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.
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Teaching Behavior Change Principles for Sustainability Careers
- Center for Behavior and Climate (FL)
- Behavior Development Solutions (FL)
As sustainability professionals, we know that to address climate change in the short timeframe we have left requires nothing more than transformational systems change. Sustainability programs have an urgent role …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Teaching Key Competencies in Sustainability Education
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- University of Dayton (OH)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
- Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (MD)
The Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (SCC) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) have launched a new series of materials for faculty teaching sustainability topics. The …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Integrating Climate Justice and Climate Change Into Curricula Through Community-Based Learning
- Portland Community College (OR)
Portland Community College’s 2021 Climate Action Plan: Resiliency, Equity and Education for a Just Transition calls for the college to support and encourage students to engage with sustainability and climate …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Achieving Deep Sustainability Through Hands-on Learning
- University of British Columbia (BC)
- University of the Fraser Valley (BC)
- Okanagan College (BC)
Achieving sustainability competencies often involves multiple skill sets, from abstract reasoning to applied and experiential learning. How exactly can sustainability competencies be demonstrated? How can these competencies be transferred to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Building Decarbonization Education for the Next Generation
- Howard University (DC)
- Stanford University (CA)
In order to prepare the next generation of building professionals, engineering education must adapt. The Stanford Building Decarbonization Learning Accelerator (BDLA) provides free teaching resources to professors so they can …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Interdisciplinary Learning Community: Sustainability and Agriculture
- County College of Morris (NJ)
An interdisciplinary approach to environmental topics, such as climate change and sustainability, helps to bridge the gap between identifying an environmental concern and implementing a societal resolution. This presentation aims …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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High Impact Practices at Bridgewater State University’s Permaculture Garden and Local Farms
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
In this presentation, faculty from the Bridgewater State University Sustainability Program share their experiences of using the permaculture garden as a tool for their teaching, research, and scholarship. The goal …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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A Review of an Online International Sustainability Collaboration
- The College of Saint Scholastica (MN)
In spring of 2021, nine Chemistry and Sustainability at The College of St. Scholastica entered into an innovative active learning collaboration with five English-major Russian students at Petrozavodsk State University …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Advancing the SDGs through Education Abroad
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- The Forum on Education Abroad (RI)
It may seem that institutional goals for education abroad are at odds with institutional goals for sustainability. But what if your study abroad programming could actually advance one or more …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Making Study Away Programs More Climate Conscious
- Williams College (MA)
The presentation will illustrate opportunities and challenges in measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of study away programs using data from Williams College. A growing number of students opt to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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University Power Grid Resilience Teaches Steps to Carbon Neutrality
- Chatham University (PA)
- Green Business Certification Inc (DC)
Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus is designed to be a living lab for sustainability and resiliency where students can drive progress while developing their skills. Advancing progress towards carbon neutrality required …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Developing Sustainability Skills in Future Language Teachers
- Universidad de Colima
As teachers, we address the sustainability crisis from the field of education and we dedicate ourselves to develop sustainability skills among teachers in training who will be key players in …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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A Student-led Process for University Carbon Footprinting
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
Students at Michigan Technological University have been calculating the institution’s carbon footprint for over 20 years as part of a project-based academic course. We will share the contours of the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The Week: The New Playbook for Climate Mobilization
- The Week
The Week is a climate mobilization tool that anyone can pick up and use, for free, to create courageous conversations about climate breakdown, and what we as a society can …
- Posted May 10, 2023
- Tools
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Curriculum Self-Assessment Rubrics
- University of Michigan (MI)
This brief document offers several rubrics to assess courses, syllabi and individual units based on principles of sustainability- and social justice pedagogy, including community connections, cultural relevance, and more.
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Course Materials
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Integrating Sustainability and Social Justice Concepts Across the Curriculum
- University of Michigan (MI)
This brief document offers matrices that show how sustainability and social justice concepts such as community and equity can be integrated across disciplines. With this document, instructors can take steps …
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Course Materials
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Building an Embedded Sustainability Approach
- TAFE Queensland Robina Campus (QLD)
The TAFE Queensland Robina Campus has been purpose-built to lead the way as a sustainable vocational education and training (VET) provider across Australia. The campus was designed from the ground …
- Posted May 5, 2023
- Case Studies
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Rider University Earth Day Event
- Rider University (NJ)
Eco-Reps that work for the Office of Sustainability that also conduct plant research in our campus greenhouse grew pollinator friendly plants to sell at our Earth Day event. With a …
- Posted May 3, 2023
- Photographs
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Climate in the Classroom: Bell Tower Takeover
- Temple University (PA)
Climate in the Classroom: Bell Tower Takeover was a special Earth Month event hosted by the Temple University Office of Sustainability, the Office of the Provost and select student and …
- Posted May 2, 2023
- Photographs
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Shifting Instruction for Sustainability: Lessons from COVID
- New Mexico State University (NM)
The COVID-19 pandemic irrevocably changed the ways that libraries function. Libraries had to shift and our skills as librarians and educators were put to the test in new ways. As …
- Posted April 13, 2023
- Publications
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Bending Towards Justice: Evolving Sustainability Education at Prescott College
- Prescott College (AZ)
- AASHE (MA)
The PhD in Sustainability Education at Prescott College, the first of its kind in North America, attracts a transdisciplinary cadre of students/scholars/activists committed to social and environmental justice as enacted …
- Posted March 30, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Obstacles to Environmental Progress: A US Perspective
- Austin College (TX)
Open-access (free) book from University College London Press. The primary intended audiences are undergraduate and graduate students in environmental studies, sustainability, and related fields. The book focuses on predictable, practical …
- Posted March 6, 2023
- Publications
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Devise and Dismantle Racial Inequity through Inclusive Professional Learning and Course Design
- Old Dominion University (VA)
- San Diego Mesa College (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
Diversity, equity, and Inclusion operations within higher education are critical to fostering an environment that dismantles structural racism and intentionally develops solutions to challenges faced by marginalized and non-marginalized populations. …
- Posted March 3, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Water Sustainability Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
Skilled sustainability professionals are needed in order to create effective solutions to the complex global water challenges. This certificate program will equip students with the theory, practice and skills to …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Transportation Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
The predominant focus on automobile transportation has led to a variety of consequences that are less than sustainable such as urban sprawl, rising rates of obesity, growth in green house …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Tourism Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, accounting for 9% of the world GDP and 10.5% of the world's workforce. Tourism is also the fastest growing industry …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Global Sustainability Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
The Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability is intended to prepare students to address complex regional, national, and global challenges related to sustainability and the ability to innovate in diverse cultural, …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Food Sustainability and Security
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
Concerns about population growth, human health, and environmental quality have made food sustainability and security a top priority worldwide. The goal of this program is to provide students with a …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Energy Sustainability Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
Concerns about future economic growth, standards of living, and environmental quality have made sustainable energy a top priority worldwide. The goal of this certificate program is to provide students with …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
The certificate program in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation is intended to prepare students to address complex regional, national and global challenges associated with climate change adaptation and resilience. This concentration/certificate …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Business Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
The Sustainable Business graduate certificate will provide a foundation for designing sustainable organizations and businesses and related concepts pertaining to sustainability. Organizations and businesses from all sectors need to develop …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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MS in Global Sustainability
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
The Master of Science (MS) degree in Global Sustainability offers five (5) academic concentrations, available in a traditional on-campus format, blended hybrid formats or fully online: Entrepreneurship, Food Sustainability and …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Environmental Justice in Higher Education: From Intent to Sustainable Action
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar will trace shifts in the traditional framing of sustainability in higher education and how it is implemented, following the recent racial reckoning in the wake of the killing …
- Posted Feb. 16, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Summer REU in Urban Ecology and the Environment (2024 enrollment)
- City University of New York, Baruch College (NY)
- The City University of New York (NY)
- City University of New York, Brooklyn College (NY)
The Brooklyn Urban Ecology and Environment Program (BUEE) is a NSF-sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates hosted at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. BUEE supports the training …
- Posted Jan. 10, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops
- Moving Still Productions Inc.
Teach climate change with the following free resources: Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops, a series of five short films narrated by Richard Gere, featuring twelve renown climate scientists, and endorsed by …
- Posted Oct. 19, 2022
- Course Materials
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Sustainability Management Simulation: Net Zero
- Harvard University (MA)
In the Sustainability Management Simulation: Net Zero - Winner of the 2022 Gold Medal at the International Serious Play Awards - learners play the role of the General Manager of …
- Posted Oct. 19, 2022
- Course Materials
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Employing the SDGs to Enhance University Research and Education Sustainability Objectives
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of Southern California (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
Although the SDGs are a global framework, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to how universities employ them to enhance research, education, and operational sustainability objectives. The purpose of this …
- Posted Oct. 17, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Webinar: Assessing Sustainability Literacy & Culture: Innovations & Lessons Learned by Multiple Institutions
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
- University of Southern California (CA)
- Weber State University (UT)
- Williams College (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
This interactive panel discussion will feature four presenters from different geographic regions (eastern and western United States) and institutional contexts (private and public, and from small liberal arts colleges to …
- Posted Oct. 4, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Webinar: Innovations in Teaching Sustainable Consumption in Higher Education
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- AASHE (MA)
- Wageningen University
- University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)
- University of East Anglia
- University of Geneva
The goal of sustainability will not be achievable without changes in our consumption. In consumption, sustainability challenges appear like in a burning glass; here, it can be exemplarily shown how …
- Posted Sept. 22, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Constructing a Transformative Sustainability Pedagogy: Teacher Empowerment for a Sustainable Future.
- University of Oulu
The article demonstrates an action research approach for constructing Transformative Sustainability Pedagogy (TSP) to empower teachers for a sustainable future. The starting point for the TSP was a Transformative Education …
- Posted Aug. 9, 2022
- Publications
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BS Biological Science
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
The CSUF Department of Biological Science is dedicated to educating the individual student using active-learning, inquiry-based educational approaches throughout its curriculum. The curriculum for biology majors provides a broad exposure …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Academic Programs
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BA Geography
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Geography students connect the study of human spatial organizations and cultural landscapes with an in-depth investigation of the earth's landforms, climates, and vegetation. The undergraduate program provides a broad study …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Academic Programs
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College of the Atlantic
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
At College of the Atlantic, education goes beyond understanding the world as it is to enabling students to actively shape the future. A leader in experiential learning and environmental stewardship, …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2022
- Photographs
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Greening Burundi Project launches with support from Cornell Climate Online Fellows
- Cornell University (NY)
Emmanuel Niyoyabikoze, right, founder of the Greening Burundi Project, enjoys planting a few trees – on his way to a million trees – with a few children in his social …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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The 51 Percent Project
- Boston University (MA)
The 51 Percent Project at Boston University is a data-driven communications initiative that identifies established peer-reviewed principles of climate change communication and makes them accessible to the general public. The …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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University of New Hampshire: B Impact Clinic
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
B Impact Clinic - Launched in 2019 by the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute, the B Impact Clinic gathers teams of undergraduate students from different areas of study to …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Luke Terra Jorge Ramos talks about Jasper Ridge
- Stanford University (CA)
Luke Terra and Jorge Ramos talk about Jasper Ridge at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Studying while Social Distancing
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford students study outside at the Stanford campus
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Stanford commencement 2021
- Stanford University (CA)
Students at graduation ceremony
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Saint Joseph's College of Maine 2022 SCI
- Saint Joseph's College - ME (ME)
Leadership for Sustainable Communities - In 2021, Saint Joseph's College - ME committed to institution-wide transformation and asked faculty to consider all courses through the lens of "sustainable communities” and …
- Posted July 28, 2022
- Photographs
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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
- Percentage of courses that are sustainability course offerings
- Percentage of academic departments with sustainability course offerings
- Inventory of sustainability course offerings (upload)
- Website URL - Sustainability course offerings
AC 2: Learning Outcomes
- Description of institution level sustainability learning outcomes
- List of degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability
- Percentage of students who graduate from programs that require an understanding of sustainability
- Website URL - Sustainability learning outcomes
AC 3: Undergraduate Program
- First sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- Second sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- Third sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- First sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
- Second sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
- Third sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
AC 4: Graduate Program
- First sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- First sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
AC 5: Immersive Experience
- Description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s)
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
AC 6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
- Copy of the sustainability literacy assessment (upload)
- Copy of the sustainability literacy assessment (description)
- Website URL - Assessment of sustainability literacy
AC 7: Incentives for Developing Courses
- Description of the course development incentives
- Website URL - Incentives for developing sustainability courses
AC 8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.