| Course Number | Course Name | Description | Faculty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUS- ANTH 1020 | Biological Anthropology | This course explores the human fossil record, human evolution, population genetics, primatology, and modern human biological diversity from a biocultural perspective. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ARCH 3000 | Sustainable Building Design & Construction | An analysis of sustainability in the green built environment including certifications such as LEED, Energy Star, RESNET, and the National Green Building Standard. Course discussions will include: What is Green Building and why does it make sense, Building Science fundamentals, planning for Green from the start, Green Building Economics, and Building performance analysis. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ARCH 4600 | Senior Project | This is a capstone project to design or assist in the building of a sustainable design of a residence or commercial structure. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ART 2200 | Intro to Printmaking | An introduction to all printmaking classes covering the processes of intaglio, screen printing, relief, lithography, and monotype. Projects are framed around sustainability discourse and representation. During this course ideas, research, and motivations behind imagery used with be discussed and how it ties to the students own interests in sustainability. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ART 3200 | Intermediate Printmaking | Projects are framed around the sustainability discourse and representation. Students will be able to comprehend the interconnection between environmental, social, and economic systems in relation to sustainability based on their individual research into their own projects and ideas. There are discussions and critiques at the end of each project discussing students ideas, research, and motivations behind the imagery used and how it ties to students own interests in sustainability. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ART 4200 | Advanced Printmaking | We will build on the concepts that were originally developed during Introduction to Printmaking and continue to focus around ideas of sustainability and how we communicate and reflect our communities through our artworks. Students will be able to comprehend the interconnection between environmental, social, and economic systems in relation to sustainability. During our class discussions and critiques at the end of each project, we will discuss our ideas, research, and motivations behind the imagery used and how it ties to students interest in sustainability. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ATTC 4760 | Alternative Fuel Systems | Alternate Fuel Systems explores the technologies behind biofuels, electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and other emerging alternative fuel systems. The course emphasizes sustainability by examining how these technologies reduce emissions, protect ecosystems, and improve public health, while addressing economic and environmental challenges in the automotive industry through hands-on projects. | Brandon Stevenson | |
| SUS- BTNY 1010 | Plants: Apocalypse Prevention | Apocalypse Prevention focuses on the utility, beauty, and wonder of plants. We read about some of the amazing discoveries about plants, have several hands-on activities discovering their biology, and discuss how we can use plants to help solve problems that society faces. Students have opportunities to observe wild plants changing though the season and develop their own presentations about plants that they find interesting. | All Sections | |
| SUS- BTNY 2413 | Natural Resource Management | Natural Resource Management focuses on our natural resources, such as energy, timber, land use, wildlife, and invasive species. This case study oriented course delves into a wide range of scientific, social, ethical, and political issues surrounding 7 specific management challenges in western North America. | Heather Root | |
| SUS- BTNY 2750 | Topics in Science and Society: Symbiosis and Rewilding | This course explores how biological cooperation among organisms can be used in the restoration of habitats and human relationships with the natural world. | James Cohen | |
| SUS- CHEM 1230 | Engineering Chemistry | CHEM 1230 is designed primarily for engineering majors who will take one semester of introductory chemistry. This course will teach the fundamental principles of chemistry including introduction to atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and materials. This course is SUS designated and will additionally address the interconnectedness of chemistry and the environment. | Brandon Burnett | |
| SUS- CS 1400 | Programming I | This course introduces students to computer programming. It covers topics including logical problem-solving, basic input/output, conditionals, loops, functions, arrays, classes, utilizing language libraries, development environments, and program debugging. In parallel with learning programming techniques, students will be introduced to sustainability concepts. | Hugo Valle | |
| SUS- ECON 1100 | Environmental Issues and Economic Policy | Explore the intricate relationship between economics and sustainability in ECON 1100. Learn about topics like resource management cost-benefit analysis to understand how economic policies shape our environmental future. Equip yourself with the tools to create a more sustainable world. | Matt Gnagey | |
| SUS- ECON 2010 | Principles of Microeconomics | We discuss the role market failures plays in environmental degradation and how public policy can correct for these failures. | Matt Gnagey | |
| SUS- EDUC 6020 | Promote Success: K-12 Learners |
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Stephanie Speicher | |
| SUS- EEN 1200 | Introduction to Energy Engineering | Introduction to the field of energy engineering. Energy sources, electrical power generation, renewable and non-renewable energy, environmental and economic issues, the energy future. | Justin Owen | |
| SUS- ENGL 2010 | Intermediate College Writing | Students are required to read, write, and discuss readings and information that have sustainability themes and information. | Kyra Hudson | |
| SUS- ETC 2001 | Engineering Culture | ETC 2001 Engineering Culture considers through history how engineers, planners, and their governments have supported technological change often at the long-term cost to the environment. This course explores how technology-minded individuals slowly began to understand the importance of conservation, sustainability, and environmental protection from the 1850s to the present day. | Tiia Sahrakorpi | |
| SUS- GEO 1710/GEO 3710 | Introduction to GIS | Mapping and geographical analysis are key to raising awareness to sustainability concepts and thus our students will be able to create maps and disseminate information in a concise and efficient manner around sustainability ideas. | All Sections | |
| SUS- GEO 3010 | Oceanography & Earth's Systems | Oceanography and Earth Systems investigates the major aspects of the marine environment and how the oceans are an integral part of Earth's system. You will learn about how the atmosphere, Earth and ocean interact, how ocean currents circulate water and modulate climate, the fundamentals of nearshore processes, how the oceans modulate climate, and how the climate is changing today. Additional topics discussed in this course will include the origin of the oceans, plate tectonics, seafloor features, seawater properties, climate, waves, tides, coastal landforms, and biological oceanography. The course will explore problems of environmental change and marine pollution and encourage you to develop the scientific skills needed to assess new problems, new information, and developments in the future. | All Sections | |
| SUS- GEO 3210 | Paleoclimate | Quaternary Environmental Change explores the geologic and paleoclimatic history of the Earth. The course investigates climate archives, the use of proxy data, and climate models to understand past climate and predict future changes. You will learn how tectonic, orbital and anthropogenic activities drive changes in the climate system. | All Sections | |
| SUS- GEO 4560 | Environmental Geochemistry | This course introduces chemistry as a means to understand, assess, and remediate the environment. Human-environmental interactions are central to the course. In addition, issues of environmental justice are introduced. The capstone project in this course asks students to use geochemical techniques to address a local environmental issue with societal relevance. | Carie Frantz | |
| SUS- GEO 4990 | Geoscience and Society | Case studies, readings, presentations, and/or seminar-style discussions related to geologic hazards/disasters, natural resources, climate change, and applied geoscience careers. | Carie Frantz | |
| SUS- GEOG 1000 | Planet Earth: Air, Water, Land & Life | A study of the interrelated systems that constitute the earth's surface environment of landforms, weather, climate, natural vegetation, hydrology, and soils. | All Sections | |
| SUS- GEOG 1300 | Global Issues: Places, People & the Planet | Course explores different regions around the world and seeks to understand the processes at work, in making places what they are. Society-environment linkages, including sustainability challenges, are a key part of this. | All Sections | |
| SUS- GEOG 3060 | Environmental Issues: Local to Global Impacts & Solutions | A study of global and local environmental issues such as changing air and water quality, food production, waste management, and other topics. The course identifies strategies for creating healthier and more sustainable ways of living within our natural and built environments. | All Sections | |
| SUS- GEOG 3080 | Arid Lands | This course looks at the factors that limit agriculture, population growth, and water availability in an arid environment. Students learn about sustainable practices around the world to produce food in arid climates, conserve water, and plan effectively for large populations in the face of future climate change. | Maria Groves | |
| SUS- GEOG 3090 | Arctic and Alpine Environments | There are five broad learning outcomes for this class, as follows: Develop a basic understanding of the geography of the Arctic (where things are) Understand the key physical processes relevant to cold environments, namely climatic, tectonic, glacial, periglacial and sea ice processes. Develop a basic understanding of the workings of ecosystems in cold environments. Understand the importance of arctic and alpine environments in the study of climate change, both natural and anthropogenic. Comprehend the interconnection between the sustainability of environmental and social systems in Arctic and Alpine regions and economic systems outside those regions. The impacts of a warming climate are critical to the understanding of Arctic and Alpine regions, and this topic is a central feature of the class. | Dan Bedford | |
| SUS- GEOG 3500 | Geography of Utah and the American West | Explore the physical, cultural, historical, economic and political geography of this region and its subregions, including a consideration of issues of sustainability. | Jeremy Bryson | |
| SUS- GEOG 4600 | Geospatial Programming and Online Methods | This course focuses on two essential components of the geographic online experience: geospatial programing and online methods. Half of the course is devoted to customizing GIS software applications by way of modified service interface elements. Topics include the theory and implementation of the various scripting languages (Python for example) currently in use. With these skillsets, students will be able to solve geospatial problems, extend functionality, and streamline/automate GIS workflows through the creation and modification of scripts. The other half of the course is aimed at the design, publishing, and optimization of geospatial servers, and to the maintenance of basic geospatial web services and applications. This will include an introduction to browser and mobile-enabled interactive applications such as those found on cellular phones. Mapping applications using geospatial APIs and Javascript will be covered as well. | Ryan Frazier | |
| SUS- HIST 4440 | History of Eastern Europe to 1815 | Eastern Europe has been a historic battleground among four empires (the Austrian, Polish, Russian, and Ottoman), who struggled for supremacy. One of the primary challenges confronting these empires was the environmental, social, political, and economic damage of the Little Ice Age that peaked in the “crisis of the seventeenth century.” Placing the Little Ice Age and the responses to its challenges implemented across Eastern Europe at the center of this course allows us to consider the early modern world’s conception of sustainability. The underlying climatological stressors created universal problems, but each empire found its own solutions (some effective and some not) to the crisis. This historical perspective on a global environmental disaster can inform not only our understanding of the past but also the present. | All Sections | |
| SUS- ID 2010 | Sustainability I: Textiles & Soft Materials | A study of fibers, yarns, fabric structure, codes, finishes, and sustainable manufacturing practices and products-as they relate to residential and commercial interiors. Three dimensional projects may be required as part of this course. | All Sections | |
| SUS- MATH 1040 | Introduction to Statistics | This course uses the role of data and statistical analysis to measure sustainability in the real world. The connection is immediate with data sets on global warming, sex discrimination, energy use consumption, mortality and environmental factors. The statistical analysis allows students to measure the relationships between these types of data. | All Sections | |
| SUS- MATH 2280 | Ordinary Differential Equations | In this course, students will have the opportunities to utilize their mathematical knowledge and skills to address real-world inquiries within or beyond their respective fields. This goes beyond the scope of the course syllabus, placing particular emphasis on sustainability-related projects. Students will develop an understanding of the intricate relationships between mathematics and other disciplines such as engineering, physics, finance, chemistry, economics, environmental sciences, and more, all within the context of sustainability. | Chloe Cai | |
| SUS- MATH 3450 | Advanced Statistical Methods | This applied statistics course discusses study design, data exploration and visualization, choosing among statistical techniques, and the interpretation of statistical results. Analyses, including T-tests, ANOVA, regression and their non-parametric versions, will be performed on real-world data sets using statistical software. | Julian Chan | |
| SUS- ME 4200 | Senior Project II | The ME 4200 Senior Project II is a required mechanical engineering course, and it is a continuation of ME 4100 Senior Project work. In this course, the student project group is required to test and optimize their design through analysis and prototyping. The sustainability components in this course are addressed in the following ways: a) The final report submitted by students should address technical risks, hazards associated with safety, ethical and professional responsibilities. b) 3D modeling and 2D drafting presented in the final report maintain professional codes & standards for dimensioning, tolerancing, and measurements. c) Students are required to submit a cost analysis section in the final report that clearly presents the steps taken to facilitate low-cost rapid prototyping. d) A recyclability section in the final report should present the efforts taken to use recyclable parts in the project. e) Students need to report any use of environment-friendly, repairable, replaceable materials in the project. f) A section in the final report should discuss the longevity and safety issues associated with the project. g) A section in the final design report and final presentation are required to demonstrate how or what steps were taken to integrate sustainability into the design process. This section will be used to measure student's abilities to address some key aspects of sustainability, such as identifying the dependence of limited natural resources, the importance of eco-friendly designs, and ethical obligations in the mechanical engineering discipline. | All Sections | |
| SUS- MET 4510 | Senior Project II | This course is a continuation of MET 4500 Senior Project I. A mechanical engineering technology project will be selected for team participation. Projects will require planning, analysis, design, development, production, testing, and documentation. An eco-friendly and cost-effective design approach is needed to optimize the prototype process. | All Sections | |
| SUS- MICR 3502 | Environmental Health | In this course you will explore many ways that environmental factors can influence health and disease. This course focuses primarily on human health issues, but occasionally addresses threats to wildlife and natural ecosystems. We will address many issues related to sustainability including toxins in the environment, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, radiation, water quality, air quality, and solid and liquid wastes. The overarching themes of the course are: 1. Human activities can impact the environment and threaten health, and 2. Environmental health threats can be mitigated through monitoring, risk assessments, policies, and technology. | All Sections | |
| SUS- MLS 4410 | Interdisciplinary Health Teams | This course provides an interdisciplinary experience with the team concept as a priority. Students learn the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals. The course teaches students to practice an interdisciplinary approach as they research, interact and learn in the interdisciplinary environment of a healthcare setting. In addition, students will learn about how the following factors promote equitable and effective healthcare: sustainability, environmental quality, accessibility, cultural competence, emotional intelligence, communication, resilience, and self-efficacy. | All Sections | |
| SUS- NRSG 4200 | Evidence Based Practice | Nursing 4200 focuses on a basic understanding of how multiple sources of evidence are developed and integrated into an evidence-based nursing environment. These sources include the formal research process, quality improvement data, clinical judgment, inter-professional perspectives, and patient preference. This course will include the application of advanced knowledge and skills required for translating reliable evidence into evidence-based practice and clinical judgments. The course will also support the establishment of a research-base for the student's personal nursing practice, as well as influence the continual improvement of healthcare quality and safety. | All Sections | |
| SUS- NRSG 4400 | Population Health in Nursing | This course explores population health through conducting a comprehensive community assessment. As part of this process, students evaluate how systemic cycles such as poverty, environmental conditions, access to resources, influence health at individual, community, and global levels. Focus is placed on measures to mitigate risks associated with these factors, including approaches that could lead to more sustainable environmental and health outcomes. | All Sections | |
| SUS- NUTR 1020 | Science of Human Nutrition | Relate the ecological impact and the role for environmental responsibility pertaining to food choices and food system sustainability. | All Sections | |
| SUS- NUTR 1240 | Nutrition & Sustainable Cooking | This course explores sustainable ways to acquire, prepare and consume food to support a healthier individual, population, and environment. Food science principles will be emphasized in the laboratory experience. | All Sections | |
| SUS- PHYS 2090 | Energy & the Environment | It's all about climate change, peak oil and renewable energy. | All Sections | |
| SUS- POLS 2100 | Intro to International Politics | This course will allow students to explore the foundations and forces that shape international politics and society. It examines the concept of power and sovereignty within the system including discussions of conflict, war, and terrorism. Global economics will be examined, including economic interdependence, globalization, trade, and development. International institutions will be examined including the United Nations to understand the role of international organization, international law, and the concepts of sustainable development. | All Sections | |
| SUS- PSY 1010 | Intro to Psychology | Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology helps us to understand why it’s hard for people to change (e.g., biases and heuristics) as well as how we can influence sustainable behaviors and strategies (e.g., persuasion, nudges) necessary to enable and encourage societies to live in more sustainable ways. | Sarah Herrmann | |
| SUS- PSY 2710 | Biopsychology | This course is designed to provide students with a broad and general understanding of the field of biopsychology as a whole. We will cover many ways in which our brains, bodies and environments work to impact our psychological experiences. | Aminda O'Hare | |
| SUS- PSY 3460 | Social Psychology | The purpose of this course is to explore social psychological theory and research. Social psychology is the study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in everyday social situations. We investigate social factors pertaining to sustainability, including norms pertaining to sustainable behaviors, biases and heuristics that influence whether people endorse climate change, social dilemmas that pit short-sighted self-interest against long-term group goals, and how to utilize persuasive techniques to encourage people to behave in more sustainable ways. | Sarah Herrmann | |
| SUS- PSY 4200 | Environmental Psychology | Environmental psychology examines the interactions between the physical environment and psychological processes. Environmental psychology covers the breadth of psychology, including human development, biopsychology, cognition, health and wellbeing, and social/cultural psychology. This course will cover major areas of intersectionality among environmental science, sustainability, and psychology. | All Sections | |
| SUS- QUAN 2600 | Business Statistics I | We analyze environmental datasets and data from WSU related to sustainability in many of our examples in class. | Valentinas Rudys | |
| SUS- SE 6010 | Foundations of Systems Engineering | Systems Engineering is a multifaceted discipline, involving human, organizational, and various technical variables that work together to create complex systems. Within that creation includes human and societal needs, trade off analyses, and addressing quality characteristics or the abilities; which include reliability, maintainability, sustainability, and disposability. | All Sections | |
| SUS- SOC 1010 | Intro to Sociology | Sociology is the study of the dual nature of the individual in society and society in the individual. Introduction to Sociology provides an overview of how individuals shape the way our society functions including many of the challenges facing our world today related to things like gender, family, race, ethnicity, wealth and poverty, politics, as well as the individual's role in protecting the environment. The final unit of the course includes a debate style presentation titled, "Is Humankind Dangerously Harming the Environment?" During the debate, students will engage with this topic from multiple angles to uncover the dual nature of the individual in society and society in the individual as it relates to a sustainable future for humanity. | R.C. Morris | |
| SUS- SW 3930 | Social Work Practice III- Macro Practice | In this class, students learn to assess the multifaceted systems that create and sustain social problems, which intersect with environmental, and economic conditions. Once assessed, students will create and follow through with a plan to ameliorate the social problem in sustainable ways. | Barrett Bonella |
Sustainability Courses
Courses with the SUS in front of the course number have been formally approved to use the SUS attribute indicating that the course focuses on or includes sustainability in some way. See more info about the SUS attribute here.
2026 Spring Semester
For more information on these courses, visit the Course Catalog.