Sustainable Materials and Technology (SM&T) Minor
The Sustainable Materials and Technology (SM&T) minor offers FIT students the opportunity to develop an understanding of impact, new materials and technologies related to the production and consumption within the fashion and creative industries. The courses within the minor focus the development of a clear understanding of climate change, product lifecycle and both material and technological developments related to sustainable solutions. The SM&T minor is designed with a focus on real-world scenarios and hands-on case-based learning to complement major-course knowledge and prepare students to become leaders and a more sustainable future.
An engaging set of courses focus on the key pillars of sustainability, human, social, economic, and environmental with a focus on solutions and analysis of topics from a science and engineering perspective. During the minor students will take two course courses related to the science of climate change and carbon footprint of consumer goods and 3 related elective courses that focus on one or more of the key pillars of sustainability.
The following requirements below are intended for students beginning fall 2026. To declare your minor, please speak to your academic advisor for assistance.
Minor Coordinator:
Karen Pearson
karen_pearson@fitnyc.edu
| Required: | ||
| SC 102 | Climate Change | 3 |
| SC 202 | The True Cost: A Product’s Life Cycle and the Science of Sustainability | 3 |
| Electives: | ||
| CS 100 | Societal Impact of Computing, Security, and Ethics | 3 |
| EC 302 | Economics of Energy and Fossil Fuels | 3 |
| PY 336 | Psychology for Sustainability | 3 |
| SC 100 | Wired | 3 |
| SC 101 | Biodesign: Innovation at the Intersection of Science and Design | 3 |
| SC 103 | Environmental Justice Through the Lens of Chemistry | 3 |
| SC 109 | Pick Your Poison: Introduction to Materials Toxicology | 3 |
| SC 201 | Plants, Pollinators, and People | 3 |
| SC 203 | Disease Ecology in a Changing World | 3 |
| SC/TD 204 | Designing with Emerging Materials (Interdisciplinary) | 3 |
| SC 206 | The Chemistry and Art of Natural Dyes | 3 |
| SC 245 | Chemistry of the Everyday World | 3 |
| SC 253 | Ecology and Environmental Problems | 3 |
| HA 319 | Art History and Conservation | 3 |
| ID 472 | Ecology and the Built Environment | 2 |
| TT 247 | Color Creation and Sustainable Applications | 3 |
Upon completion of the Sustainable Materials and Technology (SM&T) minor, students will understand:
- Sustainability Science, Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and related calculations on the impact of production, use, and disposal of materials
- The key components of Climate Change (cause and consequences)
- The pillars of sustainability, including environmental, social, ethical, and economic factors
- The atomic nature of the living, matter and Earth
- Foundations of environmental science or ecology and how humans interact with the Earth and its environments