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Sustainability: Academics

Sustainability: Academics

The Center for Sustainability and the Environment supports faculty interested in incorporating sustainability content in courses across disciplines and assists students and their faculty mentors to undertake sustainability-related research projects.

The Center invites outside content matter experts in to share their knowledge with our campus community and the general public through several different educational event and speaker series: the Sustainability Perspectives series, the Sustainability Film series, the Sustainable Business series, Sustainability Special events, and the Sustainability Speaker series.

The Center also fosters collaborative relationships with community partner organizations, agencies and businesses to create rich experiential learning opportunities related to sustainability.

Wells is one of only a handful of colleges and universities to offer formal educational programs in sustainability. You can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability or you can minor in Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems, or Sustainable Business.  Each sustainability-related minor can be attached to any major program.

Learn more about the requirements for each of these academic programs:

Sustainability
Sustainable Food Systems
Sustainable Business

In addition, many Wells faculty are embedding sustainability content into their classes across disciplines, helping students best understand the linkages between the three domains of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. Our 2023 review of the academic catalog found that more than 28% of Wells College courses either focus on sustainability or include significant content about sustainability, and these courses are offered within most academic programs.

Learn more about all our Sustainability-related courses
Learn more about sustainability-related student learning outcomes in several of our academic disciplines

Experiential learning is a hallmark of the Wells College academic experience, and there are several ways in which students can “learn by doing” related to sustainability.

A sustainability-related internship is required for Sustainability majors and both Sustainability minors but it is also possible to explore sustainability themes through internships in other academic disciplines. We work to tailor your internship to your particular interest. We foster collaborative relationships with community partner organizations, agencies and businesses to create rich experiential learning opportunities related to sustainability.

Sustainability-related research. Design your own independent study project or work with a faculty member on their research. Learn more about Wells faculty conducting sustainability-related research.

Sustainability as a field of study is incredibly broad and all-encompassing. Start with your own passions and interests to find your entry point into the sustainability conversation and from there, chart your own course to discover what it means for you to become more sustainable.