Length and format: elective, 16 weeks, 2 x 75 minutes
Associated credits and evaluation: 3 credits (1 credit hour = 3 hours of work); participation assignments & projects
Towards what degree: Bachelor, Sustainability minor cross-listed with Interdisciplinary Studies and Sociology
Student profile: Interdisciplinary Studies/Sociology (but a mix of other majors)
Class size: 30
Background on teacher(s): One professor, interdisciplinary background (Environmental Studies)
Learning outcomes: Students are able to:
Name the different sustainability discourses (status quo, reform, transformation; weak/hard sustainability etc.) and explain their implications for human behaviors
Know how individual/societal factors facilitate/prevent sustainable behaviors; become familiar with leading behavior theories and sustainable behaviors research
Connect sustainability to their own discipline and participate in an interdisciplinary dialogue to create solutions
Practice communication strategies by presenting sustainability related issues to the public
Create a behavior change portfolio that illustrates various strategies for behavior change with practical applications
Utilize this new understanding to propose behavioral interventions on campus or in the student’s own community; this includes writing a proposal, conducting research, and presenting results
Portfolio: Short reflections on various topics to aid discussion/build knowledge to be used in projects
News: Short reflections on current news related to sustainable behaviors/presented to class
Three projects:
Communication (create an infographic communicating problem/solution effectively to target audience)
Intervention (design/evaluate an intervention to promote sustainable behaviors on campus)
Final paper on sustainability/society (outline/evaluate large scale solutions – policy, economy, social movements, urban planning etc. to promote sustainability)
Innovative approaches:
Adding context to a course that’s usually taught as a psychology/sociology course
Intervention on campus
Sharing news
Communications project with a poster session
Feedback from students: Built on an existing course, this new version of the course has changed significantly and has yet to be evaluated.
