Curriculum

“Sustainable Environment” is one of the University’s six innovation clusters and is notable because of the University’s academic strength in the field and a related industry presence in the state. Clemson students may choose from dozens of sustainability-related courses in various majors and minors, including the interdisciplinary sustainability minor.

Sustainability Minor

The sustainability minor, which is open to all majors, is one of the first of its kind. The program is designed to familiarize students with the core values of sustainability and gain an in-depth knowledge of why and how sustainability is approached.

If you are interested in minoring in sustainability, speak with your advisor or contact Jennifer Goree.

If you need to discuss a course substitution, please contact Caye Drapcho.

• Minor Catalog

  The document below provides an overview of classes that could apply to the sustainability minor. It also denotes when classes are most frequently offered.

  Minor Catalog

• Student Learning Outcomes

  Scales of sustainability:

  • Define sustainability in three dimensions (environmental, social, economic)
  • Apply sustainability concepts on local and global scales
  • Integrate sustainability study and practice into the surrounding community
  • Evaluate the history of development through mercantilism, imperialism, capitalism
  • Assess the long term cultural and environmental impacts that shape our world today

  
  

  Fundamental issues of sustainability:

  • Evaluate current and potential future impacts of sustainability issues including: Global climate and climate change; Food; Energy; Water; Environmental Degradation
  • Evaluate how sustainability impacts social and intergenerational justice

  
  

  Systems thinking for sustainability:

  • Understand basic principles of systems thinking
  • Evaluate the role of their major in sustainability issues
  • Recognize interrelated systems

  
  

  Evaluate tools for implementing/measuring sustainability:

  • Evaluate the costs and benefits of sustainability (see that it is not always more expensive)
  • Perform a Life cycle analysis and assessment
  • Measure impacts of point source pollution prevention; and cradle-to-cradle and lean manufacturing

  
  

  Change agents for sustainability:

  • Practice change agent skills for sustainability
  • Practice group processes
  • Identify and address the root of problems, even when it seems to go against the status quo or social norms
  • Apply a new or changed mindset to your personal life

Sustainable Cities of Scandinavia

Summer Study Abroad in Sweden: An Interdisciplinary Program for Undergraduate and Graduate students

Undergraduate students will earn 6 credit hours at the 3000 level that count toward the Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability during the 5-week undergraduate program.

Graduate students will earn 3 hours of graduate credit during the 10-12 day graduate program.

Students will live in Kalmar, Sweden, an 800-year-old city by the Baltic Sea and will visit four of the greenest cities in the world.

Cities visited will include: Kalmar, Vaxjo, Oland, Smaland, Stockholm and Copenhagen

Contact Lori Dickes at lorid@clemson.edu or visit the Study Abroad website for more information.