Academics and Research

Make Sustainability part of your academic journey.

Sustainability in the Classroom

You can find elements of sustainability across a variety of programs and curriculum at Illinois State. Some programs are fully dedicated to sustainability. Others incorporate projects or concepts that make a positive impact on the environment. The ultimate goal is to make sure we're all responsible stewards of our communities and planet.

Study Your Passion

Many classes at Illinois State address various aspects of sustainability. You won't just learn about the environment, you'll get experience addressing many different sustainability challenges and implementing solutions that make a major impact. The classes listed below, as well as many others, emphasize sustainability or a sustainability challenge.

ACC 431: Current Issues in Accounting
AGR 157: Soil Science
AGR 201: Resources, Food, & Society
AGR 203: Agriculture & the Environment
AGR 225: Renewable Energy & Agriculture
AGR 234: Soil & Water Conservation
ANT 105: People & Food
ANT 343: Food, Place, and Power
BSC 201: Ecology
BSC 280: Conservation of Animal & Plant Biodiversity
BSC 311: Rain Forest Ecology
BSC 365: Bioenergy Plant/Microbe Biology & the Environment
BSC 375: Stream Ecology/BSC 376: Stream Ecology Lab
BSC 406: Conservation Biology
BSC 420.38: Seminar in Bioenergy Sciences
CJS 103: Eco-Justice
COM 274 : Environmental Communication
ECO 202 : Current Economic Issues
ECO 236: Economics of Energy & Public Policy
ECO 250: Public Economics
ECO 255 : Intro to Environmental & Natural Resource Economy
ECO 324: Economics of Human Resources
ECO 345: International Trade
ECO 406: Local Economic Development
ECO 424: Economics of Human Resources
ECO 436: Seminar in Regulatory Policy
ENG 100: Introduction to English Studies
ENG 183: Rhetoric as Civic Literacy
ENG 280: Science Writing
ENG 351: Digital Rhetorics
ENG 429: Environmental Humanities
FCS 122: Apparel Product Development
FCS 214: The Hospitality Industry
FCS 218: Interior Construction & Building Systems
FCS 225: Textiles
FCS 301/FCS 401: Materials & Finishes in Interior Design
FCS 320.02: Special Topics in Hospitality: Sustainability
FIL 380.04: Ethics, Leadership, & Corporate Responsibility
GEO 100: Introduction to Environmental Systems
GEO 103/POL 103/SOC 103: Thirsty Society
GEO 205: Environment, Resources, & Sustainability
GEO 301/GEO 401: Climate Change, Agriculture, & Sustainable Futures
GEO 318/GEO 418: Aquifer Systems

GEO 322: Sustainable Cities
GEO 326/GEO 426: Environmental Justice
GEO 334: Political Ecology
GEO 341: Climatology & Climate Change
GEO 422: Sustainable Cities
GEO 441: Climatology & Climate Change
HIS 210: History of Science
HSC 145: Environmental Health & Sustainability Practice
HSC 156: Environmental Health in the 21st Century
HSC 249: Environmental Toxicology
HSC 252: Waste & Wastewater Control
HSC 257: Air Quality & Pollution Control
HSC 322: Pollution Prevention
HSC 355: Environmental Health Decision Processes
HSC 445: Environmental Health
IDS 111: Peace Studies
KNR 441: Environmental Sustainability in Sport and Recreation
MKT 236: Business Ethics, Social Responsibility, & Sustainability
MKT 310: Marketing Logistics & Supply Chain Management
PHI 150: Science & Human Culture
PHI 236: Values & the Environment
PHY 207: Energy & Society
POL 222: Urban Politics & Problems
POL 236: Environmental Politics & Policy
POL 355: Human Security
POL 365: Ecological Politics
PSY 477: School-based Prevention, Intervention, & Anti-Racist/Social Justice Practices
SED 101: Disability, Learning, & Education: Foundations & Philosophical Perspectives
SED 344: Teaching Secondary Content to Students with Disabilities
SOC 241: People in Places: Understanding & Developing Community
SOC 330: Society & Environment
SOC 363: Population & the Environment
SWK 310: Understanding Diverse Populations
SWK 444: Promoting Social Justice with Diverse Populations
TEC 160: Intro to Renewable Energy
TEC 170: Energy for a Sustainable Future
TEC 258: Renewable Energy Technology Applications
TEC 262: Energy Planning & Management
TEC 329: Sustainability Buildings & Urban Development
WGS 120: Gender, Sex, & Power
WGS 292: Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
WGS 490: Feminist Theories & Methodological Issues

Add a sustainability class to your schedule. You don't have to major or minor in a program to make sustainability part of your classroom experience. Check out the list of courses above to see what's offered, or learn more about a program in sustainability.

Majors

Conservation Biology

Designed for students seeking careers in the conservation of natural ecosystems and all levels of biodiversity.
Environmental Health and Sustainability

Ensure our food, water, air, and the places we live and work are safe and healthy.
Environmental Systems Science and Sustainability

Study complex environmental challenges, like pollution, climate change, and harmful waste.
Sustainable and Renewable Energy

Address real-world social, economic, and technical sustainability issues.

Minors

Business Environment and Sustainability

Increase your awareness and knowledge of the relationships between business and the physical environment.
Civic Engagement and Responsibility Minor

Participate in social change and develop an individual awareness of ethics and social responsibility.
Environmental Health and Sustainability

Get practical exposure to environmental challenges and how to solve them.
Environmental Studies

Examine the interrelationships between humans and their environment, and hazards facing our planet.
Food Studies

Understand the biological, cultural, environmental, philosophical, and political aspects of food and food systems.
Urban Studies

Research and analyze cities, their development, their structure and life, and their problems and resources.
Water Sustainability

Study and address the complex problems that threaten water security through an interdisciplinary lens.

We want to hear from faculty. Tell us how you're making sustainability part the classroom through curriculum, projects, and other ways. Or, just ask us how we can help.

Share your ideas

An instructor teaches students about the garden they are standing in.

Instructor and students wear hard hats as they study on solar panels.

Research for Faculty and Students

Participating in research feeds your curiosity while making contributions to the field. Illinois State has all the tools and resources you need to dive deep into the topics and challenges that most interest you.

Explore Research at Illinois State

We can help make your research idea a reality.

A successful research project takes a lot of work. We want to make sure you can focus on what really matters: making a positive impact in the field of sustainability.

Team up with us and we can help get your project off the ground, find research partners, connect you to resources, and get funding.

Tell us what you're up to and we'll let you know what we can do to help

Sustainability Research Spotlight

Jesse Smith is working to restore the Sugar Creek Savanna.

Professional Development Opportunities

For Faculty

Integrate Sustainability Into Your Curriculum

The Center for Integrated Professional Development periodically offers courses that provide simple steps to help you incorporate elements of sustainability in your classroom.

For All

Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education

This conference is the top event to exchange effective models, policies, research, collaborations and transformative actions that advance sustainability in higher education and surrounding communities. Any member of higher education is welcome to attend and we can help fund your trip.

Email us to learn more about attending this conference