Renewable clean energy, pesticide regulation, green space cultivation and other sustainable initiatives protect our planet’s ecosystems, maintain its natural resources and enhance the quality of human life around the world. In the BA in Sustainability and Environmental Policy, you’ll connect the complex subjects of sustainability, environmental science, and environmental policy as you explore the scientific, social and cultural aspects of our most prevalent environmental issues.
Through an interdisciplinary lens, you’ll learn to perform statistical analysis, conduct environmental sustainability research and develop ethical solutions that enable humanity to better coexist with the natural world. The program culminates in a transdisciplinary capstone project in which you’ll explore an environmental topic you find most meaningful.
Experiential learning is emphasized throughout this program and offered in regional, national and international settings. These opportunities include study abroad, faculty-led international courses and field research in environmental biology, chemistry or engineering. Others are made available through university partnerships and special programs and include participation in an environmental policy fellowship in Washington, D.C., to work with nonprofits or governmental agencies. These experiences can also be completed as part of your capstone project.
Whether you see yourself making the biggest impact in a lab, out in the field or somewhere in between, the expertise you gain from this major unlocks a range of rewarding career paths. Possibilities include working as a sustainability consultant or environmental policy analyst for a federal agency, or as a sustainability manager for a city, nonprofit or corporation. Complementary programs such as minors in History and Philosophy of Science, Global Public Health and Applied Statistics & Data Science can enhance your academic experience and help guide your specific career path.
Our BA in Sustainability and Environmental Policy positions you for a growing number of specialized and in-demand opportunities. Graduates gain valuable skills suited for a wide array of potential careers.
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Policy Analyst
Environmental Sociologist
Wildlife Educator
Urban Planner
Students, faculty and staff from the School of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, and Albert Schweitzer Institute rolled up their sleeves to install a rain garden and a berm to help absorb water runoff before it reaches the Mill River and storm drains.
“This is the realization of a dream I had when I started as executive director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute more than three years ago,” said Sean Duffy, who also served as the co-chair of the sustainability planning committee.
“With climate change, our region will get many more heavy rainfall events and so we will need to figure out what to do with the water before it goes into the storm drains and overwhelms the system,” he said. “If we overwhelm the sewers with rainwater, that’s going to overwhelm sewage treatment facilities and all that water will get flushed out into the Sound. If we can hold the water here without having it run into the sewage system, it actually will help us adjust for what is coming.”
The positive impact of the rain garden will be felt for miles, explained Courtney McGinnis, professor of biology.
“Keeping the pollutants out of the water will benefit the animals and organisms that are right here, as well as downstream — which is considerable since we are pretty upstream on this river,” she said.
We envision a Quinnipiac that is a model for sustainability in southern New England, building its practices and leveraging its campuses to promote a healthy regional ecosystem, and to engage in practices that equip current and future students, faculty and staff to embody sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives, equipping them to thrive in a world increasingly influenced and affected by environmental disruption.
The Albert Schweitzer Institute conducts programs that link education, ethics and voluntarism for the sake of creating a more peaceful and sustainable world. A dynamic presence at Quinnipiac University, the institute has drawn notable humanitarians both to campus and to its board, and gives students of all majors the chance to engage with local challenges and the broader international community.
We envision a world where Quinnipiac students, faculty, staff and alumni are agents of sustainability for the communities they engage and enrich — locally and beyond. To accomplish this, QU promotes a culture where students gain and develop an understanding of environmental sustainability appropriate to their majors. Students learn about complex connections among natural environments, built infrastructure, and social and cultural institutions. Learning occurs within the curriculum and through engagement in co- and extra-curricular activities.
We are currently proceeding on three fronts:
Conducting audits of:
Our faculty members’ expertise related to sustainability
Current environmental initiatives
Campus culture
Curriculum
Building curricular and co-curricular elements, by:
Implementing our three new majors
Developing new courses for the University Curriculum
Establishing an eco-rep program
Setting targets to:
Establish an environmental Essential Learning Outcome (ELO)
Integrate sustainability as a theme throughout all co- and extra-curricular programs and activities
In both physical presence and action, Quinnipiac serves as a responsible steward of its natural resources and supports the long-term environmental sustainability of humanity on Earth. QU community members live and engage in sustainable practices, contributing to the creation of a more resilient and environmentally sustainable campus and community.
We currently work to:
Measure:
Waste and energy flows
Water consumption
Transportation options
The use of plastic on campus
Implement:
Recycling education
Food recovery programs
Increased access to existing campus and regional transit services
Water conservation in our landscaping efforts
Programs promoting mindful conservation practices
Envision:
Targeted reductions of single-use plastics
Alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles
A flagship sustainable facility on campus
The presence of environmental sustainability in all pertinent practices is a central value at Quinnipiac. This value permeates our administrative and operational structures and provides the basis for external communication and internal execution of sustainable practices.
To better lead in sustainability on and off campus, we are:
Hiring an in-house environmental health and safety officer
Researching appropriate institutional memberships
Developing and implementing comprehensive monitoring and reporting systems
Working toward the full establishment of an Office of Sustainability with a Chief Sustainability Officer
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.