Clarkson University
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This must be achieved in a manner that is ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable.
Sustainability courses introduce students to the concept of sustainability in the context of real-world problems, exploring the interaction of environmental, economic and social systems. In addition, sustainability courses are designed to build and deepen students' understanding of the following key concepts:
• Human systems and natural systems are linked. Changes in any part of social or natural system may have multiple consequences that reach far beyond the initial change.
• Addressing almost all problems related to sustainability involves tradeoffs. There are rarely perfect solutions with no costs, and there are often winners and losers.
• There are cascading effects with intended and unintended consequences of human policies, decisions, and actions, all of which have implications for sustainability.
• Problems of sustainability exist at multiple scales. Solving a problem at a local level is very different than solving a problem at the national or international levels.
• There is no one "solution" to address sustainability - no one person has the answer. Effective solutions require the collaboration of scientists and social scientists of all disciplines, in addition to politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, farmers, and business and community leaders.
To achieve sustainability literacy a student should:
• Be engaged in inquiry and systems thinking to synthesize understanding of integrated social, economic, and environmental systems and reason holistically.
• Develop technical and communication skills or expertise necessary to identify and implement practical solutions to real-world sustainability challenges.
• Understand the way in which sustainable thinking and decision-making contributes to the process of creating solutions for current and emerging social, environmental, and economic crises.
• Develop and use an ethical perspective in which they view themselves as embedded in the fabric of an interconnected world.
• Become aware of and explore the connections between their chosen course of study and sustainability.
A “sustainability-focused” course concentrates on the concept of sustainability, including its social, economic, and environmental dimensions, or examines an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens. A focused course includes both depth and breadth of key sustainability concepts. The syllabus should include a clear statement of sustainability in the learning objectives and course reading materials and/or deliverables.
A “sustainability-related” course is one that integrates one or more of the learning objectives and key sustainability concepts defined above as a distinct course component or module in relation to the specific topic of the class. Some examples could include:
• integrating green engineering principles into the design of any process or product;
• completing projects that require mathematical optimization or statistical analysis of real-world environmental systems and anthropogenic impacts;
• extending biology concepts to include the interrelation between the natural and built or human environments;
• presenting a case study of sustainable practices in business or industry.
(note: this def'n was adapted from Arizona State's published definition)

A committee of faculty from all schools was tasked to develop the definitions and nominate courses from their areas. The instructors of the classes were then contacted to discuss the depth of sustainability materials in their classes to identify if it met the criteria for either related or focused classes.