Undergraduate Programs
Sustainability Majors | SoMAS Majors | Minors | Other Programs
BS in Coastal Environmental Studies
Prepare for one of the most important environmental careers of the future—coastal
zone management. This rigorous science degree integrates physical and natural
sciences together with environmental ethics, policy, and law in order to understand
and mitigate the impact of sea level rise on water and land resource use and coastal zone development. Graduates with this degree will be proficient in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, a skill sought by government agencies,
businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
BA in Ecosystems and Human Impact
Human beings take the environment for granted. We threaten the air, water, and wildlife with the way we live on planet Earth. This major examines natural ecosystems and how they function or degrade in the face of potential threats from humans. We also look at the “services” these ecosystems provide: food, shelter, and purifying our water and air. (Did you know 25 percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from microscopic algae floating in lakes and oceans?) Students in this program are prepared to go on to law or graduate school or work in conservation.
BA in Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning
Must we live with the traffic congestion created by suburban sprawl? As people push outward from our cities, is there any way to preserve open space and manage urbanization? This program focuses on the built environment, culminating in a degree that opens the door to working on land-use planning and design, community redevelopment, real estate development, and landscape architecture.
BA in Environmental Humanities
How does our understanding of Native American fiction help us to better grasp environmental issues? What does the history of human settlement on Long Island have to do with our present-day relationship to nature? This major integrates disciplines from social sciences and the humanities, including writing, literature, philosophy, history, anthropology, archaeology, and art and architectural history, to prepare students for careers in nature education, museum work, community organizing, literacy education, advocacy, business, writing, and the arts. Students may also choose to pursue advanced degrees in literature, journalism, education, social work, the arts, social sciences, and law.
When we produce goods, how much—and how quickly—are we consuming natural resources in order to keep production flowing? When political decisions are made in the name of progress,” how do they affect future generations? You’ll also learn about viable economic activities that are ecologically sound and socially just. This degree can lead to careers in eco-tourism, law, business, economic development, or energy conservation.
BS in Business Management with a Specialization in Sustainable Business
Companies need employees who can align day-to-day corporate operations with “green” values. This degree offers a solid foundation in business, with an understanding of how business impacts the environment. Students will acquire career skills that lead to diverse, innovative managerial and professional positions in all areas of business, while they get an education in the fundamentals of sustainability.
This program provides the broad background needed to understand our world’s urgent challenges, with opportunity for focused study in your particular area of interest. Students delve into the ethical, legal, political, scientific, and socioeconomic perspectives on environmental problems. If you’re interested in environmental conservation, environmental law, marine protection, science journalism, or waste management (to name just a few potential professions), this major is for you.
Because marine sciences is an interdisciplinary field, it requires a strong foundation in basic science. This major is a rigorous study of the biology, chemistry, and physics of the ocean. Upper-division electives cover specific organisms (algae, fish, marine invertebrates, marine mammals, and micro-organisms) and habitats (barrier islands, dunes, estuaries, open ocean, rocky intertidal, and salt marshes). The program is preparation for graduate study and research in marine sciences.
BS in Marine Vertebrate Biology
Study marine biology with an emphasis on marine vertebrate organisms, such as birds, fish, marine mammals, sharks, and turtles. (You’ll receive more intensive training in zoology than students in the Marine Sciences program.) After graduation, you might work in an aquarium or animal rescue organization, in public education, or in marine preservation. This program is also preparation for veterinary school or graduate study in marine science or related fields.
Minor in Ecosystems and Human Impact
The Ecosystems and Human Impact minor is intended for students who seek to complement their chosen major with a coherent set of courses emphasizing the interaction between humans and ecosystems from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Minor in Environmental Design, Policy and Planning
The Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning minor is intended for students who seek to complement their chosen major with a foundation in complex scientific, legal, ethical, political, environmental, and socio-economic issues that surround the development, management, and use of the built environment.
Minor in Sustainability Studies
The Sustainability Studies minor is intended for students who seek to complement their chosen major with a foundation in the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability.
With a focus on environmental sustainability, Stony Brook Southampton's minor in Business Management can provide you with a solid foundation of essential business concepts and applications.
Stony Brook Southampton and Stony Brook's College of Business have joined together to offer you the opportunity to earn your four-year undergraduate degree and a two-year MBA in our five-year Fast Track BA/BS-MBA Program.