
Courses
Fall 2023
The courses listed below fulfill requirements for the Sustainability Minor at UR. The minor in Sustainability includes two required courses and one course from each of the following groupings: Economic Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Sustainability, plus an Acting for Positive Change Requirement.
The minor in Sustainability empowers students to shape a just and sustainable world through core concepts in systems thinking, justice, sustainability knowledge, integration, and acting for positive change. The sustainability curriculum follows the structure of the Triple Bottom Line Approach (Social/Equity, Economy, Environment/Nature) and includes consideration of the impacts of our actions, personally and collectively, on others, as well as a sense of self-efficacy to work toward improving conditions that foster well-being of people and the environment now and into the future. Inherent in the sustainability worldview is an understanding of definitions of sustainability and the complexity of sustainability challenges across cultures.
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SUST 101 Introduction to Sustainability, CRN: 11938, Instructor: Rob Andrejewski (Required Minor Course)
This course provides a foundation for sustainability knowledge and problem solving. It explores the relationships between people and natural systems, examines pressing global challenges, and outlines leadership solutions to wicked challenges. Students gain deeper understanding of the most urgent concerns tied to living out of balance with the systems that sustain life.
WSTN 314, M/W 3:00pm-4:15pm -
CHEM 110-01 Pollutants in the Environment, CRN: 12373, Instructor: Chris Stevenson (Environmental Sustainability)
This course is designed for a non-science major. We explore chemical principles in the context of technological and societal issues with an environmental theme, such as global warming, water quality, energy sources, and waste management. As we discuss various issues, key chemical concepts are included on a need-to-know basis.
CHEM 110-01: GOTW E305, M/W/F 10:30am-11:30am -
ENVR 110-01 Pollutants in the Environment, CRN 12374, Instructor: Michael Leopold (Environmental Sustainability)
This course is designed for a non-science major. We explore chemical principles in the context of technological and societal issues with an environmental theme, such as global warming, water quality, energy sources, and waste management. As we discuss various issues, key chemical concepts are included on a need-to-know basis.
GOTW C218 THR 1:30pm-4:30pm -
ENVR 201-01 Intro to Environmental Studies, CRN: 10060, Instructor: Emily Boone (Environmental Sustainability)
Overview of contemporary environmental issues, including species extinction, resource depletion, and pollution. Students examine behavior leading to environmental degradation, the scientific, ethical, and economic aspects of the resulting problems, and study policies intended to provide solutions.
GOTW A101, M/W 1:30pm-2:45pm -
ENVR 201-02 Intro to Environmental Studies, CRN: 10921, Instructor Emily Boone (Environmental Sustainability)
Overview of contemporary environmental issues, including species extinction, resource depletion, and pollution. Students examine behavior leading to environmental degradation, the scientific, ethical, and economic aspects of the resulting problems, and study policies intended to provide solutions.
GOTW A001/INTC 342, M/W 3:00pm-4:15pm -
ENVR 250/GEOG 250 Planet Earth: Wind, Water, Fire, CRN: 11530, Instructor: Todd Lookingbill (Environmental Sustainability)
Basic concepts of earth systems science and physical geography. Includes earth-sun relationships, weather and climate, environmental hydrology, landforms and geomorphology, climate change, and human-environment interactions.
GOTW A100, TU/THR 9:00am-10:15pm, F 9:00am-11:40am -
ENVR 322 Global Impacts of Climate Change, CRN: 11267, Instructor: David Kitchen (Environmental Sustainability)
Rapid climate change is causing an increase in the temperature of the atmosphere and oceans. This is a truly global problem that requires international research and collaboration to resolve. The USA is a major producer of the atmospheric “greenhouse” gases that make a significant contribution to this global “anthropogenic” warming. The aim of this course is to introduce students to the global environmental impact of anthropogenic climate change, and to challenge students to think about the possible impact of the way we live in the USA on poor, marginalized, and at risk communities around the world.
INTC 231, W 6:30pm-9:10pm -
HS 397-03/GEOG 380 Special Topics: Protecting Health in Changing Climate, CRN: 11544, Instructor: Jeremy Hoffman (Environmental Sustainability)
This course explores the impacts of recent and future climate change on health outcomes, including temperature related illness and mortality, degraded air and water quality impacts, and vector-borne infectious diseases. Students will learn about strategies for mitigating, communicating, and adapting to the health impacts of climate change, including policy and community-based interventions. Through case studies and hands on exercises, students will gain a deeper understanding of the inequities, challenges and opportunities for protecting public health in the face of a changing climate.
INTC 230, M 4:30pm-7:00pm -
ENVR 362/PLSC 362 Environmental Law and Policy, CRN: 11461, Instructor: Chris Miller (Social Sustainability)
Examines legal aspects, both regulations and case law, of environmental policy. Central issues are whether legal responses (1) effectively address the needs of the parties most affected; (2) properly weigh such facts as economic efficiency, protection of nonhuman species, and the possibility of unintended consequences; and (3) are diluted by the political process).
WSTN 306, M/W 4:30pm-5:45pm -
GEOG 210-01/GS 210-01 Planet Earth: People and Place, CRN: 10173/10990, Instructor: David Salisbury (Social Sustainability)
Introduction to our earth as home to people and place through geographic approaches that analyze cultural, societal, economic, political, and environmental change. Topics include: human dimensions of climate change; sustainability; spatial analysis techniques and theories; population distributions and migration; cultural geographies; global economic development and its distribution; urbanization; political geography; and human-environment relations.
INTC 299, TU/THR 10:30am-11:45am -
GEOG 210-02/GS 210-02 Planet Earth: People and Place, CRN: 10174/12353, Instructor: David Salisbury (Social Sustainability)
Introduction to our earth as home to people and place through geographic approaches that analyze cultural, societal, economic, political, and environmental change. Topics include: human dimensions of climate change; sustainability; spatial analysis techniques and theories; population distributions and migration; cultural geographies; global economic development and its distribution; urbanization; political geography; and human-environment relations.
INTC 299, TU/THR 12:00pm-1:15pm -
ECON 211-01 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, CRN: 10416, Instructor: Alexander Persaud (Economic Sustainability)
Comparative analysis of economic growth, income and wealth distribution, trade and finance, population, agriculture, and industrialization in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
BUS 254, TU/THR 9:00am-10:15am -
ECON 211-02 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, CRN: 10417, Instructor: Alexander Persaud (Economic Sustainability)
Comparative analysis of economic growth, income and wealth distribution, trade and finance, population, agriculture, and industrialization in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
BUS 254, TU/THR 9:00am-10:15am -
GEOG 370 Global Climate Investment, CRN: 12382, Instructor: Mary Finley-Brook (Economic Sustainability)
Geographic perspectives on economic development and spatial analysis of trends in the global economy. Topics include: natural resource location and distribution; commodity flows and chains; technological change and diffusion; international trade; entrepreneurship and innovation; industrial location theory; social and cultural dimensions of development; geographies of labor; and regional development theories and trends.
HUM 211, TU/THR 10:30am-11:45am