Sustainability Studies

Classes

SUS 101 : Sustainability and Humankind's Dilemma: Life on a Tough New Planet

This course focuses on fundamental sustainability crises confronting humankind in the face of climate change, peak oil, resource depletion, species extinction, and societal collapse. Areas covered include social-structural conditions driving ecological overshoot; human threats to natural systems; population and Earth's carrying capacity; globalization, poverty and failing states; environmentally-based national and transnational conflicts; emerging pathogens and diseases; systems analysis of societal complexity and systemic breakdown. Prerequisite(s): A passing score on the college's writing and reading placement tests or, C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091, or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Ethical Dimensions and Global and Historic Awareness.

Credits

3
1. Identify key issues, concepts, theories and language associated with socio-ecology and sustainability issues. 2. Analyze the ways in which societal structures and social forces shape ecological and sustainability discourse and practices. 3. Develop an appreciation for, and a continuing interest and participation in, ecological issues and the stabilization of a healthy planet.

SUS 102 : Resilient Sustainability: Preparing for the Future

This course focuses on the multitude of socially-based adaption strategies currently emerging or in existence to meet the numerous sustainability crises facing humankind. Areas of study include the paradigm shift towards sustainable resilience: transitional sustainability movements; the New Urbanisms and reconfiguration of the built environment; reinvigoration of community; education for employment in a post-carbon world; post- industrialized agriculture and evolving alternative food systems; harnessing renewable energy; strengthening physical health and mental well-being; steady-state elements and the New Economy; bioregionalism and the nation-state; population stabilization and the eradication of poverty; "un-trashing" the planet and its vital resources; sustainable conservation and curtailment practices leading to resilience. Prerequisite(s): A passing score on the college's writing and reading placement tests or, C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091, or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits

3
1. Explain the connections between sustainability crises and sustainably resilient adaptations. 2. Distinguish between and articulate the differences between the current unlimited growth paradigm and the emerging sustainable steady-state paradigm. 3. Analyze the parts of complex social systems and the ways in which they interconnect. 4. Analyze sustainability social movements and social actions and their impacts on societies. 5. Recognize ways in which emerging and existing sustainability efforts could be implemented locally and regionally. 6. Develop research skills using the Internet and library resources.

SUS 201 : Sustainability, Human Rights and Climate Justice

This course focuses on the disproportional burdens associated with climate change that experts anticipate will be experienced by poor countries and poor populations, with emphasis on Africa, Asia and the Small Island States. Substantive areas include the causes and consequences of uneven development and climate-driven threats and impacts on agriculture and food security; ecosystem goods and services; livelihoods and income generations; health, disease, and pandemics; water and energy access; sea-rise ad built-environmental infrastructure; sociopolitical destabilization, conflicts and terrorism; involuntary displacement and migration; and gender equity. Particular concerns center on international geo-political relations, global interconnectivity, nations' ethical responsibilities toward the poor in the face of climate crises, and transnational mitigation and adaptation responses. Prerequisite(s): A passing score on the College's writing and reading placement tests or, C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091, or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits

3
1. Distinguish between First World and Third World societal characteristics and articulate the problems of uneven development. 2. Identify and explain the significance of key international (United Nations) documents focused on universal rights and fairness and their ethical implications. 3. Recognize and articulate the interconnected complexities of climate change events, especially as they impact poor countries and poor populations. 4. Demonstrate familiarity with potential mitigation and adaptation strategies, especially as they apply to poor countries and poor populations. 5. Apply the relevance of such strategies for local and regional climate change events in southeastern New England. 6. Develop research skills using the Internet, library resources and contacts with relevant embassies. 7. Think systemically and critically. 8. Conduct basic social science research. 9. Write and orally present research findings including recommendations for appropriate mitigation and adaptation responses.

SUS 203 : Sustainable Economics: The Rise of the New Economy

This course focuses on the contradictions within contemporary capitalism, their impacts on the physical and human environment, and the emerging economic transformation. Issues addressed include the future of economic growth and globalization; impacts on consumer society; the rise of natural and human capital; steady state, gift and shared economics; participatory budgeting; re-localization of labor; cooperatives and worker-owned production; emerging small businesses; developmental of local and regional currencies; bio-regional productions; and alternative finance and banking systems. Prerequisite(s): A passing score on the College's writing and reading placement tests or, C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091, or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits

3
1. Articulate the connections between society and economy. 2. Explain the fundamental structure of globalized capitalism. 3. Discern ways in which the contemporary dominant economic system impacts the environment and issues of sustainability. 4. Identify existing and emerging models of economic activity. 5. Decipher economic models most conductive to resilience and sustainability. 6. Develop research skills through use of the Internet and library sources. 7. Demonstrate written and oral mastery of research findings.

SUS 204 : Civic Engagement: Sustainability Capstone

This field intensive course serves as the student's civic engagement capstone experience after having completed all prerequisite SUS classes. It is designed for students to apply the knowledge and skills gained via the SUS courses to a real world situation in the field, chosen by the student in collaboration with her/his capstone advisor, and facilitated through BCC's Office of Civic Engagement. Each student will spend a minimum of 6 hours per week in the field at the chosen site and meet weekly with the capstone advisor to review progress in the field. Prerequisite(s): SUS 203; Co-requisite SOC 253. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits

3
1. The student will have the opportunity to engage in a real world, hands-on experience in the field where s/he can apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a situation in the field 2. To train the student in a research method of particular use to sustainability work and to a civic engagement project- Participant Observation 3. The student will gain a sense of self-actualization, self-confidence, and a sense of agency through active engagement in a professionally-oriented social setting 4. The student will learn to think critically and systematically in addressing research materials and site issues 5. The student will gain experience in writing and communicating orally in a cogent, accessible manner 6. The student will develop a sense of professionalism by working in the field, conducting research and making recommendations as to sustainability adaptations and solutions