University of California, Santa Barbara
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

Broad Definition of Environmental Sustainability Courses: Goal Measures (Courses must identify one or more of the following goals): 1. Identifies one or more serious environmental problems and explain its underlying causes and possible consequences. 2. Explores the conceptual foundations of our environmental attitudes, values and challenges from a variety of cultural perspectives. 3. Examines the scientific understanding of Earth’s natural systems and cycles, emphasizing humanity’s role as the planet’s ecologically dominant species and how that affects the continuing viability of habitats for life on Earth. 4. Demonstrates the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems. 5. Investigates how our relationship to the natural world has been shaped historically, politically, and/or economically. 6. Examines the controversies surrounding questions of values and ethics as they relate to creating a sustainable future. In addition, it will be expected that at least one student learning outcome (SLO) is developed that reflects the focus of the course. Outcome Measures (Students learning objectives): 1. Understand and be able to effectively communicate the concept of sustainability. 2. Analyze how the well-being of human society is dependent on ecosystems and the materials and services they provide to humanity. 3. Recognize the physical and biological attributes, basic functioning, and limits of planetary ecosystems. 4. Develop and use an ethical perspective in which they view themselves as embedded in the fabric of an interconnected world. 5. Become aware of and explore the connections between their chosen course of study and sustainability. 6. Synthesize understanding of social, economic, and environmental systems and reason holistically. 7. Be able to create models, products, designs or creative representations that highlight an understanding of the connections among people, processes and the environment.

Environmental Sustainability-Focused Courses *Please note that for the purposes of the GE, we do not need to differentiate between sustainability “focused” and “related.” This is only for the purpose of STARS reporting. Concentrate on the concept of sustainability, including its social, economic, and environmental dimensions or examine an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens. Environmental Sustainability-Related Courses Incorporate sustainability as a distinct course component or module or concentrate on a single sustainability principle or issue.