ENVS 180 Seminar in Sustainability (2 credits)
Course Description
This seminar is an interdisciplinary approach to studying sustainability led by faculty from diverse disciplines. The course will examine and explore the three core dimensions of sustainability (environment, economy, and society) with respect to one or more major sustainability-related issues. Students will complete assigned readings and participate in weekly seminars. Throughout the quarter, students may be required to participate in various sustainability-related activities: watching films and online lectures, listening to speakers, attending field trips, and other events. The course will be presented with a different focus each time and may be taken twice.
Course Content
A. The concept of sustainability, including interrelationships among environment, economy, and society.
B. Factors that impact the creation of sustainable systems, including technology, economic systems, political interests, access, and social inequality.
C. Issues in sustainability, which may include: resource depletion, resource conflict, pollution, consumerism, health, food systems, and energy systems.
Student Outcomes
1. Students will explain what sustainability is and how the concept relates to environmental, social, political, and economic factors.
2. Students will identify different important issues related to sustainability, such as resource depletion, resource conflict, pollution, consumerism, health, food systems, and energy systems.
3. Students will engage in analytical and systems thinking to discuss and explain the key factors affecting specific sustainability-related issues.
4. Students will reflect on how different aspects of sustainability relate to their daily lives and experience.
5. Students will reflect on how different aspects of sustainability relate to the well-being of communities at the local, national, and global scale.
6. Students will articulate ways in which individual and community action can play a role in creating sustainable systems.
7. Students will reflect on their own personal role in creating and participating in sustainable practices.
Degree Outcomes
Natural Sciences: Graduates use the scientific method to analyze natural phenomena and acquire skills to evaluate authenticity of data/information relative to the natural world.
Responsibility: Graduates will be able to critically examine the relationship between self, community, and/or environments, and to evaluate and articulate potential impacts and consequences of choices, actions, and contributions for the creation of sustainable systems.
Lecture Contact Hours 20
Lab Contact Hours 0
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 20
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