Sustainability in Academics

Two students planting together on Arbor Day.

Explore Sustainability-Focused Degree Programs

Are you passionate about sustainability? Discover degree programs (majors and minors) that allow you to make an impact on the environment and society. Explore offerings from the following departments:

Geography, Planning, and Sustainability Department

Westfield State student surveys a parking lot in town.

Sustainability Courses

Sustainability-focused courses are offered in various departments, including Political Science, allowing students to explore environmental issues from multiple perspectives.

Political Science Department

POLS 0103: State and Local Government
In this course, we explore state and local policies and practices through a sustainability lens.  For their semester projects students select from teams based on policy issues and each student in a team investigates one state’s approach to that policy issue and how that approach is influenced by political actors.  At the end of the semester, the team assesses the sustainability of the approaches (using the textbook’s definition of social, economic, institutional, and/or environmental sustainability) and justifies why one state’s approach is more sustainable than the others.

Learn more about the Political Science, B.A.

PADM 0608: Organizational Behavior
Students work in teams on a civically engaged project with a community partner to investigate an issue/opportunity and at the end of the semester provide evidence based and sustainable recommendations.  This year students are working with PVTA on policies to allow personal electronic vehicles (ex. scooters, electric bikes) on busses and with cities/towns in the Northern Berkshires to develop a more sustainable EMS system.

Learn more about the Master of Public Administration, Policy and Civic Engagement (MPA) program.

Ready to Explore More About Sustainability?

Campus Globe against cloudy blue sky

Contact Us

Dr. Tarin Weiss
Sustainability Coordinator