Sustainability (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Program Website: Sustainability
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab.

Program Information

The Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability is designed to train students to research, implement, and monitor sustainable practices, processes, systems, and frameworks in human habitats.  Graduates will be equipped to contribute to sustainability service and research that benefits the local, national, and global communities.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department's Learning Outcomes Measurement.  For details, contact department.

Degree Summary

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Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Accelerated BA in Sustainability/Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Sustainability majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree in Urban Planning (MUP) can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. Students accepted in the accelerated BA/MUP take four graduate courses (12 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor's degree and the eventual master's degree. Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School.

Undergraduate students interested in participating in an accelerated dual bachelor’s/master’s degree offered through the university’s Soaring Scholar program must first meet with their Academic Advisor and be accepted into the program. Once accepted, students will receive an official admission letter outlining program policies and details. They will then work with their department and academic advisor to register for classes each semester, ensuring they meet the milestones and academic progress requirements of the Soaring Scholar program. A Soaring Scholar student is considered an undergraduate student until their bachelor’s degree is conferred. In their final undergraduate semester, they are expected to apply for admission to their respective master’s program.

Additional questions on the accelerated BS/MUP program should be directed to the undergraduate program director or the MUP program director.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in Sustainability requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. 

Admission to the Accelerated BA in Sustainability and Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Students interested in pursuing the accelerated BA/MUP degree should speak with their Academic Advisor and the undergraduate program director for Sustainability as early as possible in their undergraduate career. Application to the Soaring Scholar program may be made once the student has completed 60 undergraduate credit hours.

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

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 Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

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 In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

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 May be incorporated into other degree requirements

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 Outside of courses used to meet major requirements with 15 hours at the 300 level or above (in addition to courses counted toward General Education)

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Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

Track Requirements

Policy and Governance in Sustainability

Academic Plan Code(s): SUSTBA_PGS

Sustainable Societal and Urban Systems

Academic Plan Code(s): SUSTBA_SUS

Sustainable Societies

Academic Plan Code(s): SUSTBA_SS

Accelerated BA in Sustainability/Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

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Soaring Scholar course credits will be used to satisfy 9 of the 18 credit hours that are typically take as Natural and Social Science electives. Students enrolled as Soaring Scholars should take the graduate section (URBS 605) of the Sustainability core course of URBS 505. Students pursuing the accelerated BA/MUP degree will have thus completed 12 of the 21 hours of the MUP core courses as an undergraduate.

Flight Plan

Flight Plan for Accelerated BA in Sustainability/Master of Urban Planning

The accelerated flight plan is the same as the stand-alone flight plan for the BA listed in the table above for years 1 and 2.  

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.