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ENVIR ST 255

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE

4 credits.

Explore the foundations of sustainability using the UW-Madison campus as a living laboratory. Ground your feet on the UW-Madison campus and ask questions about the energy we use, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the land we occupy, the goods we purchase, and the waste we create. A blend of environmental sciences and studies. Use principles of chemistry, physics, and biology to understand the dynamics of our human and earth systems, but also explore societal issues like public health and social justice, all through the context of sustainability and the UW-Madison campus community.

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: None Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Physical Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify drivers of climate change and describe effects both locally and globally Audience: Undergraduate 2. Explain sustainability as depicted in models of the Triple Bottom Line Audience: Undergraduate 3. Explain the sustainability challenges of operating a large public research institution, making connections from local to national and global contexts Audience: Undergraduate 4. Analyze top-down versus bottom-up approaches to addressing sustainability issues on our campus and in the wider world Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe the intersection of sustainability goals with issues relating to communities of color and First Nations communities, particularly in Dane County and Wisconsin Audience: Undergraduate 6. Value the human and natural capital necessary to sustain our life support systems on this planet Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify drivers of climate change and describe effects both locally and globally Audience: Undergraduate 2. Explain sustainability as depicted in models of the Triple Bottom Line Audience: Undergraduate 3. Explain the sustainability challenges of operating a large public research institution, making connections from local to national and global contexts Audience: Undergraduate 4. Analyze top-down versus bottom-up approaches to addressing sustainability issues on our campus and in the wider world Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe the intersection of sustainability goals with issues relating to communities of color and First Nations communities, particularly in Dane County and Wisconsin Audience: Undergraduate 6. Value the human and natural capital necessary to sustain our life support systems on this planet Audience: Undergraduate

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