Pathway for Sustainability - Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)

The Sustainability Guided Pathway is part of the Associate of Arts and Science Direct Transfer Agreement (AAS DTA), which is focused on preparing students to transfer to universities in Washington State, while also being competitive for entry level employment. This option is available to all students, including those in Running Start and in Omak (all online) who are interested in transferring into a Sustainability major, minor, or emphasis program at a four-year institution OR who want to be better prepared for the green workforce at graduation. 

The pathway for the DTA will require three core courses, Introduction to Sustainability, Ecological Literature, and Natural Resources & Society that cover the meta-competences in Sustainability—Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking. Other key competences for sustainability include systems thinking, futures thinking, values thinking, and interpersonal work. These competences will be acquired through taking other suggested courses in the pathway which should also meet the Sustainability program learning outcomes (listed below). Some of the courses feature green workforce foundational knowledge or skills components that were identified in our regional employer demand assessment survey.

The core courses GEOG 150 and ENGL 106 are recommended to take in your first year if possible. These courses will provide you with an overview of the core topics in Sustainability and a strong foundation in the key competencies. NATR 235 or GEOG& 200 represents the capstone course in the pathway and so is best taken in your second year when you are more prepared to apply sustainability concepts you have learned. 

Workforce Preparation Students in this pathway are competitive for a variety of technician level positions in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, especially within the local area.

Transfer Preparation Students who follow the pathway guide and earn their DTA will meet most, if not all, of the general education requirements at four-year institutions making it a popular choice for students planning to major in the areas of environmental sustainability, social justice, or ecological economics.

Program learning outcomes (PLOs) outline the knowledge and skills that students acquire throughout the program. Students who complete the DTA pathway in Sustainability at WVC will be able to:
• Use maps and other geographic tools to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the three aspects of sustainability—environmental, economic viability, and equity (social justice).
• Explain climate science and identify climate solutions to address known and projected consequences.
• Explain how a circular economy works and how it helps achieve sustainable development goals.
• Reflect on the role of sustainability in their personal lives and their local community to create an ethics of caring for a common home, which expresses their cultural awareness, sensitivity, diversity and cultural competency.
• Analyze and explain the interconnections of natural and human systems (ecological, social, economic, cultural, and political) at local, national, and global scales.
• Articulate an inter-generational perspective to envision the elements of a socially just and sustainable society.
• Apply an understanding of environmental racism, while also exploring the meaning of power and privilege, along with historical patterns, marginalization and demographics of American society, in terms of ethnicity, gender and socio-economic status.

The Sustainability DTA pathway is a curated pathway mapped to the existing Associates of Arts and Sciences DTA (AASDTA) requirements. Students completing this pathway have significant flexibility in their course selections as they only need to meet the AAS-DTA requirements. The courses designated below were carefully selected to best prepare students to be major- and employment-ready in the field of Sustainability. The Sustainability DTA Advisor is available to assist students in selecting alternative choices. 

Students can also apply for a Sustainability Distinction Certificate as part of the pathway signifying a mastery of high-demand competencies that are essential for navigating our rapidly changing world and contributing to a more sustainable future, enhancing their academic and professional profile. Contact the Sustainability Coordinator to ask about applying for the Sustainability Distinction if you intend to complete the core courses and the capstone course. 

Contact: Sustainability Coordinator & Program Advisor | Joan Qazi ( jqazi@wvc.edu Sustainability Office: 1325N in Mish ee Twie