Muhlenberg College
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

Muhlenberg College has developed a definition of sustainability in the curriculum. The definition was developed by a committee comprised of at least three faculty members who teach courses in different departments (committee may include students staff, and other stakeholders as well). Sustainability is most commonly defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The field of Sustainability Studies explores and critiques ways to do this in the context of maintaining ecological and environmental health while generating economic welfare and ensuring social justice. The minor in Sustainability Studies integrates across disciplines with its goal of instilling understanding, appreciation, and thoughtful problem solving skills in students regarding the relationships and interactions of human society and the environment. The Sustainability Studies Minor will highlight issues related to sustainability and explore how those issues impact and are addressed at local, national, and global levels. This minor will provide the interdisciplinary background that is needed to understand many of the complex challenges facing our world, and will equip students with the skills needed to develop solutions to these problems. An additional goal is to build a community of faculty and students with a diversity of perspectives and areas of expertise committed to seeking creative solutions for sustainability. Muhlenberg College has identified its sustainability-focused and sustainability-related course offerings.

Sustainability Studies is divided into four sections of curriculum. Theory and Representation: These courses primarily focus on theory including basic science and social science, the representation of nature and sustainability, and environmental ethics and history. They provide the framework and context for further work in Sustainability Studies. Sustainability in Practice: These courses have an applied focus, and offer a substantial research or service-learning component related to sustainability and the environment. Although these courses may also cover theoretical aspects, they are differentiated from the above group by providing both hands-on experiences and more focus on the application of theory and basic science. Sustainable Solutions: Either through a seminar course or independent research, students focus on a particular issue such as energy, food, or sustainable design and work towards the development of practical solutions. Sustainable Communities: These courses examine sustainability at the community level. They focus on analysis and problem solving by examining a variety of issues confronted by a particular community, and offer opportunities to work with members of that community to understand and solve problems at the human-environment interface.