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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BA Environmental Studies
- Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
In Environmental Studies, we believe that we can create a more just and sustainable world by drawing together knowledge and insights from many disciplines and areas of study. We strive …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Environmental Studies Minor
- Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
In Environmental Studies, we believe that we can create a more just and sustainable world by drawing together knowledge and insights from many disciplines and areas of study. We strive …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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MS in Ecology and Conservation Biology
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Master of Science degree is designed primarily for students who are pursuing an academic or research career in ecology and/or natural resource management, with an emphasis on forest or …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Graduate Certificate in Energy Law
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Certificate in Energy Law - Environmental and Energy Law and Policy is designed for environmental energy industry professionals (including experts who work in clean energy environments such as wind …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Minor in Energy with a focus in Renewable Energy
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
In this undergraduate minor program with a focus in renewable energy, students address the scientific and technical aspects of energy production and use as well as its broader impacts on …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Environment and Sustainability Studies Minor
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
The Environment and Sustainability Studies Minor is designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration across campus, in order to provide students with an enhanced capacity to recognize the connections between technical and …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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BSE - Sustainable Environment Engineering Design Studio - Focus area
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
Academics added a "sustainability" focus area to the BSE that includes a Sustainable Environments Design Studio. This is a one-year capstone program that focuses on sustainable engineering design. Recent projects …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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MS in Natural Resources and Energy Policy
- Colorado School of Mines (CO)
The Natural Resources and Energy Policy (NREP) graduate degree program is part of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences department at Colorado School of Mines. In this program, a multidisciplinary …
- Posted June 10, 2022
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Using Climate Change Games in the Classroom
- Antioch University, New England (NH)
- AASHE (MA)
As global concerns about climate change continue to grow, we must consider diverse ways to engage and motivate young people on topics related to ecological harms. It is imperative for …
- Posted June 7, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Campus as a Living Laboratory: The Built Environment
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
This book chapter focuses on Florida Gulf Coast University using its campus as a living lab to teach sustainability to students and the way that this type of learning affects …
- Posted May 25, 2022
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Renewable Energy Technology and Integration Graduate Certificate
- Marquette University (WI)
The graduate certificate in renewable energy technology and integration is intended to develop the capabilities required to solve complex energy problems. As energy sources transition to lower carbon emitting technologies, …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Environmental Law
- Marquette University (WI)
Marquette is committed to preparing the coming generations of environmental lawyers and activists not only through a comprehensive curriculum in environmental laws now on the books, but also by providing …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Environmental Engineering Major
- Marquette University (WI)
The environmental engineering major is concerned with sustainable management of our surroundings and protection of human health using scientific and engineering principles. A student may elect to major in environmental …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Environmental Studies Major
- Marquette University (WI)
The goal of the major is to provide a comprehensive and in-depth education in environmental studies, which includes the study of the ecology of natural ecosystems and the processes by …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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MS Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
The Master of Science degree program in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies is taught and administered by College of Science faculty with expertise in the issues and problems facing coastal …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Environmental Studies Minor
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
The environmental studies minor utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to help students develop their understanding of important environmental issues and potential solutions to these challenges. Students will develop a basic scientific …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Sustainability & Coastal Resilience BA/BS
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Sustainability and Coastal Resilience is an interdisciplinary degree program that offers an in-depth undergraduate experience while teaching students to think about important issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Applied Local Food System Minor
- Butler University (IN)
The Applied Local Food System (ALFS) minor and concentration is a truly cross-disciplinary program where students, instructors, community internship host sites, and community members learn through collaboration. As a cohort, …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Earth and Environmental Science PhD
- University of Rochester (NY)
Research in the department is a healthy blend of field-oriented studies, laboratory research and theoretical approaches. Field research projects range from local problems in Appalachian geology, to problems in the …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Environmental Science (BS)
- Curry College (MA)
Students pursuing a degree in Environmental Science will tackle the tough issues facing our planet including climate change, sustainability, natural resource management and conservation. This program allows students to complete …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Climate Adaptation Certificate
- North Carolina State University (NC)
As the climate change crisis continues there is an increasing need for professionals versed in climate adaptation. This certificate provides courses that will provide knowledge in the various ways to …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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Sustainability Studies, BA
- Indiana University East (IN)
- Indiana University Kokomo (IN)
- Indiana University Northwest (IN)
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
- Indiana University Southeast (IN)
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
This is a 100 percent online, consortial program
The curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand the complex environmental problems of today, learn modern …
- Posted May 23, 2022
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WMGIC: Expanding Student Involvement in Sustainable Development
- College of William & Mary (VA)
The Global Innovation Challenge at William and Mary (WMGIC) encourages and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and applied learning opportunities among students, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers by bringing innovative and sustainable perspectives …
- Posted May 23, 2022
- Case Studies
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Navigating the Necessary Evils: Contemplating the Topic of Sustainability in Study Abroad
- School for International Training (VT)
Travel is a defining feature of education abroad, instrumental in exposing students to experiences and countries beyond their campus community. The cultural exchange implied in travel aspires to benefit both …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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The Land Use Changes in the Çukurova University Campus
- Çukurova Üniversitesi
- Osmaniye Korkut Ata Üniversitesi
- Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi
This study aimed to determine the land-use changes in the Cukurova University campus, providing ecosystem services to the city of Adana with its natural areas. Land uses of the study …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Sustainability based careers and graduate prospects
- University of West London
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to create a sustainable global future through seventeen inter-related objectives that encompass the environment, social justice, and good governance. Countries are deploying national …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
- California State University, Chico (CA)
- California State University, Monterey Bay (CA)
- California State University, San Marcos (CA)
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
- Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
In the Spring of 2022, 62 faculty from six different California State University campuses representing over 30 disciplines participated in the CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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To shift a paradigm or not: worldviews at play in responsible management education literature
- KU Leuven
- University of Antwerp
- TBS Education
This study analyzes which worldviews on the interrelatedness of the economic, environmental and social systems are adopted in the literature on responsible management education (RME) and explores how this affects …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Universities and CSR Teaching: New Challenges and Trends
- Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale
This paper aims to analyse how universities are currently improving CSR teaching, pointing out some new challenges and trends emerging from a context in which CSR issues have become increasingly …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Longitudinal analysis of the environmental literacy of undergraduate students in Eastern Taiwan
- National Dong Hwa University
Although higher education is crucial for training future professionals to deal with environmental challenges, there have been few longitudinal studies exploring how university students’ academic major influences their environmental literacy. …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Education for sustainable development: a critical reflexive discourse on a transformative learning activity for business students
- Università degli Studi di Torino
This paper presents in detail a critical reflexive discourse on a transformative learning activity that engaged 140 students of the “Risk Management and Green Business Strategy” module at the University …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Factors influencing tourism students’ intentions towards environmental sustainability
- Prince of Songkla University (Songkhla)
- Chengdu University
The study aims to examine undergraduate hospitality and tourism students’ intentions toward environmental sustainability and to compare factors (knowledge, attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and intentions) towards environmental sustainability among students …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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How university students are taught about sustainability, and how they want to be taught: the importance of the hidden curriculum
- University of Plymouth (Devon)
- NITTE University
India is unique, having enshrined in law the teaching of sustainability education (SE) within all levels of formal education. This study aims to examine the integration and perceptions of SE …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Publications
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The Literacy-Based Scale for Measuring Reflections on a University Social Responsibility Curriculum: Development and Validation
- Chung Shan Medical University
University Social Responsibility (USR) enhances educational development and the impact of universities on society. As a stakeholder in USR, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive literacy scale that reflects …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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A Mixed Methods Case Study: Effects of Instructors’ Beliefs on Incorporation of Sustainability Curriculum at a Midwestern University
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
The degree to which sustainability is taught is often varied and inconsistent across colleges, departments, and higher education institutions. However, educating students and future generations regarding the different pillars of …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Sustainability through a Phenomenon-based learning approach : A study of student reflections
- University of Helsinki
The purpose of this thesis is to study on how a phenomenon-based approach might evoke critical reflection on sustainability. By using the phenomenon-based learning (PhBL) approach, the aim of the …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Learning from the Dirt: Initiating university food gardens as a cross-disciplinary tertiary teaching tool
- Macquarie University (NSW)
Food gardens are an underdeveloped resource for teaching and research in Australian universities. While some campuses have food or botanical gardens, outside the biological or physical sciences food growing is …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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The development and evaluation of interdisciplinary STEM, sustainability, and management curriculum
- Montana State University - Billings (MT)
- Murray State University (KY)
- RAND Corporation (CA)
There is an increasing need in the workforce for STEM and sustainability literate graduates. In practice, however, it is difficult to enact interdisciplinary STEM and sustainability curriculum, particularly in business …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Rethinking of higher education institutions as complex adaptive systems for enabling sustainability governance
- Banaras Hindu University (Uttar Pradesh)
Education in particular Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are considered pivotal in promoting and implementing the targets of the United Nations-Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). However, frameworks, curriculums, pedagogies and governance policies …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Meaning-making in higher education for sustainable development: undergraduates’ long-term processes of experiencing and learning
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Despite the increase in teaching approaches designed to integrate sustainability into higher education, the connection between students’ learning experiences and their learning outcomes remains incompletely understood. The present multi-case study …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Principles for responsible management education - PRME: Collaboration among researchers
- Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul (SP)
This study characterizes as a systematically reviews literature on the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) through bibliometric research. The research maps and analyzes scientific research networks of PRME by …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Development of the biotic impacts of climate change core concepts (BIC4) framework
- Lamar University (TX)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Northern Colorado (CO)
The ability of living organisms to respond and adapt to a changing climate is an urgent concern. However, current educational efforts aimed at increasing US undergraduate student climate literacy primarily …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education Rankings: Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Internationally Comparable Indicators
- University of Twente
As more higher education institutions strive to embed sustainable development principles in their teaching, it becomes increasingly important to identify indicators that can measure institutional contribution in a meaningful and …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Education on the Sustainable Development Goals for nursing students: Is Freire the answer?
- Curtin University
- University of Wollongong (New South Wales)
Significant global events in recent years have had a substantial impact on the nursing profession. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and systemic racism are a few of the many complex …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Publications
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The Planetary Health Report Card: a student-led initiative to inspire planetary health in medical schools
- University of California, San Francisco (CA)
- University of Hawaii Honolulu Community College (HI)
- University of Oxford
The warming of our planet and destruction of our ecosystems have created grave new threats to human health, such as food insecurity, physical and mental trauma from extreme weather events, …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Higher Education for Sustainability: A Bibliometric Approach—What, Where and Who Is Doing Research in This Subject?
- University of Aveiro
- University of Minho
Contextualization: From a very early age, assuming more prominence over the last decades, issues related to sustainability have been taking on a particular interest in the field of research. Although …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Education for Sustainable Development in Foreign Language Learning
- George Washington University (DC)
This books uses the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development framework to help educators integrate sustainability education in foreign language learning at the college level. The chapters are all written by …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Art and higher education for environmental sustainability: a matter of emergence?
- Aalborg Universitet
This study aims to contribute to the exploration of inter-disciplinary approaches in higher education for sustainability. It is a reflection on a case study linking students in the arts and …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Defining a Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Buildings and Landscapes in Conjunction with Social Sustainability Discourse in the Architecture Graduate Design Studio
- Girne American University
- Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design
The primary objective of this research is to define a pedagogy framework for architecture Graduate Design Studio. The proposed pedagogy framework pursues the following three principal objectives: The first objective …
- Posted May 20, 2022
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Developing Ethical Future Managers Embracing Sustainability: Case Study of Budapest Business School
- Budapest Business University
The paper describes and evaluates how a higher education institution (Budapest Business School - BBS), aspiring for AACSB accreditation, co-created innovative tools, based on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Publications
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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.