North Carolina State University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

NC State offers an undergraduate degree in environmental sciences (ES). This degree program combines courses from a number of colleges to provide a thorough interdisciplinary grounding in the fundamentals of your major, a better overall understanding of the interrelated nature of environmental issues, and a deeper mastery of the issues affecting your chosen focal area or minor. All degree options offer you opportunities to pursue original research and gain field experience tackling real-world challenges — leaving you well prepared to take advantage of career opportunities once you graduate.

The Sustainable Materials & Technology (SMT) program’s mission within the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University is to improve the responsible utilization of plant-based resources. We accomplish this by providing education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, generating knowledge and developing new technologies through research, and conducting a variety of extension and continuing education activities. The SMT program’s goal is to provide our stakeholders with students who have the technical knowledge and insights, critical thinking, and leadership skills to tackle pressing issues related to the material requirements of society. The United Nations states that sustainability is a “call for a decent standard of living for everyone today without compromising the needs of future generations”. This includes consideration of the three sustainable development goals: economic development, social development, and environmental protection. The combination of technical insights and an appreciation of these sustainability goals will allow SMT students to understand and create novel solutions to the challenges facing our society as we select materials for our houses and buildings, energy and chemical alternatives, and value-added furnishings.

The Natural Resources – Policy & Administration degree focuses on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to administer natural resources programs in a variety of settings and organizations. Learning how to manage and conserve natural resources through a holistic approach prepares students to meet global challenges that face our natural resources now and in the future. As these global challenges increase, we need natural resource managers and analysts who can combine science, economics, policy and an understanding of human behavior. The Natural Resources – Ecosystem Assessment degree focuses on learning how to inventory and describe the characteristics of natural ecosystems and evaluate the impacts of various management practices. Learning how to manage and conserve natural resources through a holistic approach prepares students to meet global challenges that face our natural resources now and in the future. As these global challenges increase, we need natural resource managers and analysts who can combine science, economics, policy and an understanding of human behavior. Students interested in the environment who prefer a broad background (rather than specialization), will find this program gives them the choice to concentrate their study in a variety of areas of interest.

All NC State sustainability-focused undergraduate degree programs can be found here: http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/curriculum-research/

The NCSU Agroecology Minor provides students with a flexible and diversified curriculum and the opportunity for practical experience. Two new courses, Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) and Advanced Agroecology (CS 430) Course and Laboratory, were developed for this new Agroecology Minor Program. A minimum of 11 required credits and 6 elective credits are required for the Agroecology Minor

The Department of Crop Science offers a minor in Crop Science to interested baccalaureate degree students at NC State University, with the exception of Plant & Soil Science majors. This minor provides a basic understanding of the requirements for successful field crop production and the role crop species and management practices play in a broad spectrum of sustainable agricultural enterprises. A course selection option permits a student to focus on the particular aspect of Crop Science that most fully complements the student’s major and career plans. The minor in Crop Science is designed to: Provide a strong background in Crop Science to the variety of disciplines which interact in some way with field crop production; Clarify the role crop species and rotational sequences play in agricultural enterprises both in the United States and globally to increase our quality of life; and Identify strategies either in use or being researched to increase the compatibility of crop species with their environment to achieve yield stability, suitable quality of product, and sustainability of the production enterprise.

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources offers a 15 credit hour minor in Forest Management that is available to all baccalaureate degree students at North Carolina State University except majors in Forest Management. The goals of the minor are to provide elementary knowledge of forest management, appreciation for the value of forest resources, and understanding of the need for sustainable management. The minor is particularly valuable to students majoring in related disciplines.

Visit http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/curriculum-research/ to see the inventory of degree, diploma or certificate programs that have sustainability learning outcomes.