Duke University
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

The Duke University Education Subcommittee of the Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) is composed of 20 faculty, staff, and students, and focuses on sustainability at Duke as it relates to education, community outreach and research. In particular, the Education Subcommittee is tasked with developing recommendations for the CSC as to how Duke should meet the ACUPCC mandate that the university will take actions that will “…make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students.” In Spring 2010, the Subcommittee drafted language to define what we mean by sustainability literacy and sustainability courses: 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. To achieve sustainability literacy a student should: - Know about the interconnections and interdependency of ecological, social, and economic systems. They should demonstrate understanding of how the health of these systems determines the sustainability of natural and human communities and cultures at local, regional, national, and global levels. - Be engaged in inquiry and systems thinking and use information gained through learning experiences in, about, and for the environment to understand the structure, components, and processes of natural and human-built environment - Be prepared to use the above knowledge and skills to apply knowledge in the service of society in solving climate and environmental issues and to incorporate these principles in their professional and civic life A “sustainability” course is one that: - Educates students about the interconnections and interdependency of ecological, social, and economic system and develops an understanding of how the health of these systems determines the sustainability of natural and human communities and cultures at local, regional, national, and global levels - Engages participants in inquiry and systems thinking and empowers students to apply knowledge in the service of society in solving climate and environmental issues and to incorporate these principles in their professional and civic

Review of courses and course descriptions within the online course catalog that meet our definition of sustainability content.