Sustainability Studies

  • Fact or Myth – Red sunsets are caused by dust and pollution. Although it is commonly believed that particulate pollution
    causes scarlet sunsets, the truth is that clean air produces brightly colored sunsets.
  • Home to more than a quarter of all fish species, Coral Reefs are often referred to as the "rainforests of the ocean."
    35 million acres of coral reef have been lost in the past few decades primarily as a result of Global warming, pollution
    and over fishing.
  • Is water the next oil? Dr. Aaron Wolf, author of International Waters: Identifying Basins at Risk, states that "Water resources
    - their scarcity, distribution and quality – have been named as the factor most likely to lead to intense political pressures."
    Dr. Wolf and colleagues conducted a study of international waters and identified sixteen basins at risk within five to
    ten years.
An Education in Sustainability

What do camping and coal mines, and energy audits and activist art have to do with one another?

They are all part of a new wave of Mason courses incorporating sustainability concepts. Such courses began dotting the pages of the university’s course catalog this past term.

George Mason University's goal is to develop world class academic programs that honestly reflect the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability.

 

What are Sustainability Studies at George Mason? "Meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" is the goal of sustainability. The goal of GMU Is to provide an education that advances the state of practice and understanding of sustainability. Sustainability by its nature is an interdisciplinary topic. A sustainable education lies within the intersection of environmental science and engineering, economics and social science. To meet the needs of a diverse student body, George Mason University is developing a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, minors and certificates that embrace sustainable values. Sustainability programs at George Mason University seek to guide students as they critically assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of technology and policy decisions. The programs encourage personal reflection and discovery of the benefits of sustainable living. They provide creative outlets to capture the spirit of the sustainability movement. Experiential learning opportunities abound as students investigate solutions to global warming, water pollution, and natural resource depletion.

Want to learn more about Mason?

Academic Programs Related to Sustainability

Minors

  • Minor in Sustainability Studies - A society grounded in the principles of sustainability achieves balance among the "Three Es": Ecological integrity, Economic vitality, and Equity among people. The Sustainability Studies Minor (SSM) introduces students to the concepts, principles and ethical and moral issues that inform the sustainability paradigm.
  • Minor in Renewable Energy - The mission of the George Mason University Renewable Energy minor is to provide a sound scientific education in renewable energy that will prepare students for graduate studies and research, employment opportunities and a socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle.

Majors

  • B.S. Degree in Global and Environmental Change - The B.S. Degree in Global and Environmental Change, one of the first of its kind in the nation, distinguishes itself from other degrees in the natural sciences in that it examines, from local, regional and global scales the dynamics of Earth's systems and their interactions: the geosphere, the atmosphere, the ecosphere and the sociosphere.
  • Undergraduate Concentration in Conservation Studies - Promotes the scientific and social study of the phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity. Integrative curriculum deals with biology, ecology, public policy, international relations, economics, history, ethics, literature and other arts as these pertain to conservation issues.
  • Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science (BSES) (under development) - The BSES focuses on scientific understanding of the biosphere and the ecosphere, and techniques for investigating the mechanisms by which systems from the cellular to the ecosystem level function in response to anthropogenic perturbations. It includes study of the techniques of science and engineering that might be used to understand, protect and improve environmental quality. The degree provides an introduction to environmental policy processes wherein risk assessment based on natural science is integrated into risk management through a variety of public and private decision-making processes.
  • BS and BA in Sustainability Studies (under development) - This degree program is truly interdisciplinary in nature and immerses students in the study of environmental protection, social justice, and economics as these relate to sustainability.

Graduate Studies

  • PhD in Climate Dynamics - The mission of the Ph.D. Degree Program in Climate Dynamics is to train the next generation of scientists in climate dynamics and related fields.
  • Graduate Certificate Sustainability and the Environment - The Volgenau School of Informational Technology and Engineering is pleased to offer this new Graduate Degree Certificate in "Sustainability & the Environment". The principal focus of this advanced Certificate is to provide a detailed understanding of evolving Real Estate concepts, particularly as relating to land development, sustainability and the impact of evolving development on the environment.