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:

Introduction to issues in international sustainable development from an engineering perspective.

Students work in teams to create their own video games or interactive digital experience relating to climate change or other pressing environmental issues.

Explores the idea of environmentalism and sustainability across societies.
Credits: 5

Discusses diverse environmental issues around energy sources and uses and the importance of evaluating environmental challenges.
Credits: 3

Students develop innovative solutions to real-world environmental problems.
Credits: 2

Explores development of international environmental consciousness from 1960s to present.
Credits: 5

Introduces environmental and natural resource economics.
Credits: 5

Introduction to environmental health concepts.

Examines the role law plays in shaping environmental policy.
Credits: 5

Pays attention to verbal expression; forms and genres; and historical, cultural, and conceptual contexts of the natural environment.

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.

Focuses on the intersecton of green, high preforming buildings and the law.
Credits: 3

Introduces the application of social concepts and theories to understanding and managing urban, urbanizing, and wildland landscapes in a sustainable manner.

Exploration of definitions and critical concepts of sustainability and analysis of sustainability practices on the UW campus.

Introduction to concepts of sustainability and resilience and their relevance to environment and society in the current Anthropocene era

An introduction to the frameworks and approaches to sustainability through exploration of the three pillars of sustainability.