis is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge, operational expertise, and technical skills to be successful contributors to this diverse and exciting field.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Geography BA/BS Climate Change Emphasis; Global Development, Population, & Sustainability Emphasis;Urban Systems, Location & Resilience Emphasis

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):

GEOG Climate Change Emphasis: Recent and future changes in the Earth’s climate represent one of the great challenges for modern society. Greenhouse gas-induced warming has critical environmental, societal, and economic impacts. Courses in this emphasis cover the components of the climate system from small to large scales, how climate changes over long and short time scales, and how the projected future climate will impact physical, natural and social systems. This emphasis is designed to provide the necessary context to critically analyze and discuss the issues facing students as they prepare for climate change during their lifetimes, as well as

GEOG, Global Development, Population, & Sustainability Emphasis: This emphasis focuses on using geographical perspectives to understand issues related to global development, population health and transitions, and the sustainability of human-environment systems. This emphasis would be especially valuable for students interested in working for public or private employers in areas related with population wellbeing, the environment, and globalization or who intend to pursue further study in population health, environment change, and globalization.

GEOG Urban Systems, Location, & Resilience Emphasis: This emphasis focuses on the spatial organization of human activities within cities as well as the connections between cities. Geographic education promotes the understanding of processes and forces that affect dynamic changes within urban areas, including economic development, industrial location, migration and urbanization, neighborhood change, and planning process, to help with human decision making, planning and policy to make cities livable and resilient.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused undergraduate minors, concentrations and certificates:

Other Emphasis Areas:

Biology BA/BS, Environmental and Organismal Emphasis (BIO)
http://www.biology.utah.edu/undergraduate/programs.php

Geoscience, Emphasis in Environmental Geoscience (GEO)
http://www.earth.utah.edu/undergraduate/index.php

Other Minors:

Atmospheric Sciences Minor (ATMOS)

Ecology & Legacy Minor (HONOR)
http://taft-nicholson.utah.edu/programs/courses/ecology-and-legacy.php

Peace and Conflict Studies Minor (PCS)
http://peace.utah.edu/

Urban Ecology Minor (CMP)
http://plan.cap.utah.edu/urban-planning-minor/

Certificates:

Climate Change Certificate (GEOG)
http://www.geog.utah.edu/undergraduate/certificates/13-certificates/26-climate-change-certificate.html

Social Justice Advocacy Certificate (SW)
http://socialwork.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/10/UndergradCertSocialJusticeAdvocacy.pdf

Sustainable Tourism Certificate (PRT)
http://www.health.utah.edu/parks-recreation-tourism/degrees/tourism-certificate.php

Block U (A two-semester Learning Community for undergraduate students)
This program frequently offers sustainability-related themes:
--Arts & Advocacy, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17
--Food, Health & Social Justice, 2015-16, 2016-17
--Water & Sustainability, 2014-15,2015-16
--Sustainability, 2013-14


Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

SOURCES

University of Utah General Catalog, 2015-16: http://www.utah.edu/students/catalog.php

Environmental Studies Major Bulletin, 2016-17
http://envst.utah.edu/students/degrees/major_bulletin_16_17.pdf

Environmental Studies Minor Bulletin, 2015-2016 http://envst.utah.edu/students/degrees/minor_bulletin%2016_17.pdf

"University of Utah Minor in Environmental Studies," (2013)
URL: http://curriculum.utah.edu/degrees/_pdf/_minors/envst_minor.pdf

Request to Change the Name of the Environmental Studies Program to the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program (2010, approved 2/13/11)
URL: http://curriculum.utah.edu/degrees/_pdf/_minors/envst_minor.pdf


SOURCES

University of Utah General Catalog, 2015-16: http://www.utah.edu/students/catalog.php

Environmental Studies Major Bulletin, 2016-17
http://envst.utah.edu/students/degrees/major_bulletin_16_17.pdf

Environmental Studies Minor Bulletin, 2015-2016 http://envst.utah.edu/students/degrees/minor_bulletin%2016_17.pdf

"University of Utah Minor in Environmental Studies," (2013)
URL: http://curriculum.utah.edu/degrees/_pdf/_minors/envst_minor.pdf

Request to Change the Name of the Environmental Studies Program to the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program (2010, approved 2/13/11)
URL: http://curriculum.utah.edu/degrees/_pdf/_minors/envst_minor.pdf

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.