Sustainability Studies

Sustainability studies investigates the means to maintain environmental health, create economic welfare, and pursue social justice in a changing world. Students gain an understanding of the ways in which these three goals are interdependent and explore how they can best be pursued in the long term at local, national, and global levels.

Coursework

Students are required to complete 33 credits of sustainability studies coursework; 15 of these 33 credits must be at the 3000/4000 level. All courses must be completed with minimum grades of C and a minimum of 15 credits of sustainability studies courses must be completed at UF.

For more information about Sustainability Studies and listings of newly available Core Courses and Cluster Courses, please visit the program website.
More Info
 

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Four of the six courses (12 credits) must be taken at the 3000 level or higher

Approved Cluster Courses

Cluster A | Ethics, Culture and Human Behavior

Cluster B | Economics, Law and Policy

Cluster C | Production Systems and the Built Environment

Cluster D | Ecology and Environmental Stewardship

The Bachelor of Arts in sustainability studies requires students to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the goals of sustainability and the activities of the built environment disciplines, including architecture, building construction, historic preservation, interior design, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Complete a capstone or independent research project, present your results to a committee of the program’s faculty and receive acceptable assessment.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Content

1. Define and explain sustainability scholarship, including natural scientific, social scientific and humanistic approaches.
2. Define and explain the relationship of sustainability to ethics, culture and human behavior; economics, law and policy; production systems and the built environment; ecology and environmental stewardship.

Critical Thinking

1. Critically assess sustainability principles and practices.

Communication

1. Effectively write and/or orally communicate a range of approaches, frameworks, principles and practices of sustainability.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

• Exams
• Writing assignments
• Projects
• Presentations
• Internships

Applicants who should complete the SSAR:

• Attended a high school regionally accredited in the United States for at least three years.
• Attended a DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) school.

Applicants who should not complete the SSAR:

• Attended a secondary school located outside the United States for more than one semester.
• Studied a curriculum that did not follow the standard U.S. system.

Required: At least three full years of your most recent secondary school transcripts, including courses in progress (grades 9, 10 and 11 + senior schedule) in both the native language of instruction and a word for word certified English translation (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are accepted electronically via the status Check Status page for the review process, while official transcripts and translations are required upon enrollment.

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate English proficiency. English proficiency examination results, such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test, are encouraged for non-native English speakers, but are not required for freshman admission. SAT or ACT results are required for all freshman applicants.

• A copy of your transcript for any school you have attended with the grades you have earned
• A list of your high school activities including jobs, clubs, sports, community service, etc.
• Information about your parent(s) or guardian(s), such as educational background, occupation and employer information

Add UF as a university to receive your application and review our specific application requirements.

Fill in your profile information. Your profile is where you'll enter information that will be sent to all schools to which you apply. The University of Florida requires the following sections:

• Information about who you are and how to contact you, your address, citizenship, high school and family information
• Current-year coursework
• Honors and distinctions
• Activities and experiences

Complete the UF Supplement. This includes a few additional short-answer questions so that we can learn more about you when reviewing your application.

Complete the essay questions. The essay helps our admissions staff get to know you better. Use this space to tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn elsewhere in your application. And remember, the best essay topic for you is going to be the one that you are most excited to write about.

Once you have submitted your application, a link will appear on your status page to create your Student Self-Reported Academic Record (SSAR). List your high school courses and grades exactly as they appear on your transcript. You must complete the SSAR by December 1 for your application to be complete. If you begin the SSAR separately before submitting your UF application, be sure to link it to your application once your application has been submitted.

Submit your test scores to UF no later than December 15. You may either self-report your SAT and/or ACT scores through your application status page or send official scores from the testing agency. Since accuracy is critical, students who choose to self-report should have a copy of their SAT/ACT score report(s) available to reference when submitting their scores. Because UF superscores both the SAT and ACT, we encourage you to submit scores for all SAT or ACT tests you have taken. If admitted, students who have self-reported their scores in the admissions process will be required to submit official scores from the testing agency to UF by May 1. UF Institutional Codes:

You may request to begin your studies in either the Summer B or Fall term. The term requested DOES NOT affect the consideration of your application. If you are admitted, we will try to offer you the term you requested, but space limitations may mean you receive an offer for a different term.

When you submit your application, pay the $30 nonrefundable fee by credit card unless you qualify for a fee waiver. In both the Common and Coalition applications, you can indicate in the profile section if you qualify for a fee waiver.

You will receive an email 24-48 hours after submitting your application with instructions to create your MyAdmissions application status credentials. Once completed, you can log in to the MyAdmissions app status portal to keep track of your application status and the materials that UF has received. This is also where you will find the link to create your SSAR.