Curriculum

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.

7980 resources

Applying AASHE STARS to Examine Geography’s “Sense of Place” in Sustainability Education

  • Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)

Geography supports place-based inquiry for the learner, applying the old environmental adage of “think globally, act locally” to environmental problem solving. Many within and outside of the discipline of geography ...


Campus Environment 2008: A National Report Card on Sustainability in Higher Education

  • National Wildlife Federation (VA)

This comprehensive study by National Wildlife Federation and Princeton Survey Research Associates International reviews trends and new developments in environmental performance and sustainability at 1,068 institutions. It recognizes colleges ...


Linking classroom learning and research to advance ideas about social-ecological resilience

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Dartmouth College (NH)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks (AK)
  • University of Victoria (BC)
  • Stockholm University

There is an increasing demand in higher education institutions for training in complex environmental problems. Such training requires a careful mix of conventional methods and innovative solutions, a task not ...


Education for apparel sustainability from perspectives of design students from differing cultural contexts

  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)

The focus of this paper is how design students think about sustainable practices and design solutions. A survey distributed to American and Korean design students asked how important sustainability was ...


Reviewing the incidence and status of sustainability in degree programmes at Plymouth University

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

Purpose

This paper aims to present an overview of the design and implementation of a curriculum review undertaken at Plymouth University, UK, to gauge the incidence and status of sustainability ...


Framework for Introducing Education for Sustainable Development into University Curriculum

  • RMIT University

Inclusion of education for sustainable development (ESD) in the curricula of universities, and in many forums, has been promoted for over a decade. Despite this apparent enthusiasm, there is little ...


You say you want a revolution? Transforming education and capacity building in response to global change

  • Stellenbosch University (Western Cape)
  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • University of Dundee
  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (CO)
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Oslo
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology

This paper considers the changes in education and capacity building that are needed in response to environmental and social challenges of the 21st Century. We argue that such changes will ...


Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development

  • University of Vechta
  • Leuphana University of Lüneburg
  • RMIT University

The Routledge International Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development gives a systematic and comprehensive overview of existing and upcoming research approaches for higher education for sustainable development. It provides ...


Starting the pluralistic tradition of teaching? Effects of education for sustainable development (ESD) on pre-service teachers’ views on teaching about sustainable development

There is currently a well-established belief among politicians, scholars and university representatives that educational systems can produce positive attitudes towards sustainable development (SD) among citizens. This article investigates whether Education ...


Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

  • University of Maine (ME)

Producing knowledge and linking it to actions that meet human needs while preserving the planet’s life-support systems is emerging as one of the most fundamental and difficult challenges for ...

  • Posted May 2, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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Sustainability Works: Rethinking Business As Usual

  • EcoChallenge.org (OR)

Northwest Earth Institute's newest discussion-based course book, Sustainability Works: Rethinking Business as Usual, offers sustainability staff a ready-made employee engagement process designed to inspire green teams and employee teams ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
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Introducing sustainability into the architecture curriculum in the United States

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)

A brief review of the five collateral organizations that influence architectural education in the USA and their priorities indicate they may have reached the point of recognizing that sustainability is ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
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Measuring the educational impacts of a graduate course on sustainable development

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

While university‐level education is increasingly recognized as an important component of sustainable approaches to development, little empirical research has been done on the impact of sustainability education on student ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
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Promoting sustainability values within career‐oriented degree programmes: A case study analysis

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyse an initiative to provide learners on “career‐based” programmes with opportunities to reflect upon their values within the context of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
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M. Arch. with a Concentration in Sustainable Architecture

  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)

The Concentration builds on the regular M.Arch I curriculum, with specialized sustainable architecture classes in the advanced studio and elective course offerings. The subject matter is designed to give ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies

  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)

The Lyle Center is committed to a future in which all people live with dignity in safe, healthy, and sustainable environments. We believe this future is best achieved through the ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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Interdisciplinary and Multilevel Approach to Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Education at North Carolina State University

  • North Carolina State University (NC)

There is an increasing demand for education in organic and sustainable agriculture from undergraduates, graduate students and extension agents. In this paper, we discuss highlights and evaluations of a multilevel ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Developing an Interdisciplinary Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum at the University of Florida

  • University of Florida (FL)

With funding to increase support for organic farming research at land grant universities, organic growers have collaborated with faculty and administrators to develop an undergraduate, interdisciplinary minor at the University ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Organic Educational Opportunities at the University of Minnesota: The Role of a Student-run Organic Farm

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)

Although the number of students in conventional production agriculture is declining, there is increased interest and opportunity in growing organic fruits and vegetables. Land grant universities need to invest in ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Incorporating Organic and Agroecological Approaches into the University Curricula: The Iowa State University Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture

  • Iowa State University (IA)

Organic agriculture has expanded to a $13 billion industry in the United States in 2005, continuing the nearly decade-long trend of 20% annual growth. Despite the growth in organic agriculture ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Development of a Year-round Student Organic Farm and Organic Farming Curriculum at Michigan State University

  • Michigan State University (MI)

How do you teach community supported agriculture (CSA) principles, small-scale organic farming, and local food issues at a major land grant university and develop related small-scale farming research and outreach ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Development of Organic and Sustainable Agricultural Education at the University of California, Davis: A Closer Look at Practice and Theory

  • University of California, Davis (CA)

In the mid-1970s, University of California, Davis, students concerned about the environmental and social consequences of modern agriculture were interested in exploring the practice and theory of “alternative” agriculture. These ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Educating ethical designers

In recent years, there has been an increased focus on bringing sustainability into design education. The focus of such education, however, mainly concerns providing design students with the knowledge and ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Campus Sustainable Food Projects: Critique and Engagement

  • Emory University (GA)

Campus sustainable food projects recently have expanded rapidly. A review of four components—purchasing goals, academic programs, direct marketing, and experiential learning—shows both intent and capacity to contribute to ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Re-visioning agriculture in higher education: the role of campus agriculture initiatives in sustainability education

The number of colleges and universities with campus agriculture projects in the US has grown from an estimated 23 in 1992 to nearly 300 today with possible increased numbers predicted ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Designing sustainable agriculture education: Academics’ suggestions for an undergraduate curriculum at a land grant university

  • University of California, Davis (CA)

Historically, land grant universities and their colleges of agriculture have been discipline driven in both their curricula and research agendas. Critics call for interdisciplinary approaches to undergraduate curriculum. Concomitantly, sustainable ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Master of Agriculture (M.Agr.) in Agricultural Sciences – Integrated Resource Management Specialization

  • Colorado State University (CO)

The online Master of Agriculture in Integrated Resource Management is a multi-disciplined program, blending animal science, business, range science, ecology, wildlife, policy, and human resources. This allows students to understand ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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Portland Community College Sustainability: We're all in this together

  • Portland Community College (OR)

Published on Mar 30, 2015

Sustainability at Portland Community College

Visit pcc.edu/sustain

Video produced by the PCC Office of Sustainability and the PCC Video Production Unit

Producers: Michael ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
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Managers’ Views on Ethics Education in Business Schools: An Empirical Study

  • California Lutheran University (CA)
  • Reykjavik University (Reykjavik)

More and more scholars are expressing their apprehensions regarding the current state of management education. The increased number of corporate scandals has fueled their concerns that training students to have ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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The Role of Gender and Age in Business Students’ Values, CSR Attitudes, and Responsible Management Education: Learnings from the PRME International Survey

  • Macquarie University (NSW)

As demand grows from various stakeholders for responsible management education (RME) in business schools, it is essential to understand how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and RME are perceived by various ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Beyond the Curriculum: Integrating Sustainability into Business Schools

This paper evaluates the ways in which European business schools are implementing sustainability and ethics into their curricula. Drawing on data gathered by a recent large study that the Academy ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Educating Responsible Managers. The Role of University Ethos

The current economic crisis is forcing us to reflect on where we have gone wrong in recent years. In the search for responsibilities some have looked to Business Schools and ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Understanding Responsible Management: Emerging Themes and Variations from European Business School Programs

  • Fielding Graduate University (CA)
  • Nova Southeastern University (FL)
  • Erasmus University Rotterdam

Our literature review reveals a call for changes in business education to encourage responsible management. The Principles for Responsible Management Education were developed in 2007 under the coordination of the ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Integration of sustainability in planning and design programs in higher education: evaluating learning outcomes

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • University of Louisville (KY)

Although sustainability has a growing presence in the planning and design professions, little guidance is available on how to incorporate sustainability into planning and design education programs. Sustainability can be ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Embracing Social Sustainability in Design Education: A Reflection on a Case Study in Haiti

Sustainable design issues are complex and multi-faceted and need integration in the education of young designers. Current research recommends a holistic view based on problem-solving and inter-disciplinary work, yet few ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Higher Education in a Sustainable Society: A Case for Mutual Competence Building

This book addresses the following question: What is a sustainable society, and how can higher education help us to develop toward it? The core argument put forward is that the ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Sustainability Education in the Interior Design Curriculum

  • Western Carolina University (NC)

Interior design education is by nature as transdisciplinary as sustainability education. Design students learn about environment-human behavior relationships through holistic, systems-based means, encompassing the fundamental components of sustainability. A model ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Minor in Sustainable Design

  • Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)

This minor requires 6 courses, including Building Materials I, Sustainability: Building and Living Green, Passive Design and BIM, and 3 sustainable design minor electives.

  • Posted April 26, 2016
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Building Science and Sustainable Design (BS)

  • Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)

The Bachelor of Science degree in Building Science and Sustainable Design promotes a healthier, more energy efficient way to build which reduces negative environmental impacts and slows the depletion of ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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Institute for Sustainable Design

  • Cooper Union (NY)

The Cooper Union Institute for Sustainable Design seeks to provide the greater Cooper Union community—architects, engineers and artists—with the cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills that are necessary to create ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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How not what: teaching sustainability as process

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

Ever since the word “sustainability” entered public discourse, the concept has escaped definition. The United Nations has christened the years 2005–2014 “The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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The Class of 2000 Report: Environmental Education, Practices and Activism on Campus

The aims of this report are twofold: to provide basic information and ideas which will enhance the understanding of environmental education, practices and activism on campus; and to develop action ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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Spires, plateaus and the infertile landscape of Education for Sustainable Development: re-invigorating the university through integrating community, campus and curriculum

  • Queen's University Belfast

Education for and research on sustainable development are currently not well served by the modern university, particularly in the UK. While there is rhetoric about supporting more interdisciplinary research and ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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Educating for sustainability: A double-edged sword?

  • San Francisco State University (CA)

Evidence from three sections of an undergraduate Business, Government and Society (BG&S) core course suggests that heightened awareness of corporate and executive wrong-doing vis-a-vis the natural environment, and/or emphasis ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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Missing links: gender and education for sustainable development

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

Focusing on the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, this paper argues for a gender-sociologically, and ecologically sensitive approach to the complex range of issues raised by environmental concerns. The ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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Whose emergencies and who decides? Insights from emergency education for a more anticipatory Education for Sustainable Development

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

Education in humanitarian crises (i.e., emergency education) plays an increasingly important role not only given ongoing crises, but also potential future crises which could be triggered by climate change ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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Understanding the connections between double bind thinking and the ecological crises: implications for educational reform

This paper examines several reasons most professors of education are unable to recognise that the ecological crises require more than technologies that have a smaller ecological footprint. First, there is ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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As the heating happens: Education for Sustainable Development or Education for Sustainable Contraction?

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)

There is widespread consensus within the international scientific community that global warming is happening and that its causes are primarily anthropogenic. Future histories anticipate massive environmental and social upheaval unless ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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Incorporating education for sustainability into management education: how can we do this?

  • Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS

The area of sustainability has begun to receive increasing attention in management education. New ways of including the topic of sustainability in higher education are being discussed. Nonetheless, the question ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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The university as a site for transformation around sustainability

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)
  • Bradford University (West Yorkshire)

Universities are increasingly being seen as key sites for transformation around sustainability. However, much of the literature in this area uses the terms transformation and transformative learning rather uncritically. Moreover ...

  • Posted April 25, 2016
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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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