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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Inside and Out: Universities and Education for Sustainable Development
- Routledge
Two overarching questions permeate the literature on universities and civic engagement: How does a university restructure its myriad activities, maintain its academic integrity, and have a transformative impact off campus? …
- Posted June 24, 2018
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An Analysis of the Sustainability of Different Methods of Delivering Higher Education
- Manchester Metropolitan University
Transforming society and the economy to a more sustainable basis remains one of the most significant challenges of the 21st Century. Higher education institutions are considered key in helping to …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Aiming for Full Coverage—Integrating Sustainability Education into All Undergraduate Courses at La Trobe University, Australia: Achievements, Lessons Learnt and Barriers Addressed
- La Trobe University (Victoria)
In 2012, La Trobe University committed to ensuring that every undergraduate student, across all disciplines, will have significant and assessed experience of three ‘Essentials’ of learning: Sustainability Thinking; Global Citizenship; …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Certificate in Regenerative Organic Agriculture
- Maharishi University of Management (IA)
Through Maharishi University of Management 9-month non-credit, non-degree program, participants can earn a certificate in Regenerative Organic Agriculture. Courses include Soil Science, How to Prepare Your Organic Field, Science and …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Regenerative Organic Agriculture BA
- Maharishi University of Management (IA)
In this BA program at Maharishi University of Management, participants learn through different courses and techniques about how to grow healthy and sustainable food that does not have a negative …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Environmental Analysis & Policy Major
- Boston University (MA)
Boston University offers the Environmental Analysis & Policy (EAP) undergraduate major for students who are interested in learning about social sciences, specifically in the environmental field. This major allows students …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Sustainability Minor
- Principia College (IL)
Principia College offers a Sustainability minor focused on creating solutions to the world's critical problems. This includes extinction, climate change and energy security. Skills developed in this minor include communication, …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Environmental Studies BA
- Principia College (IL)
Principia University's BA in Environmental Studies allows students to learn about their broad interests in the the environment. The major is designed for students with career aspirations in environmental law, …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Sustainable Development MBA
- Brandeis University (MA)
The Heller School For Social Policy and Management's MBA in Sustainable Development provides students with an understanding of the present state of global development and the skills to tackle financial …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Sustainable Development MS
- University of Sussex (Sussex)
University of Sussex Sustainable Development MSc program is designed to show students how to cultivate social and technological innovation theories into successful policies and practices. Skills learned in this program …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Management MBA
- Brandeis University (MA)
The Heller School For Social Policy and Management's Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Management MBA is designed for students interested in leading social impact initiatives for a wide range of topics, …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Sustainable Ranch Management BS
- Sul Ross State University (TX)
SUL Ross State University's Sustainable Range Management program offers a four-year B.S. degree and a two-year certificate. The hands on program teaches students how many factors, including wildlife, livestock, humans, …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Environmental Education MS
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Southern Oregon University's Master of Science in Environmental Education program prepares student who are interested in holding positions in leadership and teaching for different organizations, such as schools, government agencies …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Environmental Studies Major
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
This program gives students a broad interdisciplinary liberal arts education in environmental issues that students combine with specialized study that fits their interests and goals. The program stresses engagement, with …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Academic staff development as a catalyst for curriculum change towards education for sustainable development: an output perspective
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
- RMIT University
Implementing education for sustainable development (ESD) in university curricula poses a new challenge to the academic system. In recent years many universities have undertaken activities towards its implementation and numerous …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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Assessing curricula contribution to sustainability more holistically: Experiences from the integration of curricula assessment and students' perceptions at the Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- The Citadel (SC)
- Utrecht University
There has been a rapid increase in the number of engineering schools in higher educational institutions that have incorporated sustainability into their teaching. Nonetheless, curricula reforms are still needed to …
- Posted June 20, 2018
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PhD in Natural Resources and Earth System Sciences (NRESS)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The NRESS Program draws on the University's strengths in environmental and earth sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and ethical and policy studies, and has the following objectives:
To increase our …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Wetland Ecology Minor
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The Department of Natural Resources & the Environment offers an interdisciplinary minor in wetland ecology. It is available to all students in biology, botany, environmental conservation, forestry, plant biology, environmental …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Agribusiness Minor
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The agribusiness minor is designed to provide students in disciplines other than environmental and resource economics training in the economics and management of agricultural and other natural resource business firms. …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Environmental Conservation and Sustainability Minor
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Issues of sustainable living involve every aspect of life. Humans are part of, and dependent upon, healthy functioning ecosystems. Sustainable living requires learning to live with ecosystem limits. Students increase …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Sustainability Dual Major
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The new undergraduate Sustainability Dual Major, launched in spring 2016, provides an innovative pathway for emerging leaders to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be agents of change in …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Environmental Science and Policy (MS)
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (WI)
The UW-Green Bay graduate program prepares skilled and imaginative problem-solvers for positions in government, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and private industries. This unique program accommodates a broad range of interests, …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Certificate in Environmental Sustainability and Business
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (WI)
The Certificate in Environmental Sustainability and Business consists of a supporting course structure (at the 100 and 200 level) that is complementary to the campus' existing general education requirements, consistent …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Climate Change and Health Certificate
- Yale University (CT)
This 18-week, online program for public health professionals and other learners is designed to equip you with the knowledge and proven strategies needed to increase your community’s resilience to the …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Environmental Policy & Planning (BS)
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (WI)
Environmental Policy & Planning (EPP) is an environmental studies program based in the social sciences. It prepares students for a variety of professions involving the planning, analysis, design, and administration …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Environmental Studies Minor
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The Environmental Studies program is interdisciplinary by design; it includes and works for the integration of the 3 main pillars of sustainability, environmental – social – economic, in the program …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Tourism & Sustainability Minor
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
It is an introduction to the study of tourism and the nature and scope of the Tourism and Hospitality industries. Topics covered include:
- Origins and growth of tourism,
- Tourism as …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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Environmental Studies (BS)
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The Environmental Studies program is interdisciplinary by design; it includes and works for the integration of the 3 main pillars of sustainability, environmental – social – economic, in the program …
- Posted June 13, 2018
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The Decolonization of Curriculum for a Sustainable Future
- Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
When you think about it, does your coursework perpetuate stories of paternalistic dominance by a few? Do you teach how and what you learned? Given our other many responsibilities, do …
- Posted June 7, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Leadership for Sustainability in Higher Education
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Manchester Metropolitan University
Sustainability is a complex concept, and the challenge of understanding it and applying it to a diverse, multi-agent, organizational setting with its potentially conflicting priorities cannot be underestimated. Leadership for …
- Posted May 30, 2018
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Walking the Talk: Applying Fair Trade Learning Principles to Alternative Breaks
- Oregon State University (OR)
Alternative Breaks at Oregon State University: We integrate sustainability education and leadership via fair trade learning into our community-engaged learning/service-learning program.
Break away from apathy. Break away from the expected. …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Analyzing Ecological Integrity: An Assessment of Princeton University’s Natural Areas
- Princeton University (NJ)
How can aerial images be used to interpret land use-changes? What can lake sedimentation tell us about erosion patterns? To what extent do forest patches act as stream buffers? How …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Introduction to Sustainable Living
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
My proposal for the 2018 Student Sustainability Leadership Award is for a course that I was able to develop at UCLA designed to help students learn knowledge and skills that …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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University of Michigan Campus Farm and MDining Lead Sustainable Food Movement
- University of Michigan (MI)
With the first delivery of Campus Farm fresh produce to Mosher Jordan dining hall in the summer of 2017, the University of Michigan’s MDining’s sustainability goal of using more local …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Circular economy and Cradle to Cradle in educational practice
- The Hague University of Applied Science
This article describes how Circular Economy (CE) and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) can be used in university teaching to address these frameworks’ strengths and weaknesses in practice. The advantages of …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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IEN Toolkit: How to Start and Run a Student-Managed SRI Fund
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowment Network's (IEN) new resource, titled "IEN Toolkit: How to Start and Run a Student-Managed SRI Fund", was designed to aid in the creation of new student-managed funds, …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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The Geology and Sociology of Consumption: Team-Teaching Sustainability in an Interdisciplinary First-Year Seminar
- Cornell College (IA)
The complex consequences of current consumption practices, such as climate change and ecosystem degradation, necessitate increased interdisciplinary exploration. In order to raise student awareness of these consumption-related issues, we designed …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Sustainable Energy for University Science Majors: Developing Guidelines for Educators
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Weizmann Institute of Science
This paper describes the basic tenets of a sustainable energy course for university science majors. First, it outlines the three core components of the course: 1. The scientific evidence for …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Sustainability: Why the Language and Ethics of Sustainability Matter in the Geoscience Classroom
- San Jose State University (CA)
- University of Rochester (NY)
Because challenges to sustainability arise at the intersection of human and biophysical systems they are inescapably embedded in social contexts and involve multiple stakeholders with diverse and often conflicting needs …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Sustainability, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the Education of Future Teachers
- Central Washington University (WA)
- Columbia University (NY)
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize how human activities affect the Earth and how Earth processes impact humans, placing the concept of sustainability within the Earth and Space Sciences. …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Environmental Education: Reflecting on Application of Environmental Attitudes Measuring Scale in Higher Education Students
- Leiden University
- The Hague University of Applied Science
The Ecocentric and Anthropocentric Attitudes toward the Sustainable Development (EAATSD) scale measures environmental concern in relation to sustainable development. This article will discuss how this scale was tested with three …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Integrating problem- and project-based learning opportunities: assessing outcomes of a field course in environment and sustainability
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
Improving student competencies to address sustainability challenges has been a subject of significant debate in higher education. Problem- and project-based learning have been widely celebrated as course models that support …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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Higher education for sustainability: can education affect moral perceptions?
- University of Gothenburg
A considerable literature looks at universities’ approaches to integrating sustainable development into teaching and learning, but less is known about how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) affects student attitudes, values …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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A systematic review of the literature on integrating sustainability into engineering curricula
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
- Lancaster University
- Jinan University (Guangdong)
- University of Belgrade
Higher education plays an important role in furthering the sustainability agenda, as reflected in a growing body of literature. While there have been several recent reviews of this work, these …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Publications
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The Use of Praxis in the Classroom to Facilitate Student Transformation
- University of Manitoba (MB)
- University of Regina (SK)
- University of Windsor (ON)
Critical management education typically assumes that management courses that emphasize critical reflection—that is, courses that critique problematic systems and structures, and ask students to dialogue about and actively reflect upon …
- Posted May 18, 2018
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Sustainability Activation Program at the University of Dayton
- University of Dayton (OH)
The Sustainability Activation Program (SAP) is an innovative, large scale, and peer-to-peer education program that began in October of 2016 with the intent to better educate our student body about …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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RU Sustainable event series
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
RU Sustainable events are designed with the purpose of bringing together faculty, students, and staff to engage with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). As described on the …
- Posted May 18, 2018
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Partnership Development of Sustainable Learning
- Triton College (IL)
From a partnership of labor and industry and a community college grew an educational program geared toward meeting industry needs while highlighting facility sustainability and environmental awareness.
- Posted May 18, 2018
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The Applied Student Research Toolkit
- McGill University (QC)
This Applied Student Research (ASR) toolkit is designed to help students complete an impactful ASR project. ASR related to sustainability is an opportunity for students to address the needs of …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Tools
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Integral inclusion of sustainability to the curriculum
- The Universidad Tecnologica Metropolitana (Metropolitana Region)
It shows how the Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana de Chile integrated sustainability throughout the curriculum for all its programs
- Posted May 18, 2018
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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.