Bachelor of Arts - Environment, Sustainability & Geography - Urban and Regional Studies

The purpose of the University of Minnesota Duluth's (UMD) Environment, Sustainability and Geography degree is to prepare students to create sustainable communities for present and future generations. This program provides students with the tools to understand the physical and social systems of the earth to become informed change makers locally and globally. Sustainability challenges are all around us: from climate change, to vulnerabilities in the industrial food system, to the way cities are designed. One of the fundamental hurdles in a transition toward sustainability is bridging the ecological and social sciences with decision-making. The program trains students to analyze the interwoven nature of social and ecological systems, and translate that knowledge into policies to enact change. Meaningful engagement with the world outside the classroom prepares students to comprehend and address these challenges. To this end, the program provides students with theoretical and hands-on instruction in ecological and social processes, mentoring, as well as opportunities for professional and real-world experiences through internships and applied research.

The program has three tracks that students may choose from: 1) General, 2) Geography, 3) Urban and Regional Studies.

Urban and Regional Studies

This track emphasizes the social and cultural dimensions of urbanization, addressing how an increasingly urban world can organize in just and cohesive societies. 

Career Possibilities

• Sustainability Coordinator
• Community Organizer
• Agriculture Specialist
• Environmental Manager
• Environmental Advocate
• Water Resource Specialist
• Urban Planner