Chairperson: Christine Broussard

This minor is designed for students interested in the environment and sustainability. It is a valuable complement to any major. The minor allows students to view sustainability from many different perspectives. The course requirements are assembled into major groups that provide exposure to areas, which are particularly important for understanding the complexity of sustainability issues. The natural sciences provide the basic knowledge of the physical world in which we live. The social sciences and business sector contains course options that provide an understanding of the social, political, economic and ethical dimensions of sustainability. A community service component is built in to provide hands on experience with sustainability issues at the community level. A capstone course is provided at the 400 level to consolidate and integrate knowledge gained in other courses in order to find more effective solutions to environmental problems.

There is considerable flexibility in the course options from which students can choose to meet the requirements. Those interested should speak with their academic advisor and the sustainability minor coordinator for advice regarding specific course options. This minor will empower students to use the knowledge gained in their major to more effectively enhance their own lives and contribute to the common good.

Information on this page is subject to change. Official program and course information is available in the University of La Verne Catalog.

Program Requirements

Degree Requirements

A total of 30 semester hours is required of which at least 12 semester hours must be upper division. Students will select from the following courses and others, which may be subsequently approved in each area.

Total program: 30-32 semester hours

Natural Sciences

(Three courses from at least two of the following areas)

Natural Science
NASC 201General Geology4
Life Science
BIOL 101Life Science: The Human Environment4
BIOL 201General Biology I4
BIOL 204Plant Biology4
BIOL 205Animal Biology4
BIOL 312Environmental Biology4
Chemistry
CHEM 103Introduction to Chemistry4
CHEM 201General Chemistry I5
CHEM 280Topics in Modern Chemistry4
CHEM 303Energy Issues4
or PHYS 303 Energy Issues
CHEM 420Environmental Chemistry4

Social Sciences and Business

(Four courses from at least two of the following areas)

Anthropology/Sociology
ANTH 231Food and Culture4
ANTH 220Cultural Anthropology4
ANTH 453Human Adaptation and Variation4
SOC 370Social Change4
Business/Economics
ECON 228Economic Theories & Issues 14
BUS 343Foundations of Business Ethics4
History/Political Science
PLSC 201American Government & Politics4
PLSC 363Politics of Developing Nations4
Interdisciplinary
INTD 302Mass Media Effects and the Human Condition4
PHIL 310Women and the Environment4
REL 325Religion, Ethics, and Sustainability4
PLSC 412Justice, Sustainability, and the Politics of the Environment 14

Community Service

(One course)

  • LVE 305 Learning Through Community Service 1

Sustainability Reflection – Systems Thinking

(One course)

  • LVE 400 Senior GE Capstone1
1

Approved sections. i.e. Not all sections of these courses deal with sustainability. See the sustainability minor coordinator to determine which sections qualify.