Principles of Environmental Sustainability ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This is an interdisciplinary study designed to introduce key concepts of environmental sustainability. Students will be introduced to the definitions of sustainability, systems thinking, and the skills needed to analyze human-environment interactions from a sustainability perspective. Students will learn how the biophysical world works, covering topics such as: ecosystem organization and functions; material cycles; ecological diversity and complexity; and the rate of ecological change. They will also consider the environmental impacts of human activities such as agriculture, fishing, extraction, manufacturing and building and propose sustainable solutions. The learning activities emphasize real-world problem-solving and critical thinking.