Sustainability (SUST)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
SUST 101. Introduction to Sustainability - SB3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: The study of sustainability is an interdisciplinary activity that examines interrelated environmental, political, economic, and social problems facing humans and society at local, regional and global scales. This course provides an introductory survey of the concepts, values, frameworks, and methodologies that contribute to understanding and responding to problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, and the issues of limited resource allocation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 201. Environmental Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101.
Description: This course introduces students to major environmental problems in sustainability. Students will examine the biophysical or ecological properties, manifestations, and consequences of these problems at local, regional, and global scales. The course will take particular interest in human-environment interactions, understanding the role different ecosystems and environmental processes play in human well-being, as well as how humans interact with and influence biodiversity, structure, and function of natural systems worldwide.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 202. Behavioral Dimensions of Environmental Decision-Making3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101.
Description: This course will examine sustainability through a behavioral lens, exploring the psychological processes, primary research methods, and behavioral solutions involved in environmentally responsible behavior and sustainability. Students will be introduced to key principles of motivation, perception, and decision-making to identify fundamental behavioral obstacles to sustainability.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 301. Sustainable Built Environment - SB, D13 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101.
Description: The course will explore the issues of sustainability from the perspective of the built environment, our history of construction and expansion, and buildings and how they interact with the natural environment. These issues will be explored from building specific, as well as urban system, perspectives including urban design. Further, the course will focus on identifying and implementing practices that lead to more sustainable man-made modifications of natural environment for human purposes. The course will comprise of a discussion about sustainable sources for energy, water, air, materials for human habitat design and management.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 303. Quantitative Research Methods in Sustainability and Urban Studies - QR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): ACT Math score of at least 19 or SAT Math score of at least 510 or a course indicating equivalent college math readiness.
Description: This course is designed to be an elementary introduction to statistics with an additional mixture of research methods fundamentals for sustainability and urban studies. Students will learn statistical techniques for quantitative data analysis as well as a basic understanding of how research is conducted. The statistics sections covers descriptive statistics, such as measures of central tendency and variation, some probability theory, and inferential statistics, such as hypothesis testing using t-tests. The focus of the research methods section is on quantitative research, such as sampling, measurement issues or experimental approaches, as they are relevant for sustainability and urban studies.
Note: Cross-listed with URBS 303.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 401. Independent Study Sustainability - CUE1-3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101, SUST 201, SUST 301, and permission of the instructor.
Description: By making arrangements with a faculty member, students can register for one to three hours of credit in SUST 401 to participate in research relevant to sustainability science or practice.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 402. Policy and Governance in Sustainability - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101, SUST 201, and SUST 202.
Description: The course will deal with policy making and governance, and explore the impacts of political economy on overall sustainability. Students will examine desired economic conditions, policies, and governance systems that may encourage adoption of best practices in sustainability, including city / county level policy making, state and federal level issues (e.g., EPA, renewable energy incentives), and grassroots political organizing.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 403. Sustainable Societal Systems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101, SUST 201, and SUST 202.
Description: This course examines sustainability problems and processes as embedded within large social-ecological systems and societal frameworks in the U.S. and globally. Students will examine topics in sustainability from a holistic systems perspective, in which "sustainability" is seen to integrate multiple actors, social systems (e.g., culture, economy, communities, and governance), environmental processes, and built / technological infrastructures at multiple scales to archive human welfare and lasting environmental prosperity (i.e., "social-ecological sustainability").
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 404. Sustainability Internship - CUE3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101, SUST 201, SUST 202, SUST 301, and permission of the instructor.
Description: The Sustainability Internship is a culminating learning experience for students to develop critical thinking skills, synthesize lessons learned from the BA in Sustainability, and apply the knowledge to real-world projects or activities in sustainability. Typical Internship sites and clients will include: local government agencies, community-based organizations, business organizations, and university committees or partnerships.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status., CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 480. Special Topics in Sustainability3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Description: Examination of an advanced topic related to sustainability. Topics will vary depending on instructor.
Note: May be repeated for credit.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 518. Urban Demography and GIS3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101.
Description: This course will introduce students to geographic information systems (GIS) as an analytical tool with which to study urban demographic issues. The material will be geared towards students in the urban planning, public administration, and urban studies programs, with a focus on demographic data and issues frequently encountered by planners, policymakers, and policy analysts. Topics that will be covered include migration, housing and neighborhood development, segregation, and land use.
Note: Cross-listed with URBS 518, PLAN 618, PADM 621.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SUST 576. Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): SUST 101, SUST 201 or SUST 202; and SUST 301; or consent of instructor.
Description: The course is designed to address the social ecological frameworks for understanding and applying sustainability concepts in both theory and practice.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 676, UPA 676, and PADM 676.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
