SUST 200Foundations of Leadership in Sustainability

3 credits · Sustainability · Penn State

SUST 200 will teach the fundamental concepts of social, environmental, and economic sustainability and the interrelationships between these metrics and human behavior. The goal of this course is to provide students with a foundation in sustainability literacy and responsibility that will facilitate their development as global citizens and sustainability leaders in their respective fields and personal lives. The course will be an introduction to and foundation for the Sustainability Leadership Minor. Primary subjects covered include sustainability literacy, the ethical foundations of sustainability, the scientific metrics used to evaluate the sustainability of systems, energy literacy, sustainable business principles, and self-awareness. The course will emphasize the importance of understanding the relationships among these topics, and the interdisciplinary approaches needed to develop a comprehensive and integrative view of the world. Class activities will focus on the cultivation of communication, critical thinking, inquiry, and problem-solving skills. Emphases will be on student engagement in personal, community, and global sustainability challenges, and the preparation of students for more immersive sustainability learning opportunities.