Build a greener future, one course at a time
Choose from over 75 courses from Faculties across campus to gain a truly interdisciplinary perspective of sustainability.
Addressing sustainability in our society poses complex challenges that require interdisciplinary solutions. McMaster created the Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability with the goal to develop students’ interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of sustainability.
Program requirements
Students will have to complete 24 units to satisfy the requirements for a Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability. This includes:
| 24 units total: | 3 units from: | 6 units from: | 15 units from: |
|---|---|---|---|
| No more than 6 units from level 1 courses | SUSTAIN 1S03 – Introduction to Sustainability SUSTAIN 2S03 – Evaluating Problems & Sustainable Solutions SUSTAIN 2GS3 – Global Questions in Sustainability | SUSTAIN 2IS3 – Intersectionality & Sustainable Development SUSTAIN 2SD3 – Implementing Sustainable Change SUSTAIN 2SS3 – Advocating for Sustainability SUSTAIN 3HC3 – Sustainability and Healthcare SUSTAIN 3S03 – Implementing Sustainable Change SUSTAIN 4S06 A/B – Leadership in Sustainability | Course list |
- Student requests for course substitution can be completed using the request template and sent to ilead@mcmaster.ca. Please access the template in the frequently asked questions section of this page.
- Not all courses listed are available each year. As well, it is the student’s responsibility to check carefully for prerequisites, co-requisites, and enrolment restrictions.
- All courses have enrolment capacities. The Faculty cannot guarantee enrolment in courses for minors, even when prerequisites have been met.
- ENVIRSC and EARTHSC courses are administered by the Faculty of Science.
- ENVSOCTY and GEOG courses are counted as Social Sciences courses.
Minors are an opportunity to pursue and demonstrate your interests beyond your major. You can take a minor that is completely unrelated to your major.
The Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability is one of the top 5 minors declared at McMaster with over 300 students having achieved it. Sustainability poses complex challenges requiring interdisciplinary solutions. Learning through this model will help provide you with a unique learning experience helping you and your degree stand out.
Minors consist of 24.0 units (e.x., eight 3.0-unit courses)– no more than 6.0 units from Level I. Course requirements for the Minor are outlined in the Academic Calendar.
Students must complete 24 units from two or more Faculties, of which 3 units must be from a SUSTAIN course and no more than 6 units can be from Level I. There are over 85 courses to choose from across all Faculties. Access the course list.
There are currently 9 SUSTAIN courses offered. All the SUSTAIN courses are interdisciplinary, student-led, community-based and experiential with no exams. They vary in style and format. For example, SUSTAIN 2S03 evaluates real-world problems and sustainable solutions by pursuing an individual lifestyle challenge, whereas SUSTAIN 3S03 focuses on implementing sustainable change in the Hamilton community by working in groups with community partners.
A minor is declared as you prepare for graduation. Here are the steps to follow to declare a minor:
- Apply for Graduation: Log onto Mosaic Student Centre and submit your online Graduation Information Centre (GIC) application.
- Access the Application: Once your graduation application is approved, the Minor/Certificate Application will become available.
- Submit Your Courses: Complete the minor application via Mosaic. You will be required to list all the courses you took that fulfill the specific minor’s requirements as outlined in the McMaster Undergraduate Calendar.
- Faculty Review: Your Faculty will verify your coursework. If successful, the minor will be officially noted on your transcript upon graduation.
The deadline to declare a minor varies depending on graduation times. All students (whether they attend a fall or spring convocation) must declare the minor prior to graduation to receive a notation of completion on their academic transcript.
Students can register for an Interdisciplinary Minor for the Fall/Winter academic year on Mosaic. Registration is not required to take courses or complete the minor. Please note that all students who wish to complete a minor are still required to declare the minor prior to graduation. See the above FAQ answer for instructions to declare a minor.
Registering for the Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability allows you learn about exciting new courses, discover unique opportunities associated with the minor, and connect with administrators and faculty!
How to register for an Interdisciplinary Minor on Mosaic:
- Navigate to Student Centre through the Mosaic Homepage
- From the drop-down menu on the left-hand side, select “Service Requests”
- Click on “Create New Request”
- Select “Interdisciplinary Minor” and then hit “Next”
- Select “Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability” and then hit “Next”
- Press “Submit” (Note: You do not need to fill in the comment box)
Once submitted, you will be able to track the progress of your Interdisciplinary Minor registration through the Student Centre dropdown menu for “Service Request.”
If you have any questions, please contact ilead@mcmaster.ca
Students wishing to have a sustainability-related course, which is not currently on the Sustainability Minor Course List, and have it count towards their minor are encouraged to email ilead@mcmaster.ca with the following information:
- Your Name:
- Your Home Faculty:
- Your Program of Study
- Level of Study:
- Faculty (of the course you are submitting the request for):
- Program (of the course you are submitting the request for):
- Course Code and Title:
- Course Outline (link or attach a copy):
- Name and Email of Course Instructor (who taught when you took the course):
- Have you had any other courses approved for substitutions?
- If yes, please list using Course Code and Title:
- Name of the academic advisor you have been working with in your home Faculty, if appropriate. If you haven’t been working with a specific advisor, that’s fine too.
- Describe how this course, and/or what you have done in this course, contributes to your learning about sustainability and your sustainability minor. Connecting your learning to one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is encouraged. Please review the take action UN webpage and 17 goals. Additional information on each Sustainable Development Goal can be found by reading the associated Indicators and Targets.
