Focused Sustainability Minors

The School hosts a number of different sustainability related minors covering various different areas of study. Through interdisciplinary curricula, students can explore the areas of Sustainable Water, Climate Change, and Sustainable Energy.

Minors are 21 credit sequences of courses that appear on a student’s transcript indicating that the student has knowledge and skills in the minor subject. The sustainability minors are all interdisciplinary in nature – meaning students will take course from different colleges to gain a deeper understanding of complex issues regarding our interaction with the planet and each other. Generally, courses can count for both major requirements and minor requirements, reducing the number of courses specifically required to complete the minor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Dr. Dale Lockwood, SoGES Academic Coordinator, at [email protected] or by calling (970) 492-4070.

To schedule a virtual appointment, click here – 15 minute virtual meeting

 

hand holding water near river

SUSTAINABLE WATER INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR

Issues surrounding water supply, water quality, and ecological water relationships are increasingly important as population growth continues and water uses multiply. The complexity of these issues, and competition among various water users, demands that students interested in pursuing careers in water gain a broad introduction to the issues while specializing within a particular discipline. CSU has considerable water resource expertise in many academic fields.

The Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary Minor (SWIM) offers undergraduate students, regardless of their major, an opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge of the many dimensions of water management. SWIM students will complete 21 credits (minimum of 12 upper-division) in core and elective courses that are particularly relevant to today’s water manager. Completion of the program is certified on the student’s academic record.

Download SWIM check sheet

women amongst solar panels

MINOR IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

The minor provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to understand the challenges and opportunities in the transition to a sustainable energy future. Providing society with energy in a sustainable way requires a broad understanding of technical, environmental, and social science issues. The courses in the minor span multiple colleges and cover physics, life sciences, engineering, sociology, and political science.

Program learning objectives

Upon completing this program, a successful student will be able to understand:

  • Fundamental concepts of energy, including energy quantities, units, conversion, and efficiency
  • How to describe the science underlying each of the major energy sources
  • The environmental impacts of producing and consuming energy
  • How to evaluate the sustainability of energy resources

Download Energy minor checksheet