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Introduction

One of the primary functions of colleges and universities is to educate students. By training and educating future leaders, scholars, workers, and professionals; higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to understand and address sustainability challenges. Institutions that offer courses covering sustainability issues help equip their students to lead society to a sustainable future.

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A framework for mapping sustainability within tertiary curriculum

  • UNSW Sydney (NSW)

Purpose Sustainability within tertiary curriculum is hard to measure and often perceived to be illusive in nature. Existing higher education sustainability assessment tools rarely focus on the curriculum. This paper …

Towards a sustainable future with education?

  • Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies

The call for a kind of education which can contribute to a sustainable future has resulted in the “education for sustainable development” (ESD) campaign. What is implied here is that …

Building new foundations: the future of education from a degrowth perspective

  • Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie

Considering education in the context of making and unmaking sustainable futures, a growing relevance is attributed to the role of shared beliefs or mental infrastructures which shape the way people …

Exploring just sustainability across the disciplines at one university

  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh (NY)
  • University of Vermont (VT)

We examined The University of Vermont’s new sustainability requirement for undergraduates through the lens of just sustainability. We found that sustainability courses are proposed in diverse disciplines. Regardless of discipline, …

Engineering education and the development of competencies for sustainability

  • Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
  • University of Campinas
  • Universidade Federal Fluminense

Purpose This paper aims to deal with the skills for sustainable development in engineering courses. The main objective is to identify which competences should be developed in these courses to …

A whole‐person approach to educating for sustainability

  • University of Sydney (NSW)
  • University of Brighton

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of a whole‐person approach to educating for sustainability (EfS), with a focus on persons' identity, motivation and higher order …

Worthy of debate: discursive coherence and agreement in the formation of the field of sustainability in higher education

  • Northwestern University (IL)

This article explores the development of shared understanding in the field of environmental sustainability in higher education—a field that began with social movement pressure surrounding contentious issues and evolved over …

A Case Study of Sustainability and Civic Engagement in a Sociology of Food Course

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

This article presents a case study of a ‘Sociology of Food’ course premised on issues of social justice and ethical and sustainable food practices. Through sustainability-inspired service-learning projects, students learn …

Training tomorrow's environmental journalists: Assessing the extent of environmental-themed training in college-level journalism programs

  • Penn State Brandywine (PA)

While the scale of the environmental problems facing the planet mean that effective environmental journalism is now more important than ever, the environmental beat can be extremely challenging for journalists. …

Challenges in the teaching of environmental journalism

  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • University of Maine (ME)
  • University of St. Thomas (MN)

The birth of the modern environmental movement in the 1970's sparked more extended and in-depth news coverage of ecological issues and awakened interest among journalism educators and prospective journalists to …

Integrating sustainability across the computer science curriculum

  • Furman University (SC)

Issues of sustainability have received considerable attention on college campuses over the last decade. However, actions taken in support of sustainability generally take the form of changing the practices of …

Designing and Assessing Learning Outcomes: A Framework for Co-Curricular Sustainability Programs

  • Portland State University (OR)

In recent years, Co-Curricular Sustainability Programs (CoCSPs) have been established at many higher education institutions. However, few such programs have developed learning outcomes or assessment processes to measure the types …

Implementing sustainability as the new normal: Responsible management education – From a private business school's perspective

  • CBS International Business School

Globally, societies face enormous social, economic and environmental challenges, such as scarcity of resources, demographic developments, climate change, inequality, etc. The degree of success in coping with these complex issues …

Beyond criminal justice: connecting justice and sustainability

  • Edinburgh Napier University

The potential of higher education in advancing sustainability has been widely accepted and even partly realised, although a wholesale reorientation of core activities and curricula toward and embedded with sustainability …

Critical Sustainabilities: Negotiating Sustainability’s Discursive Maze in the Classroom

  • Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)

“Sustainability” features in numerous discourses, each of which frames the issue according to its particular worldview(s). Thus there is no singular sustainability conception, but multiple sustainabilities that compete with one …

Teaching Sustainability via the Environmental Humanities: Studying Water, Studying Ourselves

  • College of Charleston (SC)

The dawning anthropocene requires innovation and organizational change across all types of institutions, including in higher education. One area where innovation can occur is in curricula building, and the offering …

From Linear Industrial Structures to Living Systems: A Design Shift in Education for Sustainability

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

If sustainability is to be an integral part of rethinking education organization, it is necessary to redesign mental models that shape present curricular structures. Assumptions underlying the design of most …

Using Systems Thinking to Educate for Sustainability in a Business School

  • University of Hull

This paper explores what it means for a business school to embed systems thinking and sustainability into the curriculum by looking at both the application of systems thinking to the …

Toward an Environmentally Sustainable Academic Enterprise: An AACN Guide for Nursing Education

  • Adelphi University (NY)
  • Emory University (GA)
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore (MD)
  • Washington State University, Spokane (WA)

In Fall 2009, the AACN Deans/Directors passed a motion in support of AACN taking a leadership role on issues addressing environmental sustainability in nursing education. The following spring the AACN …

Changing roles of universities in the era of SDGs: rising up to the global challenge through institutionalising partnerships with governments and communities

  • American University of Beirut

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers a wide range of interrelated goals, including poverty eradication and economic growth, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and peace for all people by 2030. …

Teaching Psychology for Sustainability: The Why and How

  • University of St. Thomas (MN)
  • Willamette University (OR)

The behavioral sciences can make vital contributions to environmental sustainability efforts, as relevant basic and applied psychological research has grown considerably over the past dozen years. Recently, conservation biologists, environmental …

Sustainability education in textile and apparel programs in higher education: A web-based content analysis

  • University of Delaware (DE)
  • Keimyung University

Sustainability is a composite view of diverse and interwoven themes related to human welfare, economic growth, and the natural environment. Inclusion of education for sustainable development is a crucial paradigmatic …

State-of-the-art practices being reported by the PRME champions group: A reference to advance education for sustainable development

  • São Paulo School of Business Adminstration (FGV EAESP)

This study aims to offer a diagnostic of the “state-of-the-art” practices being reported throughout the Sharing Information Process (SIP) by the Champions Group, a group of schools that are signatories …

The use of the theory of planned behaviour to assess graduate attributes for sustainability

  • RMIT University

Higher Education plays an influential role in societal transformation towards sustainability. An understanding of the application of sustainability learning from degree programs in a graduate’s professional practice can serve as …

Building capacity for societally engaged climate science by transforming science training

  • University of Arizona (AZ)
  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)

A major barrier to achieving wide-spread progress on planning for impacts from climate change is the lack of trained scientists skilled at conducting societally-relevant research. Overcoming this barrier requires us …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Beyond “Saddle Bag” Sustainability for Business Education

  • University of Vermont (VT)

Revisiting the historical evolution of the corporation helps explain how the challenge of sustainability has been addressed in business education. Business schools emerged toward the end of the 19th century …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Management of University Social Responsibility in business schools. An exploratory study

  • Comillas Universidad Pontificia (Madrid)
  • IE Business School
  • Loyola Universida Andalucía

Social Responsibility (SR) has become a key issue in higher education. The objective of this investigation is to reflect on the adoption of SR in universities. This paper explores how …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Assessing college students' sustainability literacy: the development, use, and analysis of an assessment tool

  • Colorado State University (CO)

This dissertation discusses the development, use, and analysis of a knowledge-based multiple-choice sustainability literacy assessment tool used in Spring 2016 at Colorado State University (CSU). CSU is a leading institution …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Higher education leadership : professionalism in Finnish higher education in departmental level

  • University of Jyvaskyla (PO Box 35)

Achieving a highly quality educational system without taking the issue of leadership into consideration would be unattainable. Academic leadership has gained more attention during the past few decades and considered …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Environmental Studies (BA or BS)

  • University of Southern California (CA)

The Environmental Studies degrees are built on specialized natural and social science courses and a set of interdisciplinary courses focusing on sustainability. The social science core courses focus on environmental …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Environmental Science and Health (BA or BS)

  • University of Southern California (CA)

The Environmental Science and Health degrees combine the interdisciplinary courses on sustainability described above and some of the environmental social science content with traditional biology and chemistry content to provide …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Environmental Data Science (MS)

  • University of Southern California (CA)

The application of data science to complex environmental problems has become increasingly important in evaluating large-scale environmental challenges. Data science technologies complement interdisciplinary analyses of complex environmental issues ranging over …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Sustainable development education, practice, and research: an indigenous model of sustainable development at the College of Menominee Nation, Keshena, WI, USA

  • College of Menominee Nation (WI)

The College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute’s theoretical model (SDI model) conceptualizes sustainable development as the process of maintaining the balance and reconciling the inherent tensions among six dimensions …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
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Environmental Studies (BA)

  • University of Rochester (NY)

The BA in environmental studies is designed to guide students who have interests in environmental management through a program that links courses in the natural and social sciences. Students successfully …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Sustainability Minor

  • University of Rochester (NY)

The Sustainability minor is intentionally interdisciplinary and includes core classes from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The minor allows for three additional electives chosen from the sciences or social …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Environmental Engineering Minor

  • University of Rochester (NY)

The objective of the minor program is to provide students with core technical proficiency in environmental engineering analysis.

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Environmental Humanities Minor

  • University of Rochester (NY)

This minor provides a structure for students to master new methodologies and gain critical analysis skills. It encourages them to investigate how culture, history, and imagination shape our understandings of …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Geosciences (PhD)

  • University of Rochester (NY)

Students in the PhD in geosciences program at the University of Rochester are expected to spend three to five semesters in intensive coursework (both within the department and in other …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Geosciences (MS)

  • University of Rochester (NY)

The Geosciences department has an MS program, which emphasizes involvement in research projects. Typically, students joining the MS program do course work during the first year and complete MS research …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Environmental Sociology Specialization (PhD)

  • Boston College (MA)

Boston College's Sociology PhD program has a environmental sociology cluster of faculty that provides approximately 25% of the department's students with a specialization in environmental sociology.

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Environmental and Sustainability Studies Minor

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The new Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies is accessible for every possible undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, regardless of his or her college or major. There is a …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Master of Urban Design (MUD)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The Master of Urban Design (MUD) degree is a post-professional, two-­year program that prepares graduates for careers using urban design to critically address environmental, economic, social, political, and cultural issues …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Master of Science in Sustainable Design (MSSD)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The MSSD program critically engages and investigates environmental issues related to architecture and urban systems at the intersection of building science, design, and technology. The MSSD program explores technical and …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Master of Science in Building Performance & Diagnostics (MSBPD)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The Master of Science in Building Performance & Diagnostics (MSBPD) degree program is intended for practitioners, researchers, and educators in architecture and the building industry who wish to be leaders …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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PhD in Building Performance & Diagnostics (PhD)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The PhD in Building Performance & Diagnostics degree program is intended for practitioners, researchers, and educators in architecture and the building industry who wish to be leaders in advanced building …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Civil and Environmental Engineering (MS)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The Civil and Environmental Engineering graduate degree programs develop deep knowledge in a specialized concentration of one of three focus areas with challenging interdisciplinary course work. The focus areas include: …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Civil and Environmental Engineering (PhD)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

PhD students participate in education and research that strives to advance the engineering science fundamentals of the civil and environmental engineering disciplines. Doctoral candidates develop an individualized program of study …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Architecture-Engineering-Construction Management (MS)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The AECM programs prepare building-delivery professionals for careers in capital project delivery dealing with the entire life-cycle of capital projects, from pre-design to design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance stages. …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Architecture-Engineering-Construction Management (PhD)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

The PhD-AECM degree program is intended for practitioners, researchers, and educators in engineering, architecture, construction management fields, and other professionals in the building industry who wish to be pioneers and …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
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Engineering & Public Policy (MS)

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

Engineering and Public Policy offers a MS program that helps students with technical backgrounds address policy issues focused on science and technology.

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.

AC 1: Academic Courses

AC 2: Learning Outcomes

AC 3: Undergraduate Program

AC 4: Graduate Program

AC 5: Immersive Experience

AC 6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

AC 7: Incentives for Developing Courses

AC 8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

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