There’s never been a more pressing need for environmentally and socially conscious professionals than there is now. And at Goshen College, we’re training the next generation of leaders in ecological and environmental health. With a degree in sustainability studies from Goshen College, you’ll be prepared to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges.
The world is grappling with complex problems in environmental justice, environmental science, environmental economics, and social justice, and the need for professionals skilled in navigating these issues has never been greater. At Goshen, you will learn to think deeply about these issues in our society and have many chances to practice what you have been learning through hands-on problem-solving.
In any given semester, you will go on various field trips to learn how professionals and community members do their jobs and how they connect to sustainability. You will also learn practical skills like baking bread, preserving food, and canoeing as a form of local tourism.
No matter what your interests are, our experienced faculty will help you find a way to connect them to sustainability. You’ll get to know each other quickly with small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios. Our professors challenge students to think deeply about the issues that matter most, helping you develop the systems-thinking skills you need to be a leader in the natural sciences and social sciences.
Goshen College is committed to sustainability, and that commitment is evident in everything from our food services to our core courses. Sustainability studies majors and minors have many chances to get involved on-campus and abroad.
Environmental health is crucial work that will make a difference in the global community, and we’re proud to be playing a part in training tomorrow’s sustainability pioneers.
The Sustainability Leadership Semester at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College is for any major interested in making a positive change in their community. It is also the foundation of the sustainability studies major and the sustainability minor. During this 13-week program, you will:
Much of your learning will happen outside the classroom: in marshland, prairies, living rooms, and kitchens.
Regardless of what you want to do after college — whether pursue further studies in one of many sustainability-related fields or dive right into the challenging and thrilling work of solving problems in communities — studying sustainability at Goshen will prepare you for it!
In the sustainability studies program, you will learn to:
If interested in learning more about sustainability studies, fill out the form below to get started. Financial aid options are available.
Learn more about the Sustainability Leadership Semester, a key part of the sustainability studies major or sustainability minor.
For two weeks in February, five Goshen College students joined Ryan Sensenig, professor of biology, in Kenya to assist with prescribed burns inside the Kenya Long term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE).
Leadership from 18 Anabaptist organizations in the United States and Canada convened at the Anabaptist Collaboration on Climate Change (ACCC) on Jan. 26 and 27 to address what many consider a moral emergency.
In celebration of Honoring the Headwaters: 10 Years of SLS, we had a conversation with three alumni from the Sustainability Leadership Semester (SLS).
Acres of land to explore at GC’s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
One of the greenest colleges in the country – Sierra Magazine
Ranking among the 40 best college farms, according to CollegeRanker.com
Goshen College has been recognized as a “Tree Campus USA” school by the Arbor Day Foundation
Learn more about Goshen College's exceptional academic outcomes and national rankings.
Bryan Hernandez Rodriguez ’23, a computer science and sustainability studies double major, dreamed of coming to Goshen College as a kid. Now, he’s dreaming of working for Tesla.
Bryan's storyReena is an environmental science major with an ecology focus who is involved in EcoPax, the Tree Care Committee and Student Senate, and is also a stage manager in the Music Center.
Reena's story"Peacemaking begins with understanding our world and our connection to it -- promoting peace is increasingly about caring for ecological systems on which humans depend."
Ryan's storyHannah Barg first thought seriously about sustainability when she took the Sustainability Leadership Semester (SLS) at Merry Lea, Goshen College’s nature center. Now, Hannah is a network organizer
Hannah's storyKhampha Stempel, a '21 sustainability studies major, reflects on faith and learning.
Khampha's storyJack Shomberg was an environmental science major at Goshen College who faced hard-headed questions from city officials while he was working with them on a restoration project.
“I’d love to do green stuff, but..."
Joel Pontius
Associate Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Director of Sustainability Leadership Semester
Contact me with questions!
Jonathon Schramm
Associate Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
SST Tanzania: SP
Luke Kreider
Assistant Professor of Religion and Sustainability
Tom Hartzell
Merry Lea Coordinator for Residential Programs & Environmental Educator
