Sustainable Community Development (SCD)
Integrating studies to create environmentally and culturally healthy communities
This competence supports students in envisioning and creating ecologically and socially healthy communities. The means to these ends include an emphasis on the hardware (built environment, resource and energy utilization, and food and water procurement) and the software (critical pedagogy, group processes and decision-making methods, conflict resolution skills) required to maintain a sustainable community. Students integrate learning from academic areas including studies, critical geography, and conservationism. SCD graduates often find meaningful work in fields ranging from the nonprofit sector and public lands management to "green business" and international relations. SCD brings together the best practices currently employed in environmental and social spheres, while simultaneously striving to create new practices necessary for the challenges ahead.
