Messiah College announces new sustainability major, making it unique among Christian colleges
September 13th, 2010
GRANTHAM, Pa. (June 11, 2010) — Messiah College is now one of only four Christian colleges in the nation to offer a bachelor of arts in sustainability studies, a humanities- and social sciences-focused degree that emphasizes the social, ecological and economic components of sustainable human communities. Students graduating with a bachelor of arts in sustainability studies will be well equipped for careers in public service or law. The major was approved by college governance in May and will be among the course offerings in the fall.
Students desiring a less interdisciplinary and more science-focused study of the environment can opt for courses in environmental science or environmental engineering.
History of environmentalism at Messiah College
More than 40 years ago, before “going green” was a part of national dialogue, Messiah was educating students about environmental stewardship and ethics. In 1971, “Man and His Environmental Problems” was a required course offered to all students during winter term. Then, in 1981, the popular “Humankind and the Environment” course inspired the College’s student-led environmental movement, Earthkeepers, and the start of campuswide recycling was born. That was just the start of Messiah’s ongoing commitment to caring for the earth. Now, environmental stewardship efforts at the College include everything from a robust recycling program, to an organic community garden, to a student-led composting program, to active restoration of the on-campus Yellow Breeches Creek.
You can read more about Messiah College’s sustainability efforts at www.messiah.edu/sustainability.
About Messiah College
Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls 2,800 undergraduate students in 60 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.
