When someone mentions being “sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” or “green,” what do you immediately think of? Do you feel alienated from the environmental movement sometimes because it doesn’t seem relevant to your major, career, or life? Why should sustainability even matter to you? This course, presented by the Student Environmental Resource Center, is meant to introduce sustainability as a multi-faceted and interdisciplinary concept embodying business, economics, public health, engineering, and ethnic studies, as well as its real practical applications in students’ lives. We will look at an array of topics to develop a deeper understanding and critique of the larger environmental movement through lectures, student presentations, group discussions, articles, and videos. Over the course of the semester, this DeCal serves to provide some food for thought that can link every student’s personal and professional interests to sustainable living.

There are a few short assignments that students are expected to complete in this class. During the first class, students will write a short introductory paragraph on what sustainability means to them. Each week, teams of 2-3 students will sign up to do a short 5-minute presentation on a current event or news article regarding sustainability and environmental issues. Students will prepare for an informal in-class debate on certain environmental topics, and students will take on a 21 Day Challenge, during which they will change one of their environmentally unfriendly habits (i.e., leaving computer charger plugged in when not in use) in an effort to make their lifestyle more sustainable. For the final project, students have multiple creative options, from profiling a job that relates to sustainability, to rewriting a lesson plan from a previous class to reflect sustainability.

Students are expected to be on time for class. They can miss 2 classes at most, as long as the absence is excused well in advance.

Our class will be first-come, first-served on the basis that we can accommodate for all students. If there are not enough spots, the emphasis will be given to students who are not predominantly involved in the environmental community already (i.e. they have a presence in a student organization and/or working in an environmental department on campus), or who are not a part of the College of Natural Resources. The first-come, first-served policy will still be in effect here. Please fill out the form below if you are interested in enrolling in this DeCal. We will be holding an open info session on Tuesday, January 24th from 6:30-8 PM, and our first class is on Tuesday, January 31st. We encourage everyone to come meet us and bring any questions you have about the DeCal!