Mills College
Sustainability Studies
Minor
This is an interdisciplinary program connecting social, economic, and environmental sustainability to the United Nations’ global Sustainable Development Goals.
- Gain expertise in understanding complex global sustainability challenges
- Develop nimble problem-solving skills and a resilient mindset
PROGRAM FORMAT
On Ground, Online
MEETS F1 VISA REQUIREMENTS
No
time COMMITMENT
4 courses / 16 semester hours
Entry term(s)
Fall, Spring
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Build expertise to solve tomorrow’s sustainability challenges
The Sustainability Studies minor combines thematic coursework with an emphasis on marketable, transferable problem-solving skills and applied learning. The program trains you to think holistically and act meaningfully to address the interconnected social, economic, and environmental challenges that threaten our future.
Unique features
- A cross-disciplinary approach embedded throughout the program, from faculty expertise to course curriculum.
- Develops versatile problem‑solving skills that students carry into the domains they care about, applying them through meaningful, hands‑on experience.
- An emphasis on sustainability, which is fundamental to effective sustainable solutions.
- Projects that support underserved communities and engage with each campus’s natural resources and distinct urban environment.
Career outlook
You’ll develop expertise in understanding complex global changes and gain practical problem-solving skills that prepare you for diverse career paths in policy, business, public health, government, and beyond.
Declare this minor
Interested in declaring this minor? Here are your next steps and must knows.
- Consult with your academic advisor to learn how this minor impacts your plan of study.
- To declare a minor, you need to be a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- To graduate with a minor, you must attain a 2.0 GPA in courses taken for the minor.
- No classes for the minor can be taken as pass/fail.
- To learn more about this minor program, please complete the form at the bottom of this page.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Prepare for success
The minor integrates concrete and versatile skill-building, with an emphasis on fundamental human values, deeper knowledge in your area of thematic interest, and real-world experience.
Gain and apply practical problem-solving skills
Use integrated problem-solving competencies—such as values thinking, systems thinking, future thinking, and strategic thinking—to analyze and address complex sustainability challenges across social, economic, and environmental domains.
Cultivate ethical and social justice leadership
Assess the ethical implications and human values dimensions of sustainability challenges—with particular attention to issues of equity, justice, and diverse stakeholder perspectives.
Develop deep expertise in understanding complex challenges
Synthesize knowledge across disciplines and apply appropriate research methods to investigate sustainability challenges, gather and analyze relevant data, and draw evidence-based conclusions that inform decision-making.
Future-proof your skillset
Articulate the opportunities and tradeoffs in using artificial intelligence and other frontier and emerging technologies to solve sustainability challenges.
Connect with us
Want more information?
To learn more about our minor programs, complete the form below. For information on Northeastern University degree programs or applying to Northeastern, please visit admissions.northeastern.edu.