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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Fisheries and Wildlife (BS)
- Oregon State University (OR)
The undergraduate curriculum is composed of a Baccalaureate Core, Fisheries and Wildlife Core including two internships, and a specialization. The specialization is a 24 credit plan of study which you …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Studies Minor
- Sewanee - The University of the South (TN)
This minor incorporates courses from Anthropology, Art, Economics, Education, History and Politics - in addition to science courses - to give a diverse background to sustainability and its impacts throughout …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Studies (BA)
- Pacific University (OR)
Develop a deep understanding of ecological and physical earth systems, the effects of human activities on these systems and how we can alter these patterns to produce more-desirable outcomes. Students …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Science Minor
- Pacific University (OR)
Students develop a core understanding of the language concepts and methods of environmental sciences, as well as perspectives on current issues facing the environment. They have a deeper understanding of …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Science (BS)
- Pacific University (OR)
Students develop a core understanding of the language concepts and methods of environmental sciences, as well as perspectives on current issues facing the environment. They have a deeper understanding of …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Policy Minor
- Pacific University (OR)
Students minoring in environmental policy gain basic knowledge of environmental science, along with the economics, politics, history and ethics that play into decisions related to the environment. They obtain the …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Global Citizenship Certificate
- Florida State University (FL)
The Center for Global Engagement Global Citizenship Certificate prepares students to be global citizens regardless of their major. Students take four courses in diversity, politics and religion, global social and …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Geography Minor
- Florida State University (FL)
Geography bridges the social sciences and physical sciences in the pursuit of how humans affect and are affected by natural environment. Geographers examine many social/physical issues at every scale, such …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Bachelors in Geography
- Florida State University (FL)
Geography bridges the social sciences and physical sciences in the pursuit of how humans affect and are affected by natural environment. Geographers examine many social/physical issues at every scale, such …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Science Major
- Florida State University (FL)
Environmental Science is the interdisciplinary study of environmental systems from a scientific perspective. Drawing principally from the areas of oceanography, geology, meteorology, biology and chemistry, the Environmental Science program will …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Advanced Certificate in Sustainability
- University at Buffalo (NY)
This advanced certificate consisting of 15 graduate credit hours will serve as a locus for interactions among a diverse array of students and faculty throughout the university and initiate transdisciplinary …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Law (LLM)
- University at Buffalo (NY)
The Environmental Law LL.M. offers students the opportunity to develop their skills and understanding of environmental law and policy through a structured program of study and experience.
Admission to the …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (MS)
- University at Buffalo (NY)
Students pursuing the EWRE degree follow a single set of course requirements with considerable flexibility in selection of elective classes.
Some of the top priorities concerning environmental engineers are the …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Social Justice Minor
- University at Buffalo (NY)
The Minor in Social Justice focuses on the causes and consequences of social injustices and gives students the knowledge to analyze social injustices and to work to combat them. Career …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Studies Minor
- University at Buffalo (NY)
Designed for students with an interest in environmental issues the Environmental Studies minor provides an introduction to the field. The minor examines how human society intersects with the natural environment. …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Environmental Studies Major
- University at Buffalo (NY)
The Environmental Studies major is intended for those interested in the environment and concerned with loss of habitat, global warming, and the impact that human beings have on the natural …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Engineering for One Planet: Launching a Collaborative Effort to Proliferate Principles of Environmentally Responsible Engineering in Higher Education Institutions
- The Lemelson Foundation (OR)
Engineers build our human-made physical and virtual worlds, and many engineers will become the inventors and entrepreneurs that envision and create the future material world we live in. Engineers hold …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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Celebrating Diversity is not Enough: Teaching Social Justice
- University of Michigan (MI)
- AASHE (MA)
Social justice and equity are a prominent dimensions of sustainability that can be overlooked or under-taught across the curriculum. Well-meaning instructors may focus on “celebrating diversity” or exception individuals rather …
- Posted Sept. 5, 2019
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STARS Incorporation into Capability-Based Gen Ed Curriculum
- Eureka College (IL)
- AASHE (MA)
This session will cover incorporating STARS data collection AND report segments into an introductory sustainability course that fulfills a capability-based general education requirement (Sustainable Practices and Environmental Conscience). We will …
- Posted Aug. 8, 2019
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Sustainability Capstone PISA
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito - USFQ (Pichincha)
Through the Innovation and Sustainability Office, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in Ecuador has developed a capstone course called Social and Environmental Project (PISA is the acronym in Spanish). …
- Posted Aug. 5, 2019
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Campus-based Climate Resiliency Field Study Program
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Office of Sustainability collaborated with academic and operational partners to create a field study program that focused on campus climate resiliency. The experiential learning program …
- Posted Aug. 5, 2019
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Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Certificate
- University of Calgary (AB)
The Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Certificate will give practicing lawyers an in-depth understanding of the legal aspects of the transition to a low-carbon economy, mining law, renewable energy …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Sustainable Energy Development MSc
- University of Calgary (AB)
The University of Calgary’s Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development (SEDV) is a combined offering through the Haskayne School of Business, Schulich School of Engineering and the Faculties of …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Development Studies (BA)
- University of Calgary (AB)
Development Studies scholars ask questions such as: How do we define human rights? What does it mean for a country to ‘develop’? How is the global community interconnected?
Development Studies …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Environmental Science & Ecology (MS/BS) Combined Degree
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
Through a curriculum with a core in the disciplines of biology, ecology, chemistry, and geology, the accelerated dual degree program develops the conceptual knowledge and technical skills necessary to address …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Environmental Science & Ecology (MS)
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
The Master of Science in Environmental Science and Ecology is a demanding, thesis-based experience. The curriculum is designed to challenge students to think critically, independently, and creatively, while providing the …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Environmental Science (BS)
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
Through a curriculum with a common core in the disciplines of biology, ecology, chemistry and geology, and a focused track, environmental science majors develop the conceptual knowledge and technical skills …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Environmental Science Minor
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
The Environmental Science minor (18 credits) prepares the student for postgraduate education or employment in environmentally related fields (e.g., environmental health and safety, government policy-making, non-governmental organizations). To ensure maximum …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Environmental Studies Minor
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
The Environmental Studies minor offers students a variety of scientific, social, economic, political, and literary perspectives on environmental issues. Gaining these perspectives will help students become environmentally literate citizens and …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Principles of Sustainability, General Education Path
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
The goal of this path is to broadly educate students about the fundamental concepts of sustainability including economic, environmental, and social aspects. It is designed to supplement education in other …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Sustainability Specialization, BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
The Interdisciplinary Studies Option is designed for students interested in a broad liberal arts education. Students take courses in the language arts, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. As part …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Sustainability Minor
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
The Sustainability Minor is available for students interested in learning current and best practices for planetary sustainability on an individual, institutional, regional and global level. This minor offers a broad …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2019
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Understanding Sustainability Through Transdisciplinary Narratives
- University of Michigan (MI)
- AASHE (MA)
The concepts of “more” and “better” drive social narratives about they kind of world we’re creating: a future of more stuff and strife, or one based on a better life. …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2019
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The University of Winnipeg's Star Blanket Mural
- University of Winnipeg (MB)
This mural covering the University of Winnipeg’s Helen Betty Osborne Building depicts a Star Blanket, and symbolizes the institution’s commitment to indigenization and reconciliation. The mural was completed in August, …
- Posted July 29, 2019
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Tapping Campus Trees & Making Syrup
- University of Louisville (KY)
Each winter in the early spring semester, University of Louisville students, faculty, staff, and community partners participate in tapping trees on campus to make syrup and learn about the process …
- Posted July 29, 2019
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Disrupt Climate Injustice Curriculum Disruption
- The New School (NY)
In 2018, The New School invited all 14,000 faculty, staff, and students to participate in a university-wide curriculum disruption entitled "Disrupt Climate Injustice." Participants were encouraged to stop "business as …
- Posted July 25, 2019
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Environmental Technology
- Fanshawe College (ON)
This three-year program provides students with a strong basic knowledge of Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Biology with focus on the concepts of air, water and waste water management. In particular, …
- Posted July 22, 2019
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Adventure Expeditions and Interpretive Leadership
- Fanshawe College (ON)
The Adventure Expeditions and Interpretive Leadership (Co-op) program, leading to an Ontario College Diploma, provides the training, practical skills and eco-tourism industry experience to prepare graduates for work locally, provincially, …
- Posted July 22, 2019
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Renewable Energies Technician (Co-op)
- Fanshawe College (ON)
Students will begin by building foundational knowledge in the electrical, electronic and mechanical disciplines and how they function in the renewable energies sector. Students will also study the design and …
- Posted July 22, 2019
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A Framework for Leadership for Sustainability Education at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
In response to the hitherto unchallenged assumptions supporting a globalized economy, the Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) program, formerly Leadership in Ecology, Culture, and Learning, was developed as part of …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Lessons Learned from Developing a New Distance-Learning Masters Course in the Green Economy
- Bournemouth University (Dorset)
It is widely recognised that for the green economy to develop successfully, new educational curricula will be required to help professionals develop appropriate knowledge and skills. Relatively few university courses …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability teaching at universities: Falling behind or getting ahead of the pack?
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Beira Interior
- University of Passo Fundo
- Bournemouth University (Dorset)
- University of Aveiro
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Universidade federal de Santa Maria
- Universidade Aberta
- University of Malta (Northern Harbor District)
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
The fact that the world community is engaged in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) means that an unrivalled opportunity is provided to universities, both in respect of teaching and …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Introduction to Systems Thinking for the Chemistry Education Community
- University of Nevada Las Vegas (NV)
- American Chemical Society (DC)
Within recent history, both science research and science education have been largely reductionist in perspective. While the reductionist approach has resulted in a significant increase in our knowledge of the …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Interacting Pedagogies: A Review and Framework for Sustainability Education
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Although the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) was a period of rapid pedagogical revitalization and innovation, much sustainability education today is still delivered using transmissive and instrumental pedagogies …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Humanities for the Environment—A Manifesto for Research and Action
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Oxford
- University of Sydney (NSW)
- Trinity College Dublin (The University of Dublin)
- National Sun Yat-sen University
- National Taiwan University
Human preferences, practices and actions are the main drivers of global environmental change in the 21st century. It is crucial, therefore, to promote pro-environmental behavior. In order to accomplish this, …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Making the hidden curriculum visible: sustainability literacy in higher education
- University of Plymouth (Devon)
Despite strong political support for the development of sustainability literacy amongst the UK graduates, embedding sustainability in the higher education curriculum has met with widespread indifference, and in some cases, …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Learning Economics and Attitudes to Market Solutions to Environmental Problems
- Stockholm University
- University of Gothenburg
- University of Birmingham
Climate change challenges governments to reduce emissions, and to gain support for such actions from their citizens. This can be in the form of taxation or legislation, or other forms …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Designing low carbon higher education systems: Environmental impacts of campus and distance learning systems
- The Open University
Purpose – This paper aims to summarise the methods and main findings of a study of the environmental impacts of providing higher education (HE) courses by campus‐based and distance/open‐learning methods. …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Distributed leadership: Building capacity for interdisciplinary climate change teaching at four universities
- UNSW Sydney (NSW)
- University of Wollongong (New South Wales)
- Murdoch University (Western Australia)
- University of Tasmania (TAS)
Purpose – Interdisciplinary approaches to climate change teaching are well justified and arise from the complexity of climate change challenges and the integrated problem-solving responses they demand. These approaches require …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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Design of higher education teaching models and carbon impacts
- The Open University
Purpose – This research aims to examine the main findings of the SusTEACH study of the carbon-based environmental impacts of 30 higher education (HE) courses in 15 UK institutions, based …
- Posted July 19, 2019
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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.