Sustainability and Health Science Education

Our signature undergraduate program, the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, is built with an integrated curriculum design model as a foundational principle.  One of the themes that is used as an integration point is 'Environment and Health".  Courses across the curriculum plan to coordinate content delivery on multiple aspects of the relationship between the environment (all dimensions: cultural, psychological, social, natural, physical), public health, individual health, politics of health, public policy and sustainability.  For example, a topic such as "chemical toxins" might be addressed in chemistry, biology, sociology, history, statistics and ethics.

It is hoped that the broad curricular context in which this material is delivered will inform a broader contextual understanding of the issues related to the concept of environment in general and the natural environment specifically.  From this perspective, students will develop a better understanding of the effects that global warming and other pressing environmental issues have on various aspects of their daily lives.  They will understand that issues concerning the environment and sustainability are not simply outside of themselves and have little direct impact.  Rather, the students should develop an appreciation of the direct effect that these phenomena and concepts have on their daily lives and personal health.  Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach to addressing environmental issues will assist student understanding of the variety of approaches that could be used to address these problems.  Solutions and courses of action will be informed by student understanding that carbon neutrality and sustainability can and should be approached from disciplinary perspectives beyond biology.

Our educational model does not end at the classroom door.  Once students appreciate the variety of steps that they could take, we will provide them with opportunities to form student organizations dedicated to contributing to decisions and actions.  These organizations will provide a contact  point to help educate other students, faculty, staff and members of the local community on carbon neutrality and sustainability.