Direct admission to the dual-degree program (BS and MA)

Incoming first-year students may apply for direct admission to this dual-degree program. For those who choose to submit a standardized test score, an 1170 or better on the critical reading and mathematics sections of the SAT (or an ACT score of 25) is recommended.  Applicants must have an overall high school GPA of 3.5 (or be in the top 15 percent of their high school graduating class) in order to be considered for admission. First-year students admitted directly to the dual-degree program will be admitted automatically to the MA program in sustainability at the end of their junior year provided they fulfill the following requirements:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in sustainability and geology courses at the time of application to the MA program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BS degree in sustainability studies;
2. Successful completion of SBLY 001, SBLY 002, GEOL 005, and two other required or elective SBLY or GEOL courses by the end of the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.

Admission to the dual-degree program for current Hofstra students

Qualified Hofstra students taking the BS major in sustainability studies may apply for admission to the dual-degree program prior to completing 92 s.h. of undergraduate course work. Students applying to the dual-degree program should note that admission requires they fulfill the following requirements:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in sustainability and geology courses at the time of application to the MA program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BS degree in Sustainability Studies;
2. Successful completion of SBLY 001, SBLY 002, GEOL 005, and two other required or elective SBLY or GEOL courses by the end of the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.

All students admitted to this program must complete a total of 145 s.h.: 30 s.h. of graduate work and 115 s.h. toward their undergraduate degree. Graduate courses SBLY 201 , SBLY 206 , and GEOL 251 , taken in the senior year, are credited to both the BS and MA degree requirements.

Students accepted into the dual-degree program who have attained senior standing may begin taking graduate courses.

Undergraduate Program Requirements

Students should apply to the department as soon as possible after making the decision to major in sustainability studies. The department encourages interested students to speak with adviser before declaring a major. Advisers are assigned when the student applies for acceptance as a major.

• The complete requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, as specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin;
• The following undergraduate major requirements for the BS in Sustainability Studies, as specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin:

Completion of 58-60 s.h. of course work as outlined below, consisting of 24 s.h. of required courses in sustainability, geology, geography, and technology and public policy (see below); 17-19 s.h. of science requirements (see below); 6-8 s.h. of mathematics requirements (see below); and 9 s.h. of electives, selected from the list of courses specified below. Courses with grades lower than a C- do not count toward the total number of hours required for the sustainability studies major.

At least 15 s.h. must be completed in-residence.

At least 65 s.h. must be completed in liberal arts course work. The humanities and social science electives must be satisfied with distribution courses:

• WSC 001 - Composition Semester Hours: 3-4
• WSC 002 - Composition Semester Hours: 3
• Humanities Electives - Semester Hours: 6
• Humanities Electives - Semester Hours: 6

Graduate Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 30