Through interdisciplinary study in the natural, agricultural and social sciences as well as the arts and humanities, the sustainable development degrees prepare students to promote equitable economic and social development, while conserving natural resources and encouraging cultural diversity. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs in Sustainable Development are flexible, cross-disciplinary, and skills oriented.

The B.A. degree offers students broad exposure in a liberal arts context, while the B.S. degree offers a more concentrated pre-professional focus in three specialized areas.

The Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Program offers the following degree options:

1. Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainable Development
2. Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Development with concentrations in:
• Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
• Community, Regional, and Global Development
• Environmental Studies
3. Undergraduate minor in Sustainable Development
4. Sustainable Development Concentrations in other Departments
• Anthropology (BS) - Sustainable Development Concentration
• Appalachian Studies (MA) - Sustainable Development Concentration

All degrees in Sustainable Development emerge from the United Nations' mandate to engender "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." In practice, sustainable development prepares students to engage in the social, economic, and environmental transformations necessary to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable communities within an ecologically healthy world.

The required core is designed to familiarize students with principles and practices of sustainability found in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. All degree programs mirror one another in structure and ensure that all SD students have a shared foundation upon which to build their studies.

The general structure for all SD Degrees is as follows:

• SD Program Core
• Concentration Specific Core
• Focus Area
• Skills Area
• Minor (required for BA, optional for BS Concentrations)
• Electives

The degrees aim to prepare students to think critically and constructively about the practices of sustainable development and to have the knowledge and skills necessary to build a sustainable future. The study of sustainable development provides a strong preparation in sustainability for those who wish to pursue graduate work or wish to address sustainability in public, private, and non-profit sectors.