Oregon State University – Cascades

About

Sustainability is the philosophy that increasingly drives global business, organization and politics. Our changing world has presented challenges that future leaders will be called on to address, including climate change, reliance on traditional energy sources, water issues and a growing demand for socially and environmentally responsible products and services.

The Sustainability double degree from OSU–Cascades exposes students to these real-world problems and fosters knowledge, skills and abilities to address them in communities and workplaces. In step with the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, the degree was designed to compliment all OSU degree programs and to be earned as a second bachelor’s degree in addition to a major area of study.

Graduates emerge prepared to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and apply knowledge of economic, business, scientific, and sociological principles of sustainability to a variety of career fields.

Careers in Sustainability

Career possibilities in the sustainability field are both exciting and rewarding:

• Carbon and greenhouse gas management
• Sustainability operations for private companies, universities and government entities
• Sustainability marketing and market research
• Sustainability and engineering manager
• Sustainability/environmental performance assessment and monitoring
• Sustainability specialist for waste, energy or water management
• Sustainability strategic planning
• Sustainable supply chain management
• Sustainable packaging design and management
• Sustainability coordinator for school districts, hospitals and for-profit organizations

Program Admissions Requirements

Students will be accepted into the double-degree program if they have completed Sustainability core prerequisite course, EC 201 Microeconomics, and maintain a minimum institutional GPA of 2.5.

Program Curriculum

Earning a Sustainability double degree begins with choosing a primary degree program major. Students are required to complete 180 credits in an OSU major and can receive a second bachelor’s degree in Sustainability by completing an additional 36 credits. Start with a 17-credit core to learn the fundamentals of sustainability from social, ecological, and economic perspectives. Then select 16 additional credits to create an individualized course of study based on major and interests.

Courses for the Sustainability core focus on assessment techniques, ecological dimensions of human societies, sustainable economic techniques and social principles of sustainable development. Individualized curricular areas apply sustainability principles and practices to engineering, business administration, natural resource management, humanities, hospitality management, and natural resource policy and law.  Students work in conjunction with the Sustainability Degree Advisor to tailor the degree to their desired goals and outcomes.

OSU-Cascades Sustainability Double Degree Checklist (PDF)
Sustainability Double Degree Student Outcomes

Program Internships

The sustainability field is rich in interesting practicum opportunities. Opportunities for hands-on learning in conjunction to a Sustainability double degree might include:

• Working with local organizations to develop community gardens and greenhouses, including food distribution systems, land use and food production
• Collaborative development of strategic sustainability plans for businesses, organizations and local government institutions
• Developing projects in community land use
• Creating organizational planning for energy efficiency and demand reduction
• Developing sustainability performance assessments for private businesses, government organizations, non-profits and households
• Development of sustainability business plans and/or proposals

Faculty/Staff

Matt Shinderman, Natural Resources and Sustainability Senior Instructor

Contact:  matt.shinderman@osucascades.edu or  541-322-3159