Sustainability provides a lens to examine how social, political, economic, technological, and environmental systems influence human health and well-being and how we can mitigate health threats, build resilient and responsive communities, and train future health professionals.

Gateway Academic Programs

Academic Programs

Penn State students can engage sustainability’s biggest challenges through their coursework, service, and applied experiences. In alignment with our Climate Consortium, the Sustainability Learning Gateway’s overarching themes provide pathways to learning about sustainability challenges, diving deep into the issues inside and outside of the classroom, and developing expertise that is personally, civically, and professionally meaningful. You can also search by your level, undergraduate or graduate. We have included these academic programs for one of three reasons. The program must:

  1. Require sustainability explicitly (Ex: Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems, Energy and Sustainability Policy, or Sustainability Leadership);
  2. Provides a track or pathway for students to easily incorporate sustainability into the program (Architecture, Public Policy, or Ethics)
  3. Affords creativity or innovation to students to integrate sustainability into their program (Ex: Art, Integrative Sciences, or Music Composition).

There is a lot of information on these pages. Even still, we know special topics come up, individual faculty create sustainability-focused sections of courses, research experiences might be hidden somewhere, and new opportunities can emerge. To make the most of the Gateway and your sustainability journey, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with an academic adviser or a trusted mentor for assistance. If you have questions or feedback about the Gateway, please email: sustainability@psu.edu.

African Studies (B.A.)
Develop your understanding of various aspects of the African continent, including its socioeconomic conditions and global relations.

Integrative Science (B.S.)
For those who have education goals relating to scientific theory and practice across disciplinary areas, and who seek a high degree of flexibility, become knowledgeable across many disciplines.

Public Policy (B.S.)
For those interested in policy issues, politics, public administration, and related areas like policy analysis and policy advocacy, explore critical issues facing our communities, the nation, and the world.

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (B.S.)
Explore the theoretical, managerial, and technical facets of recreation, parks, and tourism to enhance sustainable engagement and management.

Food Systems
Prepare for existing and emerging food systems careers through interdisciplinary studies of health, science, economics and business, community, agriculture, the food service industry, and policy.

One Health
For science majors, a multidisciplinary approach integrating human medicine, veterinary medicine, and environmental science to optimize the health of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems.

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Explore the theoretical, managerial, and technical facets of recreation, parks, and tourism to enhance sustainable engagement and management.

Sustainability Leadership
Promote environmental, social, and economic sustainability in personal and professional lives through studying systems thinking, change agency, ethics, and more.

There are no certificates available in this category.

Homeland Security, Public Health Preparedness
Become a leader in the field of homeland security in public health preparedness.

International Affairs
Prepare for occupations involving public service, private enterprise, nonprofit organizations, and international organizations worldwide with optional concentrations including environment and resources.

Public Health
Hone expertise in community and behavioral health, epidemiology and biostatistics, global health, and health systems organization and policy.

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Explore the theoretical, managerial, and technical facets of recreation, parks, and tourism to enhance sustainable engagement and management.

BBH301W: Values and Ethics in Biobehavioral Health Research and Practice
This course examines the historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of morality and ethics, equipping students to make informed ethical decisions in personal, professional, and human development contexts, with a particular focus on research, medicine, and public health.

BBH416: Health Promotion II: Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
This course covers the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion, prevention, and intervention programs, with an emphasis on evaluation.

BIOL220W: Biology: Populations and Communities
This course introduces fundamental ecological principles by examining genetic and evolutionary processes, population dynamics, species interactions, ecosystem functions, and global biodiversity patterns, with an emphasis on understanding and conserving Earth’s biological resources.

BIOL412: Ecology of Infectious Diseases
This course explores the ecology of infectious diseases by examining parasite transmission dynamics, host-parasite interactions, and the ecological and evolutionary implications of infection, using mathematical models and real-world examples to inform disease control strategies across human, animal, and wildlife populations.

BIOL436: Population Ecology and Global Climate Change
 This course explores how individuals, populations, and communities respond ecologically to environmental variation, with a focus on climate change, by examining key concepts in climate science and population ecology.

ERM210: Environmental Factors and their Effect on Your Food Supply
This course examines how urban environmental issues impact food systems and natural resources, using insects as a lens to explore human effects on ecosystems, while integrating biological, chemical, physical, and social principles to assess sustainability, scientific inquiry, and environmental interactions.

GEOG230: Geographic Perspectives on Environment, Society, and Sustainability
This course explores the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems worldwide, employing an interdisciplinary geographic approach to critically examine environmental challenges (e.g., climate change, genetically modified food, overconsumption, disease, and environmental service provision), sustainability concepts, and human responsibilities for fostering equitable and sustainable futures.

GEOG333: Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards
This interdisciplinary course introduces natural hazards by examining the physical events and their social impacts, emphasizing how human vulnerability and risk shape the consequences of hazards while developing students’ communication skills.

GEOG3N: Food and the Future Environment
This course examines the interconnection between food systems and the environment through a global and U.S.-focused lens, emphasizing sustainability, human-environment interactions, and a critical analysis of how food production, consumption, and policies influence ecological and social resilience.

HIST111: American Food System: History, Technology, and Culture
This course provides a historical analysis of U.S. agriculture and food production, exploring the food system’s cultural, technological, and political dimensions while addressing ethical and sustainability challenges.

INTAG100N: Everyone Eats: Hunger, Food Security & Global Agriculture
This course examines the global impacts of agriculture through an interdisciplinary lens, exploring how interconnected natural and social factors, such as climate change, technology, resource use, and cultural practices, shape agricultural systems, particularly in the global South, with implications for food security, sustainability, and global equity.

INTAG470A/470B: Comparing Agricultural and Food Systems in the US and France
This course compares U.S. and French food and agricultural systems by examining key topics, including policy, sustainability, GMOs, and diet, through classroom instruction and a study-abroad component in France, culminating in written and oral analyses of specific crops within both national contexts.

PSYCH419: Psychology and a Sustainable World
This course examines psychological dimensions of humans’ connection to the natural world, causes of human contributions to environmental problems, and psychological approaches for encouraging sustainable behavior.

PSYCH490: Senior Seminar in Psychology
This course serves as a capstone experience for senior psychology majors, with the option to explore sustainable psychology.

RPTM300Y: Tourism and Leisure Behavior
 This course explores the motivations, impacts, and sustainability challenges of tourism from a global perspective, examining its sociocultural, economic, and ecological effects on host communities and visitors, while emphasizing strategies for sustainable tourism development.