Sustainability Studies (B.A.) with Conservation and Agriculture Concentration

Program Overview

Sustainability Studies is an interdisciplinary major in an emerging field for those determined to make a practical difference in the world as students and beyond. It combines elements of the social sciences, politics, environmental sciences and community development in both urban and rural settings.  Two concentrations each build upon a shared core curriculum and a practicum experience in the form of an internship employing the skill learned in the curriculum.  The Conservation and Agriculture concentration equips students with the theoretical basis, skills, and experience needed to thrive in this field.  Graduates with the Conservation and Agriculture concentration can also evaluate ecological health and the social changes needed to conserve human wellbeing and biological diversity. Information on this concentration is available by contacting the Director of Sustainability, Brandon Hoover, or from the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, Erik Lindquist.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Sustainability Studies program can:

1. Describe human systemic pressures on environmental systems and the basic ways in which these pressures impact human and other biological life
2. Evaluate ethical assumptions made about human-environment interactions in social and individual decisions
3. Formulate a personal understanding of sustainability, and integrate that understanding into a vocational direction
4. Develop strategies to personally and collaboratively engage in action toward improving social and ecological ailments
5. Design and implement interventions to transition human institutions and/or social systems toward sustainability.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

Nine credits from the following:

Three credits from the following:

Three credits from the following:

Conservation and Agriculture Concentration (21-22)

Two credits from the following:

Three to four credits from the following:

QuEST Requirements

**INTE 391 must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill Major requirement.

***STAT 269 meets Mathematical Sciences

****ECON 117 meets Social Science