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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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Addressing Sustainable Apparel Design Challenges With Problem-Based Learning

  • Illinois State University (IL)

This publication discusses the complexities of the modern fashion industry and provides an approach to incorporate sustainability education in the subject. The article provides research and case-studies assess the success …

A Necessary Partnership: Study Abroad and Sustainability in Higher Education

  • Augsburg University (MN)

Over the last two decades, two major trends that have emerged in higher education have been the internalization and increasing sustainability of institutions. Internalization has occurred via two main channels: …

Five-Year Dual Degree: Env. Policy BA or Env. Sci BS or Env. Studies BA, Master of Public Policy (MPP)

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

Many complex challenges facing society occur at the intersection of environmental science and public policy. Students in Loyola University Chicago's dual degree programs with the Master of Public Policy develop …

  • Posted May 22, 2019
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Healthy Cities Certificate

  • University of Michigan (MI)

Creating cities to promote public health is an interdisciplinary endeavor. The Graduate Certificate in Healthy Cities provides University of Michigan graduate students with the language, skills, and competencies needed to …

  • Posted May 22, 2019
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Sustainability Studies

  • Otterbein University (OH)

Otterbein University's sustainability studies undergraduate program aims to prepare tomorrow’s decision-makers need to understand environmental processes, and have critical thinking skills related to the analysis and interpretation of impacts related …

  • Posted May 22, 2019
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MS Water Management & Hydrological Science

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

The Water Management and Hydrologic Science Master’s program in the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to teach critical aspects of water management, conservation, …

  • Posted May 22, 2019
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Nature Writing MFA and MA

  • Western Colorado University (CO)

The Nature Writing MFA and M.A. analyze the human development of nature writing and explore the progression of the anthropocene and environmental writing. Western's program is low-residency and is located …

  • Posted May 22, 2019
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Informal learning for sustainability in higher education institutions

  • University of Melbourne (Victoria)

Purpose Many higher education institutions are committed to developing students as skilled professionals and responsible citizens for a more sustainable future. In addition to the formal curriculum for sustainability education, …

From the Classroom to the COP: Equipping Emory Students to Become Climate Policy Leaders

  • Emory University (GA)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took effect in 1994, and its main objective is to lessen the impact of human interference that threatens the Earth’s climate …

Student Sustainability Leadership Award

  • California State University Maritime Academy (CA)

California State University Maritime Academy in its continued effort to becoming most sustainable campus, engaging staff, faculty, and students, explored and identified water saving opportunities for the campus. The project …

Environmental Justice

Hope and Empowerment: Navigating Grief, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice Through Train-the-Trainer Workshops

  • Portland Community College (OR)
  • Portland State University (OR)
  • Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network (GPSEN) (OR)

In these times of accelerating change, environmental crises, and social injustices, we are bombarded with negative news that can numb and overwhelm the spirit. How can we build hope and …

Central College Tree Campus

  • Central College (IA)
  • Arbor Day Foundation (NE)

Central College is a leader in sustainability education, both in Iowa and the Midwest. For more than a century, Central students and staff have helped plant and care for trees …

Climate and Society (MA)

  • Columbia University (NY)

The M.A. Program in Climate and Society is a twelve-month interdisciplinary Master of Arts program that trains professionals and academics to understand and cope with the impacts of climate variability …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Science Concentration

  • Columbia University (NY)

The concentration in environmental science and the concentration in earth science are designed to give students an understanding of how the Earth works and an introduction to the methods used …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Sustainable Development Concentration

  • Columbia University (NY)

The special concentration is intentionally more flexible than the major, given that students have their major classes as well. However, its structure allows students to benefit from the program’s cross-disciplinary …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Biology Concentration

  • Columbia University (NY)

Columbia offers a concentration in Environmental Biology for students whose main academic focus is elsewhere (e.g. pre-law, economics, chemistry), but who wish to pursue some organized study in our field. …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Science (BS)

  • Columbia University (NY)

Environmental Science provides a scientific basis for management of earth systems. It focuses on the interaction between human activities, resources, and the environment. As human population grows and technology advances, …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Earth & Environmental Science (BS)

  • Columbia University (NY)

The undergraduate major in earth and environmental sciences provides an understanding of the natural functioning of our planet and considers the consequences of human interactions with it. The program for …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Biology (BA)

  • Columbia University (NY)

The Environmental Biology (EB) major provides students with a strong foundation in areas of organismal biology including evolution, systematics, ecology, population biology, behavior, and biodiversity conservation, as well as an …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Sustainability Theme in Business Administration (MBA)

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

The Master of Business Administration program has a sustainability theme incorporated into its operations. Graduates will explore business from a triple bottom line perspective of People, Planet and Profit. They …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environment (MA)

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

The Master of Environment is an interdisciplinary program focusing on basic, and applied research. Dealing with, the complex relationships among the environment, earth, natural resources, and society at large. The …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Landscape Architecture (MLA)

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program was established in 1972. It was the first graduate program in Landscape Architecture in Canada. It has graduated more than 300 students, many …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Agroecology

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

Agroecology specializes in the management and conservation of our natural and agricultural resources. Agroecologists develop environmentally friendly weed, insect and disease controls and also help farmers conserve their land and …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Science (BSc)

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

The BSc of Environmental Science examines the physical, chemical, and biological components of the Earth’s environment, its diverse systems, and the complex ways in which they interact. Environmental scientists use …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Geospatial Information Science and Technology Graduate Certificate

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) provides an academic structure for an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas around geospatial information and analysis. Geographic information science and technology, …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Law (JD)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

The Environmental Law Program offers students opportunities to take a broad range of courses in the environmental and energy field and to engage in cutting-edge research and writing. It also …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Environmental Engineering (MS)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Management of environmental resources to protect human health and the systems that support life is one of the biggest challenges facing modern society. In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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Energy, Civil Infrastructure and Climate (MS)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Energy, climate, and infrastructure systems are closely tied together, and these connections manifest in many forms. Our society cannot function without energy and infrastructure systems. Energy systems with the lowest …

  • Posted May 17, 2019
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One of our waste stations

McHenry County College Composts! (Finally!)

  • McHenry County College (IL)

Composting has been a goal of the MCC Board of Trustees approved Sustainability Strategic Plan since 2012 and 2015. Based on a waste audit done several years ago, MCC’s waste …

Chemistry students utilize the on-site compost bins to conduct research on the makeup of the compost and the compostability of items

The Chemistry Behind Composting

  • Harper College (IL)

Harper College Facilities Management partnered with Harper’s Chemistry Department to begin a compost collection and research program on campus. Compost bins were built in-house on Harper’s grounds for campus users …

This Way to Climate Action at Chico State

  • California State University, Chico (CA)

Students at CSU, Chico used the Cal-Adapt climate tools to forecast the future climate for the City of Chico, Butte County, and CSU, Chico, and project the climate impacts to …

An Assessment of Teaching and Learning about Sustainability Across the Higher Education Curriculum

  • Columbia University (NY)

Although the majority of scientists agree that we are facing unprecedented climate crises, higher education’s engagement with environmental and sustainability problems is lacking. While the role of human behavior on …

Education for Sustainable Development: Business School Preparation of Student Social Entrepreneurs

  • University of Pennsylvania (PA)

The research examines the state of social entrepreneurship curricula, that is, programs that combine education for sustainable development and traditional business entrepreneurialism instruction, at leading business school MBA programs in …

The Fear of Not Flying: Achieving Sustainable Academic Plane Travel in Higher Education Based on Insights from South Australia

  • The University of Adelaide (SA)

Universities are both disseminators and producers of the climate knowledge needed to institute the social and cultural change required for climate adaptation and mitigation to occur. They also have the …

Sustainability in the higher education of interior designers

  • Royal Roads University (BC)

This thesis addresses the question: how comprehensive are principles of sustainability in the curricula of interior design degree programs in Canada? Key trends in literature regarding sustainability in higher education …

Making Sustainability Personal: An Experiential Semester-Long Project to Enhance Students’ Understanding of Sustainability

  • University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)

Students often naively assume that pursuing sustainability is necessarily costly and difficult. However, proponents of “weak” or “business-centered” sustainability argue that well-crafted sustainability initiatives may simultaneously reduce carbon footprint and …

Climate change belief, sustainability education, and political values: Assessing the need for higher-education curriculum reform

  • Vanderbilt University (TN)

Educational attainment is generally a strong predictor of belief in climate change, but prior research indicates that for political conservatives a college education is not always associated with increased belief. …

Teaching Climate Science to Increase Understanding & Receptivity

  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Only about half of Americans are convinced that human activity is the major cause of climate change. This statistic highlights the increased need for high-quality climate science education but also …

Environmental Health Science (MS)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

MS students in the Environmental Health Sciences division are trained to make research and technical contributions to the field of environmental health science. The EHS MS educational objectives are to …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (PhD)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

The Ph.D. program consists of four interrelated components: disciplinary emphasis, an area of specialization, research methods, and breadth requirement. The course work program is developed by the Guiding Committee in …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Energy & Resources and Juris Doctor (MA/JD or MS/JD)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Energy & Resources Group (ERG) and the U.C. Berkeley School of Law offer a four-year concurrent Master’s and Juris Doctor (J.D.) program. Applicants must apply and be admitted to the …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Public Policy and Energy Resources (MPP/MS or MPP/MA)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) offer a concurrent degree program that integrates the strengths of public policy analytical tools with the interdisciplinary …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Energy and Resources (MA/MS)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

The purpose of the ERG Master’s program is to educate the next generation of interdisciplinary leaders. Specifically, students are taught the range of methods and subjects they should be able …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Energy and Resources (PhD)

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Energy and Resources Group (ERG) doctoral students work across disciplines and departments to create transformative knowledge for the planet and its people. As one of the first interdisciplinary programs in …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Sustainable Cities Minor

  • The New School (NY)

This minor looks at the social sustainability of urban life, community-based design practices and processes, and the multiple scales of the modern city. In the minor, the environmental resilience of …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Occupational and Environmental Health (MS)

  • University of Iowa (IA)

This program will prepare you for a career on the front lines of environmental and occupational health. OEH MS degrees can be tailored to students’ interests. Students work with their …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Sustainable Water Development Graduate Certificate

  • University of Iowa (IA)

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Water Development (SWD) will train STEM graduate students to address future challenges of water scarcity and variability while also meeting the food and energy demands …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Sustainable Water Development (PhD)

  • University of Iowa (IA)

The Sustainable Water Development Doctoral Program addresses social justice issues like food, energy, and water for all. Students make a difference in communities with the greatest need, most notable sustainable …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Sustainable Water Development (MS)

  • University of Iowa (IA)

The Sustainable Water Development Graduate Program addresses social justice issues like food, energy, and water for all. Students make a difference in communities with the greatest need, most notable sustainable …

  • Posted May 13, 2019
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Geographical and Sustainability Sciences (MA)

  • University of Iowa (IA)

We live on a dynamic planet, one that is constantly changing in response to complex human and natural processes. Geographers study the interactions of people with each other and their …

  • Posted May 13, 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

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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