Skip to main content

Sustainability

Sustainability is everybody's business

"The University for the Common Good is a commitment to sustainability by the University of Dayton, reinforced by our involvement with the United Nations Global Compact, the Laudato Si’ Action Platform and other initiatives. A central focus of the Sustainability Program is the 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. The SDGs recognize the inextricably linked nature of economic, environmental and social justice issues. The Sustainability Program and our B.A. and B.S. degrees are therefore an important contribution to the mission of UD, but do not stand alone, as we strive for collaborations with other interdisciplinary programs, centers and initiatives on campus."

How does our program stand out?

A focus on sustainability

The University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute and its Sustainability program provide students with a broad base of skills in the emerging field of sustainability. Students with majors or minors in sustainability learn how to work across disciplines to identify and solve sustainability problems.

Students from across the University of Dayton are involved in campus and community sustainability efforts through the Hanley Sustainability Institute and its Sustainability program. Courses based on experiential learning and student-run programs allow students to implement sustainability solutions in real-world situations.

University of Dayton students enjoy one-on-one mentorship opportunities to work with faculty on sustainability-related research projects. The Hanley Sustainability Institute and its Sustainability program offer internship and student-leader programs that allow students to create their own pathways to career success.

Bachelor of Arts
Food Systems

Required and elective courses include food justice, nutrition and health, politics of human rights, history of food and writing for grants and nonprofits.

Urban sustainability

Required and elective courses include cities and energy, applied geographic information systems (GIS), urban sociology and history of American city planning.

Bachelor of Science
Energy

Required and elective courses include biology, chemistry, biology, physics, statistics, energy resources and principles of microeconomics.

Sustainable Watersheds

Required and elective courses include biology, chemistry, geology, physics, biology of rivers and lakes and surface and groundwater hydrology.

Other academic programs

The Sustainability Minor at the University of Dayton strives to provide a deep understanding and appreciation of the interdisciplinary aspects of sustainability, energy, and the environment and to equip students with the tools to implement sustainability in their careers – here at UD and beyond. Students in this minor program engage with faculty, staff, peers, student organizations, and local community partners to achieve hands-on experience through integrative learning, research, service, and community events.

Learn more about this program

Students earning the Certificate in Sustainability (SUS) take two sustainability courses: Foundations in Sustainability and Applied Sustainability. They also choose six semester hours of coursework from the social sciences, the physical sciences and engineering, allowing them to custom fit the certificate to their personal and professional goals and needs.


Learn More

Learn more about us

Learn about the opportunities and activities that are available to students interested in sustainability.

More
Learn more about our advisory committee, our faculty, staff and student assistants.

More
Reach out. We are here to answer your questions.

More
In the news
Campus and Community 10.17.23

The 2024 University of Dayton River Stewards are breathing new life into the 2020 River Stewards' book.

Read more
Experiential Learning 08.21.23

Three University of Dayton students got first-hand experience this summer working as sustainability professionals for the City of Dayton.

Read more