Sustainability, Society, and Environmental Geography, B.A.

Program Description

'Sustainability' covers a broad range of topics, but this major is intended for students who want to critically examine sustainability policy and practice in terms of three organizing concepts: environment, economy, and equity. With a solid grounding in geography, students will gain experience evaluating sustainability efforts in terms of their impacts on society, the environment, and efforts to achieve social justice goals. The major will prepare students to contribute in a broad range of contexts from government and non-governmental organizations to the private sector as the careful evaluation of sustainability work rises to the forefront of policy and investment priorities worldwide.

What is Sustainability, Society, and Environmental Geography?

Sustainability, Society, and Environmental Geography examines the urgent challenges facing our world: climate change, resource scarcity, environmental justice, and building a livable future. If you've wondered whether green initiatives work, why some communities bear more environmental burdens than others, or how we balance economic development with environmental protection, and human rights, this major gives you tools to find answers.

This program explores the entanglement of environmental issues with economics and social justice—recognizing that "sustainable" solutions affect different communities in different ways. You'll learn to ask critical questions: Sustainable for whom? At what cost? Are we measuring the right things?

Drawing on geographic perspectives, you'll understand how these challenges vary across space—from neighborhoods to global systems. Unlike technical approaches to sustainability, this program grounds you in critical thinking, teaching you to interrogate underlying assumptions, question power structures, and understand how culture, history, and values shape possibilities for change.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You're concerned about climate change but skeptical of simple "green" solutions.
• You want to understand why sustainability efforts succeed or fail, and for whom.
• You're drawn to big questions about fairness, power, and the future rather than just technical fixes.
• You care about making real change but want to think critically about what "better" actually means.
• You're interested in careers where you can evaluate and improve sustainability work, not just accept it at face value.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainability, Society, and Environmental Geography, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

9 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Requirements for the Major

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
EMSC 100S	Earth and Mineral Sciences First-Year Seminar 1	3
GEOG 210	Geographic Perspectives on Environmental Systems Science	3
GEOG 230	Geographic Perspectives on Environment, Society and Sustainability	3
GEOG 340	Thinking Sustainably	3
GEOG 344	Sustainability Methods	3
GEOG 390	Professional Development Seminar in Geography	1
GEOG 440	Environment, Society, and Sustainability Capstone	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3-4 credits in Statistics:		3-4
STAT 100	Statistical Concepts and Reasoning
STAT 200	Elementary Statistics
STAT 240	Introduction to Biometry
STAT 250	Introduction to Biostatistics
STAT 401	Experimental Methods
Select 3-4 credits in Mathematics (MATH 33 preferred):		3-4
MATH 21	College Algebra with Analytic Geometry with Applications I
MATH 22	College Algebra With Analytic Geometry and Applications II
MATH 26	Plane Trigonometry and Applications of Trigonometry
MATH 33	Mathematics for Sustainability (preferred)
MATH 34	The Mathematics of Money
MATH 35	General View of Mathematics
MATH 36	Insights Into Mathematics
MATH 37	Finite Mathematics
MATH 38	Elementary Linear Algebra
MATH 41	Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
MATH 81	Technical Mathematics I
MATH 82	Technical Mathematics II
MATH 83	Technical Calculus
MATH 110	Techniques of Calculus I
MATH 140	Calculus With Analytic Geometry I
MATH 140G	Calculus with Earth and Mineral Sciences Applications I
MATH 140H	Honors Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MATH 141	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
MATH 141G	Calculus with Earth and Mineral Sciences Applications II
MATH 141H	Honors Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
Select 3 credits in Engaged Scholarship:		3
EMSC 299	Foreign Studies
EMSC 470W	Undergraduate Collaborative Research in Earth and Materials Sciences
GEOG 199	Foreign Studies
GEOG 294	Research Project
GEOG 296	Independent Studies
GEOG 299	Foreign Studies
GEOG 399	Foreign Studies
GEOG 493	Service Learning
GEOG 494	Research Project in Geography
GEOG 494H	Research Project in Geography
GEOG 495	Internship
GEOG 495B	Geography Teaching Internship
GEOG 496	Independent Studies
GEOG 499	Foreign Studies
Select 3 credits of 300-level Geography: 2		3
GEOG 310	Introduction to Global Climatic Systems
GEOG 314	Biogeography and Global Ecology
GEOG 320	Fundamentals of Urban Geography
GEOG 324	Place, Space and Culture
GEOG 326	Geographies of the Economy: Power and Place
GEOG 328	War, Peace, and Diplomacy: Understanding Contemporary Geopolitics
GEOG 330N	Political Ecology
Select 12 credits of 400-level Geography:		12
GEOG 414	Principles and Applications in Landscape Ecology
GEOG 420Y	Comparative Urbanism
GEOG 424W	Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 426W	Gendered Worlds
GEOG 428W	Political Geography
GEOG 430	Human Use of Environment
GEOG 431	Geography of Water Resources
GEOG 432	Energy Policy
GEOG 433	Geographies of Justice
GEOG 434	Politics of the Environment
GEOG 437W	Energy Geographies and Policy
GEOG 438W	Human Dimensions of a Changing Climate
GEOG/AFR 444	Resource Governance in Africa
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 17-18 credits of approved minor, certificate, concurrent major, or other approved courses in consultation with an adviser, from department list. Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC courses. Courses in this section may not double-count with General Education, prescribed, additional, BA requirements, or electives in order to maintain 120-credit total. If courses for a concurrent major, primary minor, or certificate are used elsewhere, additional credits are needed in this section to equal 17-18.		17-18

¹

The following substitutions are allowed for students attending campuses where the indicated course is not offered or who start in colleges other than EMS or DUS at University Park: CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C or CAS 138T or ENGL 202A/ENGL 202B/ENGL 202C/ENGL 202D can be substituted for EMSC 100S.

²

Course counts for major only; does not double-count in General Education requirements.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

World Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This proficiency must be demonstrated by either examination or course work. See the Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, World Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language). Credits must be selected from the list of approved courses.

World Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the University Cultural Diversity (US/IL) requirement.​

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Jodi Vender
Undergraduate Adviser
305 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-5730
advising@geog.psu.edu

Jared Whear
Assistant Research Professor
302 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
jcw6113@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2025-26 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Sustainability, Society, and Environmental Geography, B.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

Students who begin their studies at non-UP locations and/or join the college after their first year should substitute CAS 100 (GWS) or ENGL 202A (GWS) or ENGL 202B (GWS) or ENGL 202C (GWS) or ENGL 202D (GWS)  or ENGL 202H (GWS) for EMSC 100S (GWS). EMSC 100S Earth and Mineral Sciences First year Seminar (3) is a required course only for students who begin their studies at UP in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Advising Notes:

• Students who place out of world language courses will have additional electives. For example, a student who has had 4 years of high school French and begins world language study at Penn State in Intermediate French (FR 3) will have 8 additional elective credits.
• To enter the major, students need a minimum 2.00 grade point average and third semester standing.
• Courses required for the major may be offered fall semester only, spring semester only, or both fall and spring semesters. Consult with your adviser and department to discuss your academic progress and course sequencing.

Sustainability, Society, and Environmental Geography, B.A. at Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

Students who begin their studies at non-UP locations and/or join the college after their first year should substitute CAS 100 (GWS) or ENGL 202A (GWS) or ENGL 202B (GWS) or ENGL 202C (GWS) or ENGL 202D (GWS) or ENGL 202H (GWS) for EMSC 100S (GWS). EMSC 100S Earth and Mineral Sciences First-Year Seminar (3) is a required course only for students who begin their studies at UP in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Advising Notes:

• Commonwealth campus students are strongly advised to complete all GWS, GQ, and GHW credits before transitioning to UP, as these courses may be challenging to schedule at UP.
• Students who place out of world language courses will have additional electives. For example, a student who has had 4 years of high school French and begins world language study at Penn State in Intermediate French (FR 3) will have 8 additional elective credits.
• To enter the major, students need a minimum 2.00 grade point average and third semester standing.
• Courses required for the major may be offered fall semester only, spring semester only, or both fall and spring semesters. Consult with your adviser and department to discuss your academic progress and course sequencing.

Career Paths

This program prepares you to work wherever sustainability, equity, and environmental challenges intersect with decision-making. Your training in critical analysis—asking who benefits, what assumptions underlie initiatives, and how solutions play out unevenly across communities—is valuable across sectors. Graduates pursue careers evaluating and shaping sustainability efforts in organizations that increasingly recognize sustainability requires more than technical expertise. Many also continue to advanced study, bringing geographic and critical perspectives to graduate work in diverse fields.

Careers

Graduates fit into exciting careers across public, private, and non-profit sectors. Demand for critical sustainability analysis is growing, driven by investor expectations, international market requirements, and growing commitments to environmental justice and human rights—factors largely independent of domestic political shifts. Organizations need professionals who can evaluate sustainability claims, separate substance from greenwashing, and assess real risks and opportunities. Paths include policy analysis and advocacy, corporate risk assessment, and work with government agencies and NGOs on environmental justice. Graduates also pursue international and community development, and urban planning roles navigating competing interests around land use and resource access.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

This major provides strong preparation for graduate programs in geography, particularly those focused on human-environment interactions, political ecology, and urban geography. Your background supports advanced study in environmental studies, sustainability science, urban and regional planning, and public policy programs. Many graduates pursue law degrees focusing on environmental justice or land use, or public health programs examining environmental health disparities. Development studies, international affairs, and area studies programs value your critical approach to sustainability questions. Your interdisciplinary training and emphasis on equity positions you well for programs examining climate adaptation, environmental governance, social movements, or community resilience.

Professional Resources

• American Association of Geographers (AAG)
• American Planning Association (APA)
• International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP)
• National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP)
• Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals (PAEP)

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
302 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-3433
geography@psu.edu

https://www.geog.psu.edu