Minor in Social Innovation and Sustainability
The Social Innovation and Sustainability Minor is jointly offered by the Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship - Department of Public Administration and Real Estate Development and the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography - Department of Environmental Sciences. This minor is meant to offer students focused coursework on economic, environmental, and social elements of sustainability.
The minor requires 5 courses (15 credit hours) that are a combination of face-to-face, fully-online, and blend-flex options. A number of featured guest speakers, site visits, and applied experiential learning exercises are an integral part of this minor.
For those students that are interested and concerned with understanding and helping to shape the future of successful sustainable initiatives. In other words, to prepare students for “what is best for our world”.
| Required: | ||
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 1100 | Environmental Science I | 3 credits |
| GEOG 2075 | Geographical Information Systems | 3 credits |
| PADM 1000 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 credits |
| PADM 2150 | Transforming Public Administration for Sustainable Development | 3 credits |
| PADM 3456 | Creativity and Innovation in Government and Social Practices | 3 credits |
Full-time professionals are available to discuss the minor in economics curriculum with you in greater detail. Simply call 800-338-4723 or contact our Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
PROPOSED COURSES for Undergraduate MINOR in Social Innovation and Sustainability
All courses currently exist.
ENVS 1100 Environmental Science I (3 credits)
General Environmental Science provides students with a broad overview of a highly interdisciplinary subject by examining how humans can best live with Earth’s environment. This course concentrates on the biological nature of environmental science: NIMBY, environmental justice, biological communities, biodiversity, population, food, and hunger. Frequency: Every Winter.
GEOG 2075 Geographical Information Systems (3 credits)
Geographical Information Systems is an introductory survey course that gives the student a comprehensive introduction to the basic design principles of data-based management systems for the capture, analysis, and display of spatial data. Frequency: Every Fall.
PADM 1000 Introduction to Public Administration (3 credits)
Public Administration is a multi-disciplinary discipline that provides students with the basic skills necessary for employment in government, public service, and non-profit organizations. This course is a survey of the field of public administration, and will introduce the student to the history, theories, concepts, and practice of public administration. This course will provide an overview of the major sub-fields in public administration and will serve as a basis for further study in the field.
PADM 2150 Transforming Public Administration for Sustainable Development (3 credits)
Based on the United Nations’ call to transform public administration to help foster environmental, social and economic sustainability (the three pillars of sustainable development), this course invites students to explore the change of public administration for sustainable development. Through theoretical and practical research of the meaning and relevance of sustainability for our governments, participants will learn how public administration reports and improve on sustainability standards at regional, national and international levels. They will have the opportunity to partner with a local government and conduct a mini-consultancy project. Participants will combine their skills to develop their expertise on governance for sustainability, to deliver innovative projects and contribute to our governments’ deliverables for sustainable development.
PADM 3456 Creativity and Innovation in Government and Social Practices (3 credits)
The future will be determined by individuals and government organizations who choose to creatively grow and renew. This course will focus on how individuals and teams develop perspectives, principles and practices that will bolster a contagion for newness in operations and social systems. Students will learn the principles and practices which lead to creativity and innovation in government practices addressing citizen needs and societal challenges. Students will learn techniques and tools to strengthen their efforts to better align with individual and team results. The course will also involve reviewing successful innovative government practices and social environments in operation today. Students will produce their own problem, plan and implementation agenda for an existing opportunity in a government or societal deficiency.