Boise State University
AC-1: Sustainability Course Offerings

A spreadsheet consisting of all available courses was provided by the registrar's office.  

A total count of academic departments that offer courses for credit was conducted.  This eliminated a few departments.  For example, sports recreation classes were eliminated from this department count.  

For each remaining department, the course list was examined to determine courses that were sustainability "focused" and "inclusive."  We used AASHE's definitions to determine if a course was sustainability-focused or inclusive (definitions provided below).  

Once a sustainability-related course was identified in a given Department, the course descriptions and sustainability evaluations were documented in a course inventory (see attached annotated list).   One course per department was documented, even though many departments have more than one sustainability course.  

Sustainability Focused:  A unit of instruction that has a primary and explicit focus on the integrated concept of sustainability and/or the interdependence of ecological and social/cultural/economic systems. This focus must be demonstrated in the title or high level description of the course. Sustainability-focused courses may include:

● Foundational courses with a primary and explicit focus on sustainability (e.g., Introduction to Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Sustainability Science).

● Courses with a primary and explicit focus on the application of sustainability within a field (e.g., Architecture for Sustainability, Green Chemistry, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Business). As sustainability is an interdisciplinary topic, such courses generally incorporate insights from multiple disciplines.

● Courses with a primary and explicit focus on a major sustainability challenge that requires students to consider the interdependence of ecological and social/cultural/economic systems (e.g., Climate Change Science, Environmental Justice, Global Poverty and Development, Renewable Energy Policy). The focus of such courses might be on providing knowledge and understanding of the problems and/or the tools for solving them, but they should bring a systems thinking approach to the challenge.

Sustainability Inclusive:  A unit of instruction that is primarily focused on something other than sustainability, but clearly incorporates sustainability content or addresses one or more sustainability challenges. This may include courses that are focused on, for example, ecological integrity or social justice. It may also include courses that:

● Incorporate a unit or module on sustainability or a sustainability challenge,

● Include one or more sustainability-focused activities or readings, or

● Integrate sustainability challenges, issues, and concepts throughout the course.

SUPPORT FOR TRAINING

In 2022, Boise State supported 2 faculty members to attend the Piedmont Project training.  This training focused on teaching faculty on how to incorporate sustainability into courses.  

COURSE BUY-OUTS

Boise State provided course buy-outs for faculty to create a net-zero living laboratory course.  This course will launch in the Spring of 2025 and is focused on reducing carbon emissions at Boise State.  

https://www.boisestate.edu/vip/net-zero-for-boise-state/