Sustainability Studies (SUST)

SUST 5105. Practicum in Teaching.

This course introduces graduate instructional assistants to key concepts, methods, and practical skills for teaching college-level courses. Students receive regular in-service training on topics such as course organization, grading practices, classroom communication, and professional responsibilities. The course includes periodic, structured feedback on instructional duties to support continuous improvement in teaching performance. Designed for first-year teaching and instructional assistants in the MA and MS in Sustainability programs, this course emphasizes evidence-based approaches to instruction and familiarity with relevant university policies. Students will develop foundational competencies that prepare them to assist faculty, engage with varied learning contexts, and contribute effectively to the undergraduate classroom environment.

SUST 5197. Directed Study.

This course provides graduate students with the opportunity to pursue individualized study under the guidance of faculty in Sustainability Studies. Students may engage in focused research activities, applied professional practice, or critical review of scholarly literature relevant to sustainability. The structure of the course is determined collaboratively between the student and supervising faculty member. Emphasis is placed on developing advanced inquiry skills, grounding work in established scholarly standards. This course may be repeated once for credit when topics vary.

SUST 5199B. Thesis.

This course provides continued enrollment for graduate students completing a thesis. It enables students to sustain steady progress on research, drafting, revision, and coordination with their thesis committee while meeting continuous‑enrollment requirements established by the university. Students work independently under faculty supervision to advance their project through the necessary stages of development, ensuring that all program expectations for scholarly writing and research activity are met. The course supports the organizational, methodological, and procedural aspects of completing a thesis but does not include formal classroom instruction. Enrollment in this course is required each term until all thesis milestones have been fulfilled and the final manuscript is submitted for binding.

SUST 5297. Directed Study.

This course provides graduate students with the opportunity to pursue individualized study under the guidance of faculty in Sustainability Studies. Students may engage in focused research activities, applied professional practice, or critical review of scholarly literature relevant to sustainability. The structure of the course is determined collaboratively between the student and supervising faculty member to ensure academic rigor, methodological clarity, and appropriate scope. Emphasis is placed on developing advanced inquiry skills, grounding work in established scholarly standards, and producing outcomes appropriate for graduate‑level study. This course may be repeated once for credit when topics vary.

SUST 5299B. Thesis.

This course provides continued enrollment for graduate students completing a thesis. It enables students to sustain steady progress on research, drafting, revision, and coordination with their thesis committee while meeting continuous‑enrollment requirements established by the university. Students work independently under faculty supervision to advance their project through the necessary stages of development, ensuring that all program expectations for scholarly writing and research activity are met. The course supports the organizational, methodological, and procedural aspects of completing a thesis but does not include formal classroom instruction. Enrollment in this course is required each term until all thesis milestones have been fulfilled and the final manuscript is submitted for binding.

SUST 5301. Seminar in Sustainability.

This seminar introduces students to major concepts, debates, and research traditions within the field of sustainability studies. Drawing on perspectives from the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, the course examines how sustainability questions are defined, measured, and interpreted across disciplines. Students analyze case studies, evaluate scholarly arguments, and distinguish empirical claims from normative assertions. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, methodological rigor, and the ability to analyze sustainability issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives. The course encourages students to investigate sustainability as a complex and evolving academic domain, developing their own evidence‑based interpretations through research and discussion.

SUST 5397. Directed Study.

This course provides graduate students with the opportunity to pursue individualized study under the guidance of faculty in Sustainability Studies. Students may engage in focused research activities, applied professional practice, or critical review of scholarly literature relevant to sustainability. The structure of the course is determined collaboratively between the student and supervising faculty member to ensure academic rigor, methodological clarity, and appropriate scope. Emphasis is placed on developing advanced inquiry skills, grounding work in established scholarly standards, and producing outcomes appropriate for graduate‑level study. This course may be repeated once for credit when topics vary.

SUST 5398. Professional Project.

This course provides students the opportunity to complete an independent professional project under the guidance of graduate faculty in Sustainability Studies. Students identify a topic relevant to their academic or professional goals, develop a project plan, and carry out research or applied work consistent with graduate-level expectations. The course culminates in a substantial written paper that demonstrates the student’s ability to apply appropriate methods, evaluate evidence, and communicate findings effectively. Emphasis is placed on designing a focused project, documenting procedures, and presenting conclusions clearly without prescribing particular viewpoints or policy positions. This course serves as the capstone requirement for students pursuing the non‑thesis option in the program.

SUST 5399A. Thesis.

This course provides a structured introduction to graduate‑level thesis enrollment and supports students as they initiate the research process for the Sustainability Studies thesis sequence. Students begin developing an appropriate research topic, reviewing relevant literature, and identifying methodological approaches in consultation with a supervising faculty member. The course emphasizes early planning, documentation, feasibility, and the establishment of a realistic research timeline aligned with program expectations. Students work with faculty to clarify research scope, identify required resources, and prepare foundational materials that will guide their continued work in the second thesis course, SUST 5399B. Because this course represents the first phase of a multi‑semester thesis requirement, academic credit is awarded only upon the successful completion of SUST 5399B.

SUST 5399B. Thesis.

This course provides continued enrollment for graduate students completing a thesis. It enables students to sustain steady progress on research, drafting, revision, and coordination with their thesis committee while meeting continuous‑enrollment requirements established by the university. Students work independently under faculty supervision to advance their project through the necessary stages of development, ensuring that all program expectations for scholarly writing and research activity are met. The course supports the organizational, methodological, and procedural aspects of completing a thesis but does not include formal classroom instruction. Enrollment in this course is required each term until all thesis milestones have been fulfilled and the final manuscript is submitted for binding.

SUST 5599B. Thesis.

This course provides continued enrollment for graduate students completing a thesis. It enables students to sustain steady progress on research, drafting, revision, and coordination with their thesis committee while meeting continuous‑enrollment requirements established by the university. Students work independently under faculty supervision to advance their project through the necessary stages of development, ensuring that all program expectations for scholarly writing and research activity are met. The course supports the organizational, methodological, and procedural aspects of completing a thesis but does not include formal classroom instruction. Enrollment in this course is required each term until all thesis milestones have been fulfilled and the final manuscript is submitted for binding.

SUST 5999B. Thesis.

This course provides continued enrollment for graduate students completing a thesis. It enables students to sustain steady progress on research, drafting, revision, and coordination with their thesis committee while meeting continuous‑enrollment requirements established by the university. Students work independently under faculty supervision to advance their project through the necessary stages of development, ensuring that all program expectations for scholarly writing and research activity are met. The course supports the organizational, methodological, and procedural aspects of completing a thesis but does not include formal classroom instruction. Enrollment in this course is required each term until all thesis milestones have been fulfilled and the final manuscript is submitted for binding.