Global and Local Sustainability

Contact Information

phone: (716) 839-8366
daemen.edu/sustainability

Chair

Brenda Young
(716) 839-8366

Degree Offered

Minor

Admission to Upper Division

In the second semester of his/her sophomore year, the student is required to make formal application (to the Director of the Sustainability Program) for admission to upper division. Transfer students (both from other institutions and current Daemen students who wish to declare a major in the Global & Local Sustainability program) will be accepted as lower division students.

Requirements for admission to upper division:

  1. Overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
  2. A minimum grade of C in: CMP101; BIO302 or ENS201 or ENS304;  SUST140; SUST240.
  3. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.25 in the courses referenced above.
  4. A minimum grade of C in all courses taken to-date which are required courses in the major section of the curriculum.
  5. Submission of an essay reflecting on previous community work, travel experiences and future career goals.

Residency Requirements

While there are no residency requirements prior to admission to upper division, students completing coursework at Daemen College will receive priority for admission based on tenure with the College as well as performance in, and the amount of, coursework taken at the College.

Graduation Requirements

An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.00.

Pertinent Additional Information

Students are required to complete one or more community-based international experiences subject to the approval of the Department Chairperson. The experience(s) may include internships, additional language studies, or pre-approved studies taken elsewhere. The experience(s) may or may not result in credit earned.

Students select an area of specialization within the major.  This can include coursework from a single academic discipline or a combination of study areas.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Global and Local Sustainability Department is to prepare students to be compassionate and informed citizens working to create and maintain sustainable communities locally and around the world. Through its interdisciplinary and experiential emphasis, our program fosters the skills to solve problems creatively and with cultural sensitivity, while developing graduates who can communicate solutions with clarity and confidence and identify new approaches to restore the environment, create economic and intellectual capacity, and promote social well-being.

Program Objectives

  • To provide students with knowledge of the three pillars of sustainability – social, environmental and economic sustainability.
  • To provide students with essential interpersonal and organizational skills necessary for collaborating with diverse community partners.
  • To empower students to play an active  role in their local and global communities, considering social and environmental responsibility in their decision-making.
  • To provide internship opportunities for students to further their intellectual and creative skills in economic and social development, cultural and historical preservation and environmental careers in government, not for profits and private businesses.
  • To develop creative problem-solving skills to address interdisciplinary challenges of sustainability.
  • To build an understanding of the concept of place and the connections between people and their natural, built and social environments.