Required Course Descriptions
Sustainable Development Theory & Practice
Sustainability is the study and application of knowledge about how, individuals, and/or institutions direct the course of an organization or community in ways that restore and enhance; human, natural, manufactured, and financial capital to generate stakeholder value and contribute to the well-being of current and future generations. Students in this course will review the concept of Sustainability, Climate Change and Environmental Challenges, systems Thinking/Systems Analysis, "Natural" Systems and Function, Human Interactions with Natural Systems, Ethics, and Values.
Strategic Sustainability Leadership
Integrating sustainability into community and organizational strategy requires key individuals who are able to integrate the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with sustainable development leadership and change management. This course seeks to assist the development of such strategic sustainability leaders by critically reviewing the fundamental concepts of sustainability and the strategic leadership processes, practices and styles best suited for developing sustainable enterprises. In particular how best to managing the economic and social impacts that the transition to a low carbon Eco/Green Economy will create. Students will be expected to bridge the theory practice divide by developing the ability to manage the Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Strategic Sustainable Development Projects. In order to create sustainable communities and enterprises strategic leadership is required that both understand the concepts, principles, and practices associated with sustainable development together with strategic management and change.
Elective Course Descriptions
Business Law & Corporate Social Responsibility
This course provokes you to examine the responsibilities of managers to all stakeholders. This requires learning about sustainable business concepts, models of corporate responsibility and laws. Most weeks will therefore feature three sets of assignments:
- readings about case studies of positive role models of sustainability
- team case studies that require you to develop and defend action plans
- guided readings and discussion about the legal concepts that relate to the cases
Carbon Management
This course is a low-carbon skills primer; students will survey the landscape of the emerging low carbon economy, learning the protocols, resources and skills needed to become effective carbon management professionals. From understanding the decision-making and activities that result in greenhouse gas pollution, to implementing strategies to reduce them, this class will introduce students to greenhouse gas inventories, management plans, and accountability mechanisms for sustained, measurable reductions. Students leaving this course will bring a competitive advantage to multiple sectors, with a working knowledge of fundamental carbon accounting and reporting principles and project implementation tools for businesses, communities, schools and other organizations.
Directed Study
Study under the supervision of a faculty member in an area covered in a regular course not currently being offered. Terms and hours to be arranged.
Energy Management
This course is an introduction to Energy Management principles and practices, with a special emphasis on managing building systems. Working from the industry standard handbook, we will introduce the financial and engineering principles of Energy Management, and look at best practices for strategic design, implementation and maintenance. Students will get a quantitative grasp of different system and management options, both technologically and economically, with the emphasis being on analyzing relative efficiencies and value, but not engineering calculations per se. We will also look at the current standards for LEED and other types of building certifications.
Environmental Law
The broad context of environmental policy-making. Course provides a particular understanding of environmental policy issues, including the importance and effects of historical, political, and institutional context of environmental policymaking issues are explored. The course also teaches the essential skills and concepts important for the analysis and evaluation of environmental policies.
The Environmental Consequences of Globalization
The environmental consequences of unregulated economic activity, rapid industrialization, and population growth. The course focuses on the Global South, but also examines the effects of profligate consumption patterns, the practices of Northern-based corporations, and other aspects of the globalization process that impact the world’s collective environmental security. Unsustainable environmental practices that impact climate change, biodiversity, the world’s natural resource base, and food supply are examined.
Sustainable Systems Solutions
(Course description not yet available)
Independent Study
An opportunity for the student to propose a course and study with a particular professor who agrees to participate in it as an elective for the student. This course series is a particularly useful way to engage a student in a thesis. Topics will vary and be announced before registration is completed in the previous semester.
Sustainability Internship
Work experience at a specialized level supervised for graded academic credit by a faculty member in the student's major field. Terms and hours to be arranged. Students must register in advance to receive credit for an internship.
