Global Environments and Sustainability

• Global Humanities, History or Culture: one of
  • GSGS 2000: Introduction to Global Studies (was GSGS 2559 in Fall 2023)

The following courses satisfy this prerequisite for students graduating in May 2027 or earlier.

• • ANTH 2160: Culture & the Environment
  • ANTH 2250: Nationalism, Racism, Multiculturalism
  • ANTH 2285: Anthropology of Development + Humanitarianism
  • GDS 3114: Science, Technology, Development
  • GSGS 2010: Global Commerce in Culture
  • GSGS 2400: Mass Migration & Global Development (was GSGS 2559 in Spring 2024)
  • GSGS 2610: Global Systems of Inequality
  • GSGS 3030/ENGL 3610: Global Cultural Studies
  • GSGS 3100: Critical Conceptions of the Global
  • GSGS 3117: Dynamics of Great Powers: View from the South
  • GSGS 3118: Space, Place and Global Development (was GSGS 3559 in Fall 2023)
  • GSGS 3559 (19730): Order & Disorder in the Contemporary World
• Methods/Quantitative Reasoning: one of
  • EVSC 3020: GIS Methods
  • GSGS 4200: Applied Research in Global Studies
  • GSGS 4620: GIS for Global Studies
  • GSGS 4810: Thinking in (Global) Systems
  • GSVS 4100: Evidence for (Sustainability) Policy
  • PLAN 2110: Data Visualization for Planners
  • PLAN 2111: GIS for Planners
  • STAT 1601 or 1602: Intro to Data Science with R
  • STAT 2020: Statistics for Biologists
  • STAT 2120: Intro to Statistical Analysis

The following courses satisfy this prerequisite for students graduating in May 2027 or earlier.

• • ECON 2010: Microeconomics
  • ECON 3430: Economics of Sustainability & Environment
  • GSGS 3330: Ecological Economics
  • GSVS 2050: Sustainable Energy Systems

• GSVS 2150 - Global Sustainability Credits: 3

• GSVS 2150 / ARCH 2150 / COMM 3880: Global Sustainability
• GSVS 2210 / RELG 2210: Religion, Ethics & Global Environment
• GSVS 3310: Sustainability Policy at Home & Abroad
• GSVS 3330: Ecological Economics (preferred) ~OR~ ECON 3430: Economics of Sustainability & the Environment
• GSVS 4991: Capstone Research Seminar

• See the “Elective Explorer” tab of the GSVS Curriculum Planner spreadsheet for the the current list of courses pre-approved for the major. 

(Please make a copy of the Curriculum Planner and follow the steps in the Instructions tab to map out your Global Sustainability journey.)

OF NOTE:

• Students may apply for admission to the major before completing the prerequisites, but the courses must be completed before graduation.
• The prerequisites cannot double count as GSVS core or elective courses, but they may double count for General Education requirements.
• Students may count 4 of their major courses (12 credits) taken in other UVA schools as 'inside' the College (per CEPC approval on 12/8/2015)
• Credits applied toward a major cannot count toward completion of a minor. See rules for College minors on the Minors Overview webpage. 
• Within allowable UVA limits and in consultation with the track director (Spencer Phillips), students may do the following:
  • double-count up to 3 courses toward the interdisciplinary GSVS major and another UVA major
  • count UVA Transfer Credit toward coursework required for the major
  • count Direct Credits from a UVA Study Abroad program toward the major
  • count UVA-approved Transfer Credit from a Study Abroad program toward the major
  • create an independent study course in Global Sustainability
  • receive 1 credit for an internship (details on the UVA Career Center Internship Placement Program webpage). 

For questions about the major and/or to share a share a draft of your plans, please email Spencer Phillips at any time. To make an appointment to review your plans (recommended) see his bookings page.) 

(Click here for requirements for the Global Sustainability Minor.) 

• GSVS 4991 - Capstone Seminar in Global Studies Environments and Sustainability Credits: 3 (spring only in 4th or final year)

Completion/satisfaction of World Language Literacy as detailed in the College Curriculum. Students can meet the World Languages requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses of action:

• Earn exemption by placing beyond the 2020 level by examination
• Take 14 credits, or four semesters of a language in the proper sequence typically finishing at the 2020 level
• After placement, complete the remaining courses in the sequence up to the fourth semester (usually 2020)

The interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability benefits students of all majors who want to understand the many facets of sustainability and learn how to apply this knowledge in their personal and professional lives. The Minor empowers students across the University in common efforts to accomplish real change through community engagement with sustainable projects in their communities and beyond. The Minor also establishes connections between different disciplines and prepares students to incorporate sustainable practices into their varied future careers. Global Sustainability Minors will be ready to create and tackle projects on their own, and to be creative collaborators who understand how to engage the material and human resources of their community to accomplish their goals. 

Requirements for the Minor 

The Global Sustainability minor requires 15 credits, including one 3-credit foundation course. See details in the “Minor Planner” tab of the GSVS Curriculum Planner spreadsheet. The “Elective Explorer” tab shows the current list of courses that are pre-approved for the minor. (Make a copy of the worksheet sheet to map out your plans, following the steps in the Instructions tab.) 

For questions about the minor and/or to share a share a draft of your plans, please email Tashana Starks and Spencer Phillips. Once your plan is set, Ms. Starks will manage the minor declaration process.