Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressing Sustainability and Development
We’re excited you’re here! This course, “Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development,” is the first course in the Sustainability and Development MasterTrack® Certificate, but you can also take this course as a stand-alone learning opportunity. Sustainability and development pose unprecedented challenges as human societies grow and seek to ensure future wellbeing and prosperity. In this course, we’ll focus on addressing the twin challenges of sustainability and development with actionable knowledge for innovating solutions to the world’s most pressing problems like climate change, poverty and inequality, and biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Rather than sustainability being a qualifier for development (e.g. sustainable development), we conceptualize Sustainability and Development as co-equal fields of inquiry and action that seek to build bridges between the natural, social and applied sciences and the humanities. When sustainability and development are placed on an equal footing, it requires us to think more explicitly about the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between them, which we will be exploring in depth in each week.
Throughout the course, you will be introduced to the theoretical currents in Sustainability and Development, and will garner an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will also consider the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems through the emerging field of Sustainability Science.
In this course, we will explore three of the most pressing challenges undergirding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including climate change, poverty and inequality, and ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, with case studies to guide and challenge our thinking. In the final week of the course, we will discuss the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between these challenges, especially as they relate to designing innovative solutions for achieving our sustainability and development goals.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand and explain the world’s most pressing problems with a specific focus on poverty & inequality, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, and climate change.
- Critically analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationship to the world’s most pressing problems.
- Use frameworks and evidence necessary to develop solutions.
- Assess relevant solutions that would help realize the SDGs and at the same time solve the pressing problems.
- Apply skills learned to implement solutions.
Understand and explain the world’s most pressing problems (focus: poverty & inequality, ecosystem degradation & biodiversity loss, climate change)
Critically analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationship to the world’s most pressing problems
Use frameworks and evidence necessary to develop solutions and Apply skills learned to implement solutions
Assess relevant solutions that would help realize the SDGs and at the same time solve the pressing problems
Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Introductions to the Course
Week 2
Climate Change
Week 3
Poverty and Inequality
Week 4
Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Degradation
Week 5
Trade Offs and Synergies
FAQ
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Reviews
A well designed course on sustainable, environment and the future. Highly recommended and thank you the Michigan University and the Team.
This is one of the most important courses that help improve and nourish individuals......I have learned a lot from it.
Evaluation exams needs to be more competitive and use of different questions when person opt for retest.
Very informative high level overview course that goes deep enough into key topics to make the theory quite practical.
