Urban Sustainability
The Urban Sustainability concentration provides the basis for a holistic understanding of cities through the lens of environmental and social sustainability.
By combining coursework in urban studies, history, sociology, and design with the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), students in the Urban Sustainability concentration are exposed to both the environmental and infrastructural aspects of cities, as well as issues of human development, urban societies, public policy, and social equity. Students in the concentration acquire a foundation in sustainability concepts and skills for research and professional practices. The Urban Sustainability concentration helps prepare students to serve as social change agents in future roles as scholars, urban planners, designers, entrepreneurs, public servants, and advocates to address the most pressing issues of urban development and its human impacts in cities around the world.
Advising
Special Programs and Opportunities
Students in the Urban Sustainability concentration may be interested in the Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellowships, which places students in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support sustainable energy development. Students interested in pursuing graduate studies may consider the Coterminal M.A./M.S. degree program in Earth Systems.
Required Course
- EARTHSYS 112 Human Society and Environmental Change (4 units)
Courses
Students must select at least one course from each of the following categories:
- environmental sustainability,
- social sustainability, and
- project-based courses.
Courses in the concentration (including the required course and additional courses) must total at least 20 units. Please consult with your advisor to select a program of courses that suits your intellectual and personal goals.
If a course has not already been approved for a concentration, you may petition to count it by submitting this form to your advisor.
Environmental Sustainability
Gragg, D. (PI)
Stasio, K. (PI)
Underwood, S. (TA)
Blackwell, E. (TA)
Choudhary, D. (TA)
Dachille, J. (GP)
Gragg, D. (PI)
Stasio, K. (PI)
Vargas, M. (PI)
Blythe, C. (TA)
Utz, T. (TA)
Salvador, M. (TA)
Schmitter, S. (TA)
Cuevas, A. (TA)
Beck, M. (TA)
Fajer, E. (TA)
Hok, J. (TA)
Gomez, X. (TA)
Arrigo, K. (PI)
Azevedo, I. (PI)
Assa, G. (TA)
Matta, J. (TA)
Assa, G. (TA)
Matta, J. (TA)
Social Sustainability
Balogun, A. (TA)
Nomura, C. (TA)
De Luna, J. (SI)
Floyd, B. (PI)
von Borck, J. (PI)
Project-Based Courses
Sample Course Plans
The inclusion of a range of sustainability-relevant skills and focus courses – e.g. policy, engineering, environmental science, urban history – offers the opportunity for each student to tailor the cumulative learning process to their own interests. A couple of few sample course plans are listed below. Please consult with an advisor to discuss potential course plans.