Of course, you can bring a sustainability perspective to any course of study. At McGill University however, there are three degree programs that explicitly relate to sustainability. Two of these are Interfaculty Bachelor of Arts & Science programs - the Sustainability, Science & Society program and the Environment program. The third is a Major in the Bachelor of Commerce degree called Managing for Sustainability. Explore the comparison of the core features of these programs in the table below, and access the full program overview in the University Course Catalogue via the program links in the section below.
| Program name | Sustainability, Science & Society | Environment | Managing for Sustainability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | BA&Sc Interfaculty program (54 credits) | BA&Sc Interfaculty program (54 credits) | BCom Major (72 credits) |
| Required courses | 27 credits: ➜ 12 credits: Foundations of Sustainability ➜ 15 credits: Biophysical, Societal, Cultural, Institutional, and Ethical | 18 credits | 48 credits: ➜ 42 credits: Management Core ➜ 6 credits: Major |
| Complementary courses | 27 credits: ➜ 3 credits: Statistics ➜ 3 credits: Economics ➜ 3 credits: Sustainability in Business ➜ 18 credits selected from 3 Areas | 36 credits: ➜ 3 credits: Statistics ➜ 3 credits: Senior Research Project ➜ 30 credits selected from 12 Areas | 24 credits selected from 5 Areas |
Interfaculty program in Sustainability, Science & Society
The SSS program finds its strength in the way classes are structured around the three thematic pillars: Science & Technology, Economics & Policy, and Ethics & Equity. Within each of these pillars students take 6 credits.
Sustainability, Science and Society Interfaculty Program (B.A. & Sc.) (54 credits)
Interfaculty program in Environment
The major difference from SSS is that the Environment program allows for more flexibility when choosing complementary courses. Students can choose any course from 12 Areas, and students can concentrate credits in any particular Area or combination of Areas. Thus the Environment program is less structured than SSS.
Environment Interfaculty Program (B.A. & Sc.) (54 credits)
Managing for Sustainability Major
This program focuses on business management, strategy, and organization as it relates to sustainability. As such there is less focus on the biophysical or ecological underpinnings of sustainability issues, but a greater emphasis on sustainability challenges and the role of sustainability in the private sector.