Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

Brian W. Raichle, Interim Chair

John Clark	James B. Houser	Brent Summerville
Charles A. Debelius	D. Jason Miller	Jerianne S. Taylor
Susan C. Doll	Jeffrey E. Ramsdell	Andrew W. Windham
Jeremy C. Ferrell	Jamie A. Russell	Ok-Youn Yu
Marie C. Hoepfl	Dennis M. Scanlin

The Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment has developed a reputation for teaching, research and development, and community service in the areas of green building practices, renewable energy, sustainability, and design for the human environment. The Department’s mission is to foster a strong and vibrant culture of inquiry, discovery, and innovation that integrates theory with application, problem seeking with problem solving, local issues with global perspectives, and technological progress with environmental stewardship. This mission is accomplished by 1) providing exemplary teaching that inspires and challenges students through experiential learning, synergistic curricula, and community engagement; 2) conducting and disseminating scholarly work that focuses on sustainable solutions to important challenges in the design, creation, and management of technological systems; and 3) serving as a resource and a catalyst for local and global communities through projects, partnerships, and outreach.

Sustainable Technology reflects an approach to technological development, characterized by creative and sound engineering, that recognizes the social, environmental, political, economic, and technical aspects of a proposed technological solution to a problem facing a society. Generally, sustainable technologies are smaller-scale technologies that are ecologically and socially benign, affordable, and often powered by renewable energy. The field is an interdisciplinary one drawing from the physical and social sciences as well as from engineering, architecture, and technology. Areas of interest include energy conversion systems, waste and water management, community and shelter design, technology assessment, small-scale production systems, and technology transfer.

Honors Program in Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

The Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment offers a 9 semester hour honors program composed of 6 semester hours of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment honors courses (or honors contracts or graduate courses) and a 3 semester hour Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment honors thesis. To graduate with “Honors in Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment,” a student must be a Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment major, maintain an overall GPA of 3.45,maintain an overall Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment GPA of 3.45, and earn a grade of no less than a “B” in any honors designated course.

Graduate Degrees in Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

The Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment offers the following graduate degree: a Master of Science degree in Technology with concentrations in Appropriate Technology, Building Science, Renewable Energy Engineering, and Sustainable Design and Construction. Persons interested in this degree are requested to consult the Graduate Bulletin for further information.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Courses

Technology