Sustainability, the Economy, and Environmental Policy
Sustainability, the Economy & Environmental Policy (StEEP)
The StEEP program is designed to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the deep interconnections between humans and the environment, society's impact on sustainability, and the impact of the natural environment on human wellbeing through a richly interdisciplinary curriculum that bridges social sciences with environmental and sustainability topics. Recognizing that scientific and technical solutions alone cannot fully address today’s sustainability challenges, the program prepares students to become decision makers and leaders who enable and manage change in their communities and the world, improving sustainability and enhancing human wellbeing.
Students will explore social science perspectives on our shared understanding of sustainability and environmental issues and responses, with an emphasis on understanding the complex human factors involved in behavior change. The program equips future decision makers and leaders with the knowledge to influence change through individual actions and the advancement of public policies.
The StEEP program will provide students with a unique interdisciplinary skill set that will enable them to apply for a variety of positions in various sectors of the economy, while allowing for customization to meet students’ individual interests and career goals. Graduates will be well-equipped to lead and implement change that harmonizes environmental sustainability with human wellbeing, capitalizing on their comprehensive understanding of historical, economic, social, and policy dimensions and environmental issues and concerns.
The StEEP degree integrates social science courses to support careers in policy, research, community outreach, leadership, advocacy, social and environmental entrepreneurship, corporate sustainability, international development, and humanities/communication. In addition, this major will serve as a valuable complement (as a secondary major) to majors in engineering, business, education, and human services by enabling students to integrate environmental and social considerations into their primary field, advancing sustainable solutions.
Dearborn Discovery Core (General Education)
All students must satisfy the University’s Dearborn Discovery Core requirements, in addition to the requirements for the major. Students must also complete all CASL Degree Requirements.
Prerequisites to the Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 202 | Prin: Microeconomics | 3 |
| HIST 103 | The World Since 1500 CE | 3 |
| POL 101 | American Politics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Major requirements
The major requires a total of 38-40 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| A. Natural and built environment : select one course from the following: | 4 | |
| Global Climate Change | ||
or GEOG 300 | Urban Geography | |
| B. Environmental history and society: | 4 | |
| Environmental History | ||
| C. Wellbeing of current and future generations: select one course from the following: | 4 | |
| Happiness and Wellbeing: Practice and Policy | ||
or POL 381 | Democracy and Wellbeing | |
| D. Economy and sustainable development: select one course from the following: | 4 | |
| Environmental Economics | ||
or ECON 442 | Economic Development | |
| E. Environmental policy and politics of sustainability: select one course from the following: | 4 | |
| Environmental Politics | ||
or POL/ESCI 467 | Food Politics and Policy | |
or POL/ESCI 487 | Comparative Environmental Policy | |
| Research Methods and Capstone | ||
| Choose one combination/sequence from the following: | 8 | |
| Economic Data Analysis and Introduction to Econometrics 1 | ||
| The Study of History and Senior Research Seminar | ||
| Political Analysis and Capstone in Political Science | ||
| Mapping Our World and Integrative Learning | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 28 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Area 1. Interdependencies between humans and environment | 3-4 | |
Select one course from the following: | ||
| Anth of Health and Environment | ||
| Happiness and Wellbeing: Practice and Policy | ||
| When Nature Strikes: Dealing with Natural Disasters 2 | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| Global Climate Change | ||
| Global Environmental Justice in the Era of Climate Change and COVID-19 3 | ||
| The European City | ||
| American City | ||
| Critical Food Studies | ||
| Democracy and Wellbeing | ||
| Area 2. Economics and politics of environment | 4 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Economics of Poverty and Discrimination | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| Intro to Environmental Health | ||
| Environmental Politics | ||
| Energy Policy | ||
| Food Politics and Policy | ||
| Comparative Environmental Policy | ||
| Urban and Regional Studies | ||
| Area 3. Implementing sustainability | 3-4 | |
Select one course from the following: | ||
| Corporate Responsibility 4 | ||
| Behavioral Public Policy | ||
| Beh Econ for Business & Policy | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship 5 | ||
| Sustainable Cities 6 | ||
| Future Cities Live | ||
| Network Collaboration | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
| Organizing and Advocacy | ||
| Revitalizing Cities | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 10-12 | |
- 1
Prerequisites: ECON 201 or ECON 202; and MATH 104 or MATH 105 or MATH 115
- 2
FNDS course for new students only.
- 3
A study abroad course, offered occasionally
- 4
Prerequisite: senior standing only, and COMP 280.
- 5
Junior and senior standing only.
- 6
Notes:
- At least 20 of the 38-40 credit hours for the major must be elected at UM-D.
- Internship in the area of environment/sustainability is recommended, but not required. Internships ECON 398, POL 495, URS 485 can be counted toward electives in Area 3. Implementing sustainability with an approval of the program director by petition.
- With an approval of the StEEP program director by petition, students can take the field course CPBL 400 when the topic is Bicycle Urbanism: Michigan and Scandinavia and count it toward electives in Area 3. Implementing sustainability.
Learning Goals
- Understand the environmental impact of human development and its long-term implications for human wellbeing.
- Analyze the role of history, cultural narratives, norms, or institutions in shaping individual and societal behavior and environmental policies.
- Design and evaluate strategies or institutions to promote sustainability and human wellbeing across different domains of life.
- Understand the social, economic, or political processes and tradeoffs shaping policy, and formulate policy recommendations.