Sustainability Degrees

The multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science prepares graduates for careers at local, state, and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and environmental consulting firms. Additionally, graduates of this program are prepared to continue on to graduate studies in order to pursue research and scholarship opportunities. The program core focuses on key environmental issues while the restricted electives allow the students to choose to focus on areas of interest to the individual student.

The multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) serves students interested in improving the sustainability of modern food and agricultural systems. This major prepares graduates to understand the interdisciplinary and systems-based aspects of sustainability and provides them with the knowledge, leadership skills, and experiences required to excel in agricultural and food systems professions.

A minor in Sustainable Supply Chain Management will provide students with the knowledge, skills and practices essential for operational decision making from a sustainability perspective. All three aspects of sustainability – economic, social and environmental – are emphasized. Graduates may be employed in either manufacturing or service organizations in the areas of supply chain, distribution, retail operations, or environmental management.

The Environmental Studies Program is a learning community of students and faculty who use the tools of the humanities and social sciences to identify, name, explain, and analyze the causes of our global ecological crisis. The program supports interdisciplinary, community-engaged approaches to designing and implementing solutions to this crisis that are humane, just, and sustainable.

The AESS program provides students with a unique, integrative education and training experience that prepares them to meet the challenges and opportunities in the multiple dimensions of contemporary agricultural, environmental, and sustainability science disciplines. Specifically, the AESS program targets students wishing to pursue a graduate degree with the intention of entering the work force and contributing their expertise towards sustainable agriculture, stewardship of natural resources and ecosystem services, or the development of sustainable systems in general. This multidisciplinary degree program is designed to provide a rigorous applied and theoretical education in the natural and social sciences with emphasis on the causes and consequences of land use change and other anthropogenic and natural forces across Texas coastal watersheds and beyond.

The School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences (SEEMS) offers two degrees, the M.S. in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences (OCES) and the M.S. in Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Studies (AESS). Both multidisciplinary programs provide students with unique integrative education and training experience that prepares them to meet the challenges and opportunities in the multiple dimensions of their chosen field. Graduates will be prepared to take on decision-making positions in a wide range of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, or private sector organizations.

The Disaster Studies program provides students with a multidisciplinary and integrative education that prepares them to address the challenges and opportunities associated with disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Rooted in the social sciences, the program emphasizes the human and community dimensions of disasters, focusing on social vulnerability, resilience, and sustainable recovery. Students receive both applied and theoretical training through coursework in emergency management principles, GIS applications, and disaster research methods. This comprehensive program is designed for those seeking to pursue careers or leadership positions in governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, or private sector entities engaged in emergency management, public safety, and disaster resilience planning.