Building a sustainable future depends on restructuring the global economy, major shifts in human
 reproductive behavior, and dramatic changes in values and lifestyles.
Sustainability courses at the University of Washington explore environmental, economic, and/or social aspects of sustainability, addressing the ability for society to innovatively utilize, develop, and protect natural resources and ecosystems in a way that meets the current and future generations' needs. Sustainability focused courses examine one or more topics with regards to all three dimensions (environmental, economic, and social) of sustainability in depth, or analyze a broad range of topics using a sustainability lens. Whereas, sustainability related courses examine one or more topics with regards to at least one dimension of sustainability, or sustainability or the environment is a discrete element of the course description, but not necessarily the main focus.
The following highlighted sustainability courses offered at UW Seattle provide an introduction to courses that are focused on and related to the environment or sustainability.
To find more classes, see our suggested list of keywords to help with MyPlan searches.
An introductory course for nonscience majors on climate and climate change. The class will be divided in three parts:
Course number: ATM S 211
Introduction to issues in international sustainable development from an engineering perspective.
Course number: ENGR 380
Students work in teams to create their own video games or interactive digital experience relating to climate change or other pressing environmental issues.
Course number: ATM S 495
Explores the idea of environmentalism and sustainability across societies.
Course number: JSIS A 429
Credits: 5
Discusses diverse environmental issues around energy sources and uses and the importance of evaluating environmental challenges.
Course number: ENVIR 341
Credits: 3
Students develop innovative solutions to real-world environmental problems.
Course number: ENTRE 443
Credits: 2
Explores development of international environmental consciousness from 1960s to present.
Course number: SCAND 350
Credits: 5
Introduces environmental and natural resource economics.
Course number: ECON 235
Credits: 5
Introduction to environmental health concepts.
Course number: ENV H 111
Examines the role law plays in shaping environmental policy.
Course number: GEOG 467
Credits: 5
Pays attention to verbal expression; forms and genres; and historical, cultural, and conceptual contexts of the natural environment.
Course number: ENGL 365
Overview of principles of sustainability, including discussion of current literature and presentations by practitioners, and methods for balancing social, economic, and ecological consequences of policies and actions.
Course number: ESRM 300
Focuses on the intersecton of green, high preforming buildings and the law.
Course number: LAW E 534
Credits: 3
Introduces the application of social concepts and theories to understanding and managing urban, urbanizing, and wildland landscapes in a sustainable manner.
Course number: ESRM 200
Exploration of definitions and critical concepts of sustainability and analysis of sustainability practices on the UW campus.
Course number: ENVIR 480
Introduction to concepts of sustainability and resilience and their relevance to environment and society in the current Anthropocene era
Course number: ANTH 378
An introduction to the frameworks and approaches to sustainability through exploration of the three pillars of sustainability.
Course number: ENVIR 239