As the Spring semester approaches, the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future’s Academic Sustainability Programs, is excited to unveil a diverse curriculum designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle today’s world. This semester, they are offering eight dynamic courses that cater to a wide range of interests and academic pursuits. Among them, Introduction to Sustainability serves as a foundation for those new to the field, while the two capstone courses round out each sustainability minor’s student experience. Additionally, one brand new course promises to provide fresh perspectives on sustainability practices, and four returning electives will allow for further exploration into specialized topics.
SUST 1001: Introduction to Sustainability
The Introduction to Sustainability course will be offered on Mondays from 1:00pm-3:00pm at 1957 E Street, in Room B12. Students must also register for a discussion section offered on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:35am-10:25am or 11:10am-12:00pm. The class aims to answer a multitude of questions including: Why does poverty and inequality persist? How can we become more conscious consumers? And what are countries doing to take action on climate change? SUST 1001 introduces sustainability and sustainable development through the lens of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The course will be taught by Angela Melidosian, Assistant Professor of Sustainability. This course also fulfills a number of requirements for students of all majors and is a lead-in for the Sustainability Minor.
SUST 2002: The Sustainable City
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between urban planning, infrastructure systems, and the challenges faced by global cities. The course will be taught by Sandra Whitehead, Associate Professor and Program Director of Sustainable Urban Planning in the College of Professional Studies. The course will be held in Monroe Hall B32 on Wednesdays from 12:45pm-3:15pm. SUST 2002 The Sustainable City fulfills the Pillar II requirement of the sustainability minor.
SUST 2004: Introduction to Sustainability Communication
Introduction to Sustainability Communication will teach students to identify, examine, and critically reflect on how mass media portrays sustainability and science. The course is instructed by Professor Rabia Qusien on Tuesdays from 3:30pm-6:30pm in Monroe Hall B32 . Interested students will learn to practice science communication and storytelling techniques, while examining key audiences and media platforms that cover sustainability issues. It is recommended, but not required, to take SUST 1001: Introduction to Sustainability before enrolling in this course. This course also fulfills the GPAC: Oral Communication requirement and Pillar IV of the sustainability minor.
SUST 2005: Responsible Fashion
Can fashion be sustainable? In the world of fast trends and targeted marketing, is it possible to find an ethical and eco-friendly way to shop for clothing? Responsible Fashion aims to answer these questions and many more. This course turns a critical eye on fashion that claims to be “sustainable”, exploring a variety of business models and techniques used in the fashion industry. Responsible Fashion tackles contemporary sustainable fashion vernacular such as “slow fashion”, “recycled”, “natural materials” and “greenwashing”. This course is taught by Professor Katrina Orsini, and meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45pm-5:00pm. Responsible Fashion will meet at The GW Museum and The Textile Museum, in Textiles 101 on the basement level. This course fulfills Pillar II of the sustainability minor.
SUST 3002: Climate Change and Policy
The course examines climate change through the lens of Antarctica and its penguins, before setting students off to examine other ‘avatar’ species in different locations around the world in a comprehensive group project. Professor Ron Naveen will be teaching Climate Change and Policy in the Spring semester. The course will meet for lecture on Mondays from 11:10am-1:00pm and for discussion on Wednesdays from 11:10am-12:00pm in Phillips Hall room 110. It is recommended, but not required, to take SUST 1001: Introduction to Sustainability before enrolling in this course. SUST 3002 Climate Change and Policy can be used to fulfill either Pillar I or Pillar III of the sustainability minor.
SUST 3093: Gender and Sustainable Development
In a brand new course taught by Professor Melidosian, students will have the opportunity to explore the roles of women, men, and nonbinary people in shaping sustainable development. Additionally, students will learn how people of all gender backgrounds are driving environmental movements, enacting social change, and transforming societies towards sustainability in a world of changing gender roles. This course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:10am-12:25pm in Monroe Hall room 114. This course fulfills Pillar III of the sustainability minor.
SUST 3096: Research in Sustainability and SUST 3097: Culminating Experience in Sustainability
Research in Sustainability and Culminating Experience in Sustainability act as the capstone courses for the sustainability minor program. Students looking to complete their sustainability minor should choose to enroll in SUST 3096 Research in Sustainability if they want to engage in directed research under faculty supervision, or SUST 3097 Culminating Experience in Sustainability if they have a paid or unpaid internship, fieldwork, or community service project with an organization that engages in major goals of sustainability. Both courses require the successful completion of SUST 1001 and the approval of the instructor or program director prior to enrollment in the course. SUST 3096 is taught by Professor Robert Orttung, Research Professor of International Affairs and Director of the GW Sustainability Research Institute in Bell Hall 106 on Thursdays from 12:45pm-3:15pm and SUST 3097 is taught by Professor Melidosian in 1957 E Street B17 on Wednesdays from 3:30pm-4:30pm.