Environment and Sustainability Bridging Disciplines Program Certificate
Department website: https://undergraduates.utexas.edu/academics/bridging-disciplines-programs/programs/environment-sustainability
This certificate gives students the opportunity to explore a variety of disciplinary approaches to environmental processes and contemporary environmental issues. By bringing together courses in natural sciences, social sciences, design disciplines, and the humanities, this program affords a complex understanding of how the diverse parts of the earth’s environment and society interact. Designed to complement a range of majors, the certificate prepares students to address environmental issues in careers as researchers, writers, policy makers, sustainable business leaders, and educators. Through the Connecting Experiences component, students have the opportunity to participate in an array of internship and research experiences related to the environment and sustainability.
Total Hours Required: 20
Requirements
Requirements are listed in the table below. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum. Students should also review the University's Undergraduate Minor and Certificate Requirements and Policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: | 2 | |
| Forum Seminars | ||
| Environmental Change and Sustainability | ||
Additional approved hours | ||
| Hours chosen from: Strand hours | 12 | |
| Cultures of Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Global Environmental Literature and Film | ||
| Foundations of Environmental Engineering | ||
| Climate: Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Climate Change | ||
| Introduction to Sustainability Studies | ||
Hours chosen from: Approved list | ||
| Approved Hours chosen from: Research or internship Connecting Experiences (see advisor) | 6 | |
| Connecting Research Experience | ||
| Connecting Research Experience | ||
| Connecting Internship Experience | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
- A three to four page essay in which students reflect on what they have learned and accomplished through their experience is required. The essay is reviewed and must be approved by a member of the BDP faculty panel in order to complete the certificate requirements
- To create an interdisciplinary experience, students must choose courses from a variety of disciplines. Only one of the strand courses may come from the student's major department(s) or same as with the student's major department(s). The certificate as a whole must represent a variety of disciplines; the advisor can help ensure that the coursework will meet the certificate requirements for interdisciplinarity.
- At least nine upper-division hours is required.
- In courses taken for a letter grade, the student must obtain a grade of at least C- .
- A cumulative GPA for the certificate of at least 2.0 is required.
- Only one BDP course, including connecting experience courses, may be taken pass/fail. Any exceptions will be considered by the faculty panel on an individual basis.
- The student may be able to count courses toward the certificate that are not listed, if enough of the course content relates to the BDP topic. Consult with the advisor to petition a course to count towards the certificate.