Education and Research

Sustainability is so much more than recycling. It is the process of “maintaining change in a balanced fashion, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations(1).”

Undergraduate and Graduate Sustainability Courses at MU

The University of Missouri offers undergraduates 203 sustainability courses to choose from and over 1,000 courses that include sustainability content. For students interested in graduate school, the university offers a total of 138 sustainability courses and 754 courses that include sustainability content.

Students and potential students who are interested in learning more about sustainability courses can find class names and course descriptions in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) Courses Inventory PDF here.   

Sustainability Programs

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture involves practices that protect the environment, public health and animal welfare while still producing food, fiber and fuel that we rely on each and every day. By looking at areas such as soil health, plant health, water quality and agricultural policies, researchers and producers can work together to create the products we need without compromising the environment or society.

Environmental Sciences

Environmental sciences integrates physical, biological and information to the study of the environment. This field strives to find sustainable solutions to environmental problems. Scientists research topics such as earth processes, effects of global climate change, alternative energy systems and so much more.

Human Environmental Sciences

Human environmental sciences helps address human needs to enhance an individual’s life. This can be achieved by conducting research, preparing professionals and providing outreach. The Family Impact Center and the Child Development Lab are just two of the many MU-affiliated examples of human environmental sciences in action.

Geography

Geography can explore environmental impacts, the complexities between the natural world and human behavior, and it can also focus in on understanding societal issues such as climate and vegetation change.

Natural Resource Management

Natural resources such as water, air, plants and animals are vital to our survival. Natural resource management helps to create, manage and restore urban ecosystems in a sustainable fashion. Natural resource management can also help with conservation efforts of plant and animal species in forests, grasslands and streams.