Academic Opportunities
Sustainability isn't just an extracurricular activity at Agnes Scott. Staying true to our liberal arts tradition, we bring sustainability concepts into the classroom and encourage you to discover multidisciplinary connections.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Minor >
Learn about the social and scientific aspects of sustainability and environmental studies while tailoring the program to your interests with electives and experiential opportunities. The ESS minor requires a minimum of five courses and includes an internship in your junior or senior year.
Sustainability Focused Courses
Even if you’re not an ESS minor, you still can take classes that delve into the varied aspects of sustainability.
Some sustainability focused courses available are:
Environmental &Sustainability Studies 101 “Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Studies”
Environmental &Sustainability Studies 201 “Environmental and Sustainability Communication”
First Year Seminar 190 “The Educated Omnivore: The Life of Food” & “So You Want to Save the Planet”
Anthropology 231 “Environments, Gender and Cultures”
Biology 108 “Environmental Biology”
Biology 308 “Ecology”
Public Health 101 “Survey of Public Health”
Philosophy 109 “Topics in Applied Ethics: Environmental Ethics”
Students who took the First-Year Seminar, “So You Want To Save the Planet,” worked on a class project to understand the water use on campus and collected data for a water audit. They found that Agnes Scott decreased the total amount of water by 14% from academic year 2006 to 2007, much of which can be attributed to the retention pond irrigation.
In summer 2009, students who took Issues in Environment and Sustainability surveyed critical topics such as Georgia’s water crisis, renewable energy, environmental toxins and environmental justice. The course focused on humans as crucial members of global ecosystems and on connections between the individual and collective responsibility to sustain human life on this planet.
Internships
ESS minors and all other students can work with the sustainability office and career planning to find internship placement in Atlanta and many other locations.
Agnes Scott Fellowship
Once every two years, the college appoints a graduate to become a sustainability fellow. As a sustainability fellow, you will manage many sustainability activities on campus as well as our partnership with the city of Decatur’s sustainability initiative.
Do You Have Additional Interests?
E-mail sustainability@agnesscott.edu with your suggestions for new classes or activities.