Sustainability

Sustainability examines how we can meet today’s needs without compromising the future of our planet. You will study climate change, renewable energy, circular economies, and strategies for combating misinformation around these topics. From life cycle assessments to designing clean energy systems, you learn to use tools to analyze environmental challenges and create practical, equitable solutions. Whether you’re exploring climate justice or spatial planning, sustainability connects science, society, and innovation in pursuit of a more resilient world.

Opening up Sustainability courses

You can always take a 100-level course in Sustainability. Should you want to take a 200-level course, you will have to take Sustainability Essentials I. If there is a 300-level course you want to follow, you will first need to complete both the Sustainability Essentials I and Sustainability Essentials II gateway courses.

Courses in Sustainability

Gateway

Sustainability Essentials I

Provides key concepts in physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics and modelling necessary for sustainability. Uses a case study to connect concepts to real‑world sustainability challenges and prepares students for 200‑level sustainability courses.

Gateway

Sustainability Essentials II

Builds on Sustainability Essentials I. Applies tools and knowledge to a real‑world sustainability case study and allows students to delve deeper into aspects connected to their field of interest.

100-level

Climate Change

Climate change has large impacts on the natural world and human societies. This course will first focus on the drivers of anthropogenic climate change and its impacts on sea level rise, ocean acidification and ecology. We will then study impacts on various aspects of society such as agriculture, health and migration, and discuss solutions for both adaptation and mitigation, such as renewable energy systems, carbon dioxide storage and climate-adaptive spatial planning. Finally we will discuss climate governance and -justice.

100-level

Life Cycle Analysis & Circular Economy

To prepare our society for a circular and sustainable future, we need to evaluate the environmental impact of products, processes, or services throughout their entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to final disposal, or ideally re-usage as new raw materials. To do this, we have to understand the environmental consequences and develop a strategic planning for future activities. The course will be heavily focused on “learning by doing”, rather than by just studying books.

100-level

Calling Bullshit: How to Navigate the Sea of Misinformation

The world is rife with misinformation. To function properly in any field, it is important that you are able to recognize it adequately handle it. In this course, you will develop your “bullshit-detector”. We will discuss common biases in human thinking that make us vulnerable to misinformation. You will learn how to detect several types of misinformation and learn how to distinguish real from fake experts. Using several case studies, we will practice effective responses to false claims. To conclude the course, you will produce your own video in which you will tackle a bullshit topic of choice.

200-level

Energy & Sustainability

You will learn about Renewable Energy resources and be introduced to current and emerging technologies to exploit those resources. We will discuss both already available and projected (envisioned) technologies for generation of electricity or to satisfy primary energy demand from renewable resources and place these technologies in context with environmental, political and economic constraints. You will also learn about energy storage and demand management, which are vital tools to balance supply and demand of energy.

300-level

Renewable System Design

You will learn to assess current energy usage patterns, identify inefficiencies, and propose applicable strategies for reducing energy consumption or transitioning to cleaner energy sources such as solar, wind, or bioenergy. Emphasis is placed on both the technical and economic aspects of proposed solutions, including cost-benefit analysis, regulatory considerations, and implementation feasibility. By the end of the course, students will deliver a report and presentation to their partner company.

300-level

Spatial Planning

Spatial engineering as a tool for addressing major global challenges like natural disasters, food shortages, resource decline, and pollution. In this seminar, students will explore how geospatial technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, and spatial modelling can help solve real-world problems. Through hands-on projects and case studies, practical applications in disaster response, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring are emphasized.

Also consider these options:

Environment & Sustainability

The other fields within the Environment & Sustainability cluster.

Environment & Sustainability

Explore Sociology!

To understand how social structures, cultures, and communities shape environmental action.

Sociology

Explore Media!

To see how powerful messaging can influence attitudes, policies, and action for a greener future.

Media

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The UCR Program Builder is designed to help you easily plan your academic program. Step by step, the tool guides you through selecting courses, building a balanced curriculum, and meeting UCR’s academic requirements.

Try the Program Builder

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Sustainability

Sustainability

Opening up Sustainability courses

Courses in Sustainability

Courses in Sustainability

Sustainability Essentials I

Sustainability Essentials I

Sustainability Essentials II

Sustainability Essentials II

Climate Change

Climate Change

Life Cycle Analysis & Circular Economy

Life Cycle Analysis & Circular Economy

Calling Bullshit: How to Navigate the Sea of Misinformation

Calling Bullshit: How to Navigate the Sea of Misinformation

Energy & Sustainability

Energy & Sustainability

Renewable System Design

Renewable System Design

Spatial Planning

Spatial Planning

Also consider these options:

Also consider these options:

Environment & Sustainability

Environment & Sustainability

Explore Sociology!

Explore Sociology!

Explore Media!

Explore Media!