Whether you’re aspiring to go into the environmental or sustainability fields, or simply someone who enjoys the outdoors or wants to live more sustainably, taking the right elective can help you realize your passions and turn them into real-world impacts.

Here at the University of Florida, there are plenty of classes to explore how people, the economy, and the Earth are all connected. No matter your major, these courses can equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to shape a greener future.

Consider adding one of the courses below (with minimal to no prerequisites) to your schedule in the future!

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GEO3372 – Conservation of Resources 

  • Anusha Chaudhary
  • This course is an introduction to the major themes in human-environment relations that determine how we conserve and utilize the earth’s resources. It will cover the importance of conserving resources and assess different conservation strategies. 

BOT 2800C – Plants in Human Affairs 

  • Dr. Norman Douglas 
  • The role of plants in the development of civilization and the influence of plants on world history, politics, economics and culture. 
    • You’ll also learn to make soap, candles, rope, paper, and do experiments with plants that illustrate their crucial importance in our lives! 

ELBOT3151C – Local Flora of North Florida 

  • Christine Davis 
  • In this fun, field intensive class, you will practice identification of ~180 plant species from the flora of North Florida and learn their Latin names, visit and characterize the plant communities of North Florida ecosystems, and practice using a dichotomous key to identify unknown plants. 

BSC2862 – Global Change Ecology and Sustainability 

  • Stephen Mulkey
  • Examines key issues in sustainability and global environmental change from an ecological perspective. Major themes include impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecological communities; feedback between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere; and implications of climate change for the sustainability of natural and managed ecosystems. 

ELFRC1010 – Growing Fruit for Fun and Profit

  • Amethyst Merchant 
  • Especially for non-majors who desire a concise mini course in fruit growing and marketing. Fruit crops include citrus, pecan, blueberry, strawberry, peach, grape, apple, mango and avocado. 

AEB4126 – Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics

  • Caleb Stair 
  • This is a course about social, political, economic, and ethical issues that arise in connection with the “food and fiber system” — agriculture, food production/distribution, natural resource use/management, etc. — and public policy responses to those issues. 

GLY1150L – Florida Geology EL

  • This course is about making observations of your surrounding natural environment. By applying a few basic geologic principles, you will increase your understanding of Florida, the environment around you, and the world in general. 
    • With that in mind, the best way to learn geology is to see it firsthand, so Florida Geology includes a number of relevant field trips. 

ALS2410 – Challenge 2050: Global Uncertainty 

  • Natalie Coers 
  • Explores questions in human well-being and sustainability building a foundation for addressing global challenges associated with global population. 

ELGLY2038 – Sustainability and the Changing Earth 

  • William Kenney 
  • Introduces planet Earth as a dynamic and complex global system which has changed due to human interaction. Focuses on efforts and challenges to sustaining ecosystem services for a growing population in the context of dynamic earth surface processes.

 

Fore more great course offerings,  check out this list of sustainability focused and related courses compiled by UF’s Office of Sustainability!