Florida State University
AC-1: Academic Courses

Sustainability is inherently about connectivity, specifically between the environment, economic systems, and equity. As such, for a course to be determined as a ‘sustainability course’ it must identify and describe the relationship between at least two of the three pillars of sustainability or be focused entirely on sustainability. It is essential for the course to articulate the intersections of the pillars of sustainability, highlighting the relationship and influence one system has on another.
A course that is focused on one of the pillars of sustainability (i.e., biology or social justice) and includes a section incorporating another pillar but does not focus on the concept of sustainability itself is categorized as a ‘course that includes sustainability’.
For example, while economic systems are an aspect of sustainability, a typical economics class will only cover one dimension of sustainability. However, an economics class that focuses on the intersection of the environment covers two dimensions and would be considered a ‘sustainability course.’ An economic class that includes a section on environmental economics would be considered a course that includes sustainability.
In gathering data, FSU Institutional Research pulled course information from Campus Solutions, the student information system at FSU. Sustainable Campus staff compiled a list of 345 keywords, including 154 environmental keywords, 158 social keywords, and 33 economic keywords. These keywords reflected best practices from peer universities and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The keywords were used to identify potential ‘sustainability courses’ or ‘courses that include sustainability’, pulling data from the online course catalog.
Staff from the Sustainable Campus Office then examined each output using the criteria below to determine if a class was a ‘sustainability course’ or a ‘course that includes sustainability’:
1. Does the course title and/or description contain the presence of keywords?
2. Do the keywords in their broader context refer to sustainability? (For example, does “environment” refer to the natural world or a specific context related to the discipline?)
3. Do the keywords represent more than one pillar of sustainability?
4. Are the keywords linked with language that “describes the relationship between at least two of the three pillars of sustainability?”
5. Even if there are no keywords present, is there evidence to support the idea that sustainability is a theme in the course?
6. Is the course a ‘sustainability course’ or a ‘course that includes sustainability’?

Sustainable Campus staff compiled an initial list of ‘sustainability courses’ and ‘courses that include sustainability’. The initial list was sent to 36 departments who were identified as teaching a ‘sustainability course’ or ‘course that includes sustainability’. Staff and faculty members from these departments were asked to validate the information to ensure that it was accurate and to request additions that may have been overlooked. 23 departments verified that the information was correct and/or added additional courses.

In summary, sustainability course identification was an iterative process. The sustainability course inventory continues to change and may not be a complete list of all sustainability courses offered at FSU.

Included in the inventory?
Internships - No
Practicums - No
Independent study - No
Special topics - Yes
Thesis / dissertation - No
Clinical - No
Physical education - No
Performance arts - No