Sustainability

SOS 100 - Introduction to Sustainability

SOS 100 - Introduction to Sustainability

Introduces key themes, practices, and principles of sustainability across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

Overview

In this course, you will explore the wide-ranging and important topic of sustainability, coming to understand why it is important in our communities, for our planet, and in your everyday life. You will engage with key themes of sustainability, like integrated systems, future-orientation, and justice, while examining how sustainability is connected to local and global challenges and industries across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. By the end of the course, you will be well versed in the principles and practices of sustainability so that you can participate in creating a more sustainable future for you and for all.

Check out an article about this course: Understanding sustainability and how to build a career in it

Requirements

To be successful in this course, we recommend English language fluency and computer literacy. We also encourage you to make sure your laptop or desktop computer meets the technical requirements.

What you’ll learn

Be able to define sustainability and show why it is necessary for a secure and thriving future
Demonstrate with examples how integrated human-environment systems function
Show why decisions should be based on integrated human-environmental systems
Recognize why and how intra-generational and inter-generational equity is foundational to sustainability
Envision and design pathways towards just, equitable, and resilient futures
Explain how partnerships can increase positive impact
Describe how sustainability can be relevant to your daily activities
Coordinate manage change through individual action and collective governance strategies under uncertainty
Be able to apply sustainability principles to better manage and design fundamental social and economic activities
Show how sustainability is important to your job or career and how you can apply sustainability strategies to your job or career

Transcript

This course appears on your transcript identically to how it appears on the transcript of an enrolled ASU student who has taken the course on one of ASU’s campuses. Course attendance dates will be listed on your transcript. An on-demand course will appear on your transcript in the session you complete the course.

This course satisfies 3 credit hours toward the SUST: Sustainability General Studies requirement for Arizona State University. It is strongly encouraged that you consult with your institution of choice to determine how these credits will be applied to their degree requirements prior to transferring your credit.

Faculty and course staff

Jacob Bethem

Associate Teaching Professor,

School of Sustainability

Arizona State University

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Andrea Balderrama

Online Course Manager,

Learning Enterprise