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Sustainability Studies

Put your passion for protecting and preserving the planet into action. Receive a sustainability degree from Graceland.

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Become an Environmental Leader With a Sustainability Studies Major

Take on the most urgent environmental and social-ecological challenges from the moment you step on campus and learn how to turn your interest in sustainability into a career. With Graceland's Sustainability major, you'll learn the skills and knowledge it takes to provide a better future for the following generations.

With a Sustainability Studies major from Graceland University, you’ll learn skills that will help you make a difference in the world and prepare you for a variety of graduate and professional degree programs. You'll learn systems thinking and gain hands-on experience to develop ecologically restorative ideas and policies and understand the complex relationships between humans and the environment.

Offerings
Major
Field of Study
Humanities
Format
Lamoni Campus
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Sustainability Studies Curriculum

Graceland structures our sustainability program to be hands-on, innovative, and interdisciplinary. We want to prepare students with a wide range of skills that will come in handy no matter what further degree they decide to get, or what career field they choose to hone in on. The sustainability major at Graceland is designed to work in tandem with the general education curriculum, making it a well-rounded program choice for students.

  • BA Degree – Sustainability Studies Major

    The Sustainability Studies program at Graceland is a hands-on, innovative and interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for a range of careers in the sustainability field. It is also rooted in Graceland’s general education curriculum, which makes it easy to add a double major or explore other academic interests.

    In addition to the General Education requirements, the interdisciplinary major in Sustainability Studies requires 36 s.h.

    Core course requirements 21 s.h.

    Course Required for General Education 4 s.h.

    9 s.h. of electives from the following list. Minimum 6 s.h. need to be upper division.

    Internship requirements 3 s.h.

    Capstone/Senior Seminar/Senior Project requirement 3 s.h.

    Programs, including internships, will be overseen by a standing Sustainability Studies Committee with a consistent chair who serves as a point person.

    Recommended that Sustainability students take MATH1370 Statistics for Sciences and ECON1320 Principles of Microeconomics as part of their General Education requirements.

    Courses Offered
    • AGRI1200Sustainable International Agriculture
      AGRI1200 Sustainable International Agriculture - 3 s.h.

      Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability

    • ARTS3240Eco Art & Ceramics
      ARTS3240 Eco Art & Ceramics - 3 s.h.

      Contemporary and traditional approaches to clay with emphasis on wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. Exploration of sustainable production practices will also address surface decoration and responsible firing processes. Studio fee required. ELO5 Arts - Sustainability

    • BIOL1100Introduction to Sustainability (also SUST1100)
      BIOL1100 Introduction to Sustainability (also SUST1100) - 3 s.h.

      An introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its impact on biological systems. Explores how sustainability relates to population, ecosystems, global change, energy, agriculture, water, environmental economics and policy, ethics, and cultural history. Practical approaches to this course will be tied closely to small-scale agriculture and water use with hands-on fieldwork at the campus EcoPlot. ELO6 Science - Sustainability

    • BIOL1200Environmental Science with Lab (also CHEM1200)
      BIOL1200 Environmental Science with Lab (also CHEM1200) - 4 s.h.

      An exploration of the biotic and abiotic components of the environment, including the biological, physical, and chemical processes that shape natural ecosystems (e.g., biogeochemical cycles). The course will also examine the impact of human population growth, resource use, emissions production, and technological innovations on the environment. Current environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, air and water pollution, and climate change, will be considered. Additional fee required. ELO6 Science - Innovation, GE3D Liberal Learning-Natural Sciences

    • BIOL3400Ecology and Conservation Biology with Lab
      BIOL3400 Ecology and Conservation Biology with Lab - 4 s.h.

      A study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environments at the physiological, population, community, and ecosystem levels. Case studies will use ecological concepts to develop conservation strategies for species, habitats, and ecosystems. Includes a lab. Additional fee required. EL06 Science - World Citizenship, ELO6 Science - Sustainability +This course is only offered every other year.

    • CHEM1200Environmental Science with Lab (also BIOL1200)
      CHEM1200 Environmental Science with Lab (also BIOL1200) - 4 s.h.

      An exploration of the biotic and abiotic components of the environment, including the biological, physical, and chemical processes that shape natural ecosystems (e.g., biogeochemical cycles). The course will also examine the impact of human population growth, resource use, emissions production, and technological innovations on the environment. Current environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, air and water pollution, and climate change, will be considered. Additional fee required. ELO6 Science - Innovation, GE3D Liberal Learning-Natural Sciences.

    • COMM3240Environmental Communication
      COMM3240 Environmental Communication - 3 s.h.

      This course will extend scientific knowledge to understand how nature and the environment influence communication and society. Students will learn about significant environmental controversies, from toxic waste to climate change, to pro-environmental behaviors. Using a foundation of persuasion, the course focuses on social responsibility and the history of mediated communication within the context of environmental movements and human-made crises.

    • CSIT2110Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also SUST2100)
      CSIT2110 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also SUST2100) - 3 s.h.

      Students will learn theoretical and practical foundations related to geographic information systems and spatial analysis. Emphasis on teaching students to integrate and analyze spatial information from various sources. Includes a weekly laboratory section. Prerequisite: MATH1380.

    • ECON1320Principles of Microeconomics
      ECON1320 Principles of Microeconomics - 3 s.h.

      Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, production, market structures, and a survey of contemporary economic problems, e.g. sustainability. ELO5 Social Science - Sustainability

    • ENGL1200Environmental Justice
      ENGL1200 Environmental Justice - 3 s.h.

      Who is most hurt by environmental degradation and abuse, and who benefits? This course will examine what contemporary literature from the United States and around the world has to say about environmental racism, ecofeminism, and settler colonialism. We’ll also think about the social construction of nature, globalization, food justice, and urban ecological issues. Our guiding question is simple: What is the role of art in the struggle for social change? This course emphasizes critical thinking, historical and socio-political contexts, and diverse aesthetics.

    • ENGL2540Global Eco-Cinema
      ENGL2540 Global Eco-Cinema - 3 s.h.

      A transnational survey of films that deal with environmental issues and, more broadly, with human relationships to the nonhuman world. An examination of the impact of urbanization on rural communities, the mysterious allure of wild and uncultivated landscapes, the threat of climate change to daily life around the world, and the cinematic representation of environmental apocalypse. Explores different genres and styles, including neo-realism, eco-horror, anime, and avant-garde cinema. ELO5 Humanities - Sustainability +This course is only offered every other year.

    • ENGL3260American Environmental Literature
      ENGL3260 American Environmental Literature - 3 s.h.

      What makes a work of literature "environmental"? How have humans thought about nature throughout history, and how does that intellectual and artistic history affect us today? Can works of literature help humans prevent environmental catastrophes like climate change and species extinction? We'll seek answers to these questions as we engage with fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. We'll discuss the ways that literary and cultural forms can shape who we are, what we value, and what we imagine for the future. We'll also work to build your skills of critical reading, analytical thinking and persuasive writing, skills that will serve you in the future, in whatever environment you inhabit. ELO5 Humanities - Sustainability.

    • HIST1560United States Environmental History
      HIST1560 United States Environmental History - 3 s.h.

      An examination of the complex relationship between human society and nature from early settlements to the present in what is now the United States. Important topics include the impact of human settlement, population growth, use of land and natural resources, the effects of industrialization, and the development of the conservation and environmental movements. ELO5 Histories - Sustainability, GE3B Liberal Learning-Histories.

    • MATH1370Statistics for Sciences
      MATH1370 Statistics for Sciences - 3 s.h.

      Data analysis and measures of central tendency, dispersion, and correlation. Introduction to probability. Estimation and hypothesis testing. Bivariate regression. ANOVA. Introduction to nonparametric techniques. Prerequisite: 1 year high school algebra. ELO6 Math, GE2B Foundational Skills-Mathematics/Quantitative.

    • SUST1100Introduction to Sustainability (also BIOL1100)
      SUST1100 Introduction to Sustainability (also BIOL1100) - 3 s.h.

      An introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its impact on biological systems. Explores how sustainability relates to population, ecosystems, global change, energy, agriculture, water, environmental economics and policy, ethics, and cultural history. Practical approaches to this course will be tied closely to small-scale agriculture and water use with hands-on fieldwork at the campus EcoPlot. ELO6 Science - Sustainability

    • SUST2100Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also CSIT2110)
      SUST2100 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also CSIT2110) - 3 s.h.

      Students will learn theoretical and practical foundations related to geographic information systems and spatial analysis. Emphasis on teaching students to integrate and analyze spatial information from various sources. Includes a weekly laboratory section. Prerequisite: MATH1370.

    • SUST3700On-Campus Internship
      SUST3700 On-Campus Internship - 3 s.h.

      An internship program that connects students to campus initiatives that focus on sustainable practices. Potential internship areas might include campus engagement, air and climate, buildings, energy, food and dining, purchasing, transportation, waste, and water. Supervised and facilitated by the sustainability coordinator and developed in conjunction with the interests of the student. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis) Prerequisites: major in Sustainability Studies, junior/senior status, and instructor's consent.

    • SUST4300Off-Campus Internship
      SUST4300 Off-Campus Internship - 3 s.h.

      An internship that allows students to work with professionals in career areas relating to the field of Sustainability Studies (including the private, public, and nonprofit sectors). Placements will be supervised by the sustainability coordinator and developed in conjunction with the interests of the student. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis) Prerequisites: major in Sustainability Studies, junior/senior status, and instructor's consent.

    • SUST4700Senior Capstone Project
      SUST4700 Senior Capstone Project - 3 s.h.

      Planning, preparing, and presenting a senior project in the student's area of concentration. Prerequisites: major in Sustainability Studies, junior/senior status.

    AGRI1200Sustainable International Agriculture ARTS3240Eco Art & Ceramics BIOL1100Introduction to Sustainability (also SUST1100) BIOL1200Environmental Science with Lab (also CHEM1200) BIOL3400Ecology and Conservation Biology with Lab CHEM1200Environmental Science with Lab (also BIOL1200) COMM3240Environmental Communication CSIT2110Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also SUST2100) ECON1320Principles of Microeconomics ENGL1200Environmental Justice ENGL2540Global Eco-Cinema ENGL3260American Environmental Literature HIST1560United States Environmental History MATH1370Statistics for Sciences SUST1100Introduction to Sustainability (also BIOL1100) SUST2100Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also CSIT2110) SUST3700On-Campus Internship SUST4300Off-Campus Internship SUST4700Senior Capstone Project
    Course Descriptions
    AGRI1200 Sustainable International Agriculture - 3 s.h.

    Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability

    ARTS3240 Eco Art & Ceramics - 3 s.h.

    Contemporary and traditional approaches to clay with emphasis on wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. Exploration of sustainable production practices will also address surface decoration and responsible firing processes. Studio fee required. ELO5 Arts - Sustainability

    BIOL1100 Introduction to Sustainability (also SUST1100) - 3 s.h.

    An introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its impact on biological systems. Explores how sustainability relates to population, ecosystems, global change, energy, agriculture, water, environmental economics and policy, ethics, and cultural history. Practical approaches to this course will be tied closely to small-scale agriculture and water use with hands-on fieldwork at the campus EcoPlot. ELO6 Science - Sustainability

    BIOL1200 Environmental Science with Lab (also CHEM1200) - 4 s.h.

    An exploration of the biotic and abiotic components of the environment, including the biological, physical, and chemical processes that shape natural ecosystems (e.g., biogeochemical cycles). The course will also examine the impact of human population growth, resource use, emissions production, and technological innovations on the environment. Current environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, air and water pollution, and climate change, will be considered. Additional fee required. ELO6 Science - Innovation, GE3D Liberal Learning-Natural Sciences

    BIOL3400 Ecology and Conservation Biology with Lab - 4 s.h.

    A study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environments at the physiological, population, community, and ecosystem levels. Case studies will use ecological concepts to develop conservation strategies for species, habitats, and ecosystems. Includes a lab. Additional fee required. EL06 Science - World Citizenship, ELO6 Science - Sustainability +This course is only offered every other year.

    CHEM1200 Environmental Science with Lab (also BIOL1200) - 4 s.h.

    An exploration of the biotic and abiotic components of the environment, including the biological, physical, and chemical processes that shape natural ecosystems (e.g., biogeochemical cycles). The course will also examine the impact of human population growth, resource use, emissions production, and technological innovations on the environment. Current environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, air and water pollution, and climate change, will be considered. Additional fee required. ELO6 Science - Innovation, GE3D Liberal Learning-Natural Sciences.

    COMM3240 Environmental Communication - 3 s.h.

    This course will extend scientific knowledge to understand how nature and the environment influence communication and society. Students will learn about significant environmental controversies, from toxic waste to climate change, to pro-environmental behaviors. Using a foundation of persuasion, the course focuses on social responsibility and the history of mediated communication within the context of environmental movements and human-made crises.

    CSIT2110 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also SUST2100) - 3 s.h.

    Students will learn theoretical and practical foundations related to geographic information systems and spatial analysis. Emphasis on teaching students to integrate and analyze spatial information from various sources. Includes a weekly laboratory section. Prerequisite: MATH1380.

    ECON1320 Principles of Microeconomics - 3 s.h.

    Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, production, market structures, and a survey of contemporary economic problems, e.g. sustainability. ELO5 Social Science - Sustainability

    ENGL1200 Environmental Justice - 3 s.h.

    Who is most hurt by environmental degradation and abuse, and who benefits? This course will examine what contemporary literature from the United States and around the world has to say about environmental racism, ecofeminism, and settler colonialism. We’ll also think about the social construction of nature, globalization, food justice, and urban ecological issues. Our guiding question is simple: What is the role of art in the struggle for social change? This course emphasizes critical thinking, historical and socio-political contexts, and diverse aesthetics.

    ENGL2540 Global Eco-Cinema - 3 s.h.

    A transnational survey of films that deal with environmental issues and, more broadly, with human relationships to the nonhuman world. An examination of the impact of urbanization on rural communities, the mysterious allure of wild and uncultivated landscapes, the threat of climate change to daily life around the world, and the cinematic representation of environmental apocalypse. Explores different genres and styles, including neo-realism, eco-horror, anime, and avant-garde cinema. ELO5 Humanities - Sustainability +This course is only offered every other year.

    ENGL3260 American Environmental Literature - 3 s.h.

    What makes a work of literature "environmental"? How have humans thought about nature throughout history, and how does that intellectual and artistic history affect us today? Can works of literature help humans prevent environmental catastrophes like climate change and species extinction? We'll seek answers to these questions as we engage with fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. We'll discuss the ways that literary and cultural forms can shape who we are, what we value, and what we imagine for the future. We'll also work to build your skills of critical reading, analytical thinking and persuasive writing, skills that will serve you in the future, in whatever environment you inhabit. ELO5 Humanities - Sustainability.

    HIST1560 United States Environmental History - 3 s.h.

    An examination of the complex relationship between human society and nature from early settlements to the present in what is now the United States. Important topics include the impact of human settlement, population growth, use of land and natural resources, the effects of industrialization, and the development of the conservation and environmental movements. ELO5 Histories - Sustainability, GE3B Liberal Learning-Histories.

    MATH1370 Statistics for Sciences - 3 s.h.

    Data analysis and measures of central tendency, dispersion, and correlation. Introduction to probability. Estimation and hypothesis testing. Bivariate regression. ANOVA. Introduction to nonparametric techniques. Prerequisite: 1 year high school algebra. ELO6 Math, GE2B Foundational Skills-Mathematics/Quantitative.

    SUST1100 Introduction to Sustainability (also BIOL1100) - 3 s.h.

    An introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability and its impact on biological systems. Explores how sustainability relates to population, ecosystems, global change, energy, agriculture, water, environmental economics and policy, ethics, and cultural history. Practical approaches to this course will be tied closely to small-scale agriculture and water use with hands-on fieldwork at the campus EcoPlot. ELO6 Science - Sustainability

    SUST2100 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (also CSIT2110) - 3 s.h.

    Students will learn theoretical and practical foundations related to geographic information systems and spatial analysis. Emphasis on teaching students to integrate and analyze spatial information from various sources. Includes a weekly laboratory section. Prerequisite: MATH1370.

    SUST3700 On-Campus Internship - 3 s.h.

    An internship program that connects students to campus initiatives that focus on sustainable practices. Potential internship areas might include campus engagement, air and climate, buildings, energy, food and dining, purchasing, transportation, waste, and water. Supervised and facilitated by the sustainability coordinator and developed in conjunction with the interests of the student. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis) Prerequisites: major in Sustainability Studies, junior/senior status, and instructor's consent.

    SUST4300 Off-Campus Internship - 3 s.h.

    An internship that allows students to work with professionals in career areas relating to the field of Sustainability Studies (including the private, public, and nonprofit sectors). Placements will be supervised by the sustainability coordinator and developed in conjunction with the interests of the student. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis) Prerequisites: major in Sustainability Studies, junior/senior status, and instructor's consent.

    SUST4700 Senior Capstone Project - 3 s.h.

    Planning, preparing, and presenting a senior project in the student's area of concentration. Prerequisites: major in Sustainability Studies, junior/senior status.

Division of Humanities Faculty

The Sustainability Studies program is led by our incredible Division of Humanities faculty. Each of these professors went to years of schooling and many have in-field research experience related to sustainability studies. They've dedicated their lives to the environment, and now to their students. Read more in their bios below.

Anthony Chvala-Smith
Anthony Chvala-Smith Associate Professor of Religion, Paul E. Morden Seminary Chair of Religion View Bio
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Careers in Sustainability

The growth career opportunities in sustainability studies are quickly outpacing many other industries and offer a wide breadth of choices in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. All of these career paths are focused on slowing, stopping, or potentially reversing climate change, and ultimately making the world a better place.

  • Private Sector: 
    Sustainability Consultants,
    Environmental Technicians,
    GIS Specialists;
  • Public Sector: 
    Environmental Policy Analysis,
    Urban Planning,
    Environmental Law;
  • Nonprofit Sector: 
    Environmental Education,
    Environmental Advocacy,
    Fundraising
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Hands-On Learning

We believe the best way to learn is through experience and provide active opportunities for students to learn firsthand about sustainability. Experiential learning is a part of every major at Graceland and Sustainability Studies is no different.

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Tuition & Aid

99% of students on the Lamoni campus receive financial aid.

As you consider college, you want a simple, easy-to-understand formula designed to ensure that the one-of-a-kind Graceland Experience is within reach for your family. Undergraduate tuition includes our unique Transformational Leadership major, and we offer generous financial aid and scholarships to all of our students, making Graceland as affordable, if not moreso, than most public universities.

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