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New Sustainability Programs

December 12, 2023

If you are interested in studying sustainability at Ohio State, considering exploring these newly approved programs that expand upon the university's existing sustainability offerings.

Each program below provides the necessary curriculum to understand different interdisciplinary aspects of sustainability. The programs have been carefully considered to prepare students to think critically about sustainability challenges and how society could overcome them.

Read more about each new program, and reach out to the listed faculty leader with any questions. 

Environmental Arts and Humanities Minor

The Environmental Arts and Humanities minor combines methods and insights to explore relationships between humans and the environment, human epistemology and the environment, and the nature of this knowledge and its limitations. It draws on courses from over ten departments and requires students to complete four of their choosing from at least three departments. Options range from studio art classes to history lectures to philosophy seminars. Contact: Associate Professor Matthew Birkhold

SARSES Certificate 

The Sustainable and Resilient Social and Ecological Systems (SARSES) Certificate is designed to function as a degree enhancement or professional credentialing program. It consists of a lead-in course (Anthropology 3050), general education sustainability course, a one credit capstone reflection, and a variety of multi-departmental options. The SARSES Certificate is available to students at Ohio State’s Marion campus. Contact: Professor Anna Willow

Climate Change Fundamentals Certificate

The Climate Change Fundamentals certificate provides undergraduate students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the scientific basis of climate change, the resulting social implications and practical ways to address these challenges. The certificate is jointly administered by the School of Earth Sciences and the Department of Geography and is open to students of all majors who have space in their curriculum to add two additional courses (or more) to their major/minors. Contact: Professor Matthew Saltzman or Professor Bryan Mark

The programs listed above were originally supported with a Sustainability Education Grant program award, and then fully approved as new academic programs by university leadership. The Sustainability Education Grant program is overseen by the Sustainability Education and Learning Committee (SELC), which is facilitated by the Sustainability Institute.

The 17 members of SELC compiled a report in 2019 to produce a structure for sustainability education at Ohio State, including participation from a variety of departments to ensure a well-rounded and comprehensive approach. Based on the 2019 report  findings, SELC established the temporary Sustainability Education Grant Program to support new and revised programs, whether they be majors, minors or certificates, centered around increasing interdisciplinary sustainability curriculum.