SUPR- Sustainable Practices

Courses

ECON& 201: Microeconomics

Credits 5

GS, SS, SU- This course examines the market system and the role of government in the economy. Students learn to analyze resource and income distribution, assess consumer and business behavior, and evaluate price determination and production cost. Students will also be able to identify the economic and socio-political forces that impact consumer demand, business production, and exchange within both domestic and international markets.

ECON& 202: Macroeconomics

Credits 5

GS,SS, SU- This is an introductory course in principles of macroeconomics. Macroeconomics studies aggregate economic phenomena such as inflation, economic growth and recession, and unemployment, and addresses issues related to economic growth and the role of government policies in maintaining a healthy, prosperous economy. The goal of the course is to enable students to think about aggregate economic issues in an insightful manner, and to critically evaluate the economic information and analysis provided in popular news publications.

SUPR 290: Career Pathways: Sustainable Practices

Credits 1
RE- This one-credit course is designed for students who are transitioning from a two-year associate degree, or a four-year baccalaureate into a sustainability career and/or graduate school. The course will highlight relevant career tracks and trends in the field of sustainability, and will introduce students to professionals currently working in the field. Students will conduct career research, and will identify and explore occupations that are of interest to them; in addition, they will practice writing essays, resumes, and cover letters, and will practice communicating their skills and abilities in interesting and effective ways.

SUPR 300: BAS-SP Program Orientation

Credits 1
This one-credit course serves as an orientation and cohort building experience for the incoming class of BAS in Sustainable Practices (BASSP) students. The course introduces students to Cascadia's mission, vision, and values; the sustainability features, goals, and plans at Cascadia; resources available to support students in achieving their academic and career goals; and the structure of the BASSP program which includes in-person, online and hybrid classes as well as an internship experience and capstone project. Additionally, this course will be critical to forming strong annual cohorts and building purposeful relationships between current students, graduates, faculty, Technical Advisory Committee members, and staff.

SUPR 301: Introduction to Sustainable Practices

Credits 5
In this course, students will explore multiple interpretations of the concept of sustainability as they pertain to the key elements of environment, economics, and social equity, i.e., the Three 'E's. Systems thinking will be introduced as a mechanism for understanding sustainability, and students will use systems as a way of understanding the interplay of various elements in developing and employing sustainable practices. Core themes of the degree will also be introduced, including themes of resilience and adaptive challenge. Students will also be introduced to the program's core competencies and outcomes as a way to visualize their degree pathway as it leads to the capstone project.

SUPR 310: Statistics for Research in Sustainable Practices

Credits 5
The focus of this course is statistical analysis as applied to quantitative research in the field of sustainable practices. Students will be introduced to both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques and how they are used in this context. Both experimental and correlational analysis (including regression) will be presented and contextualized with real-world problems and examples. The emphasis is on the interpretation and communication of data as well as problem solving using statistical techniques. Needed technology will be taught along with the subject matter. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the BAS-SP program, OR permission from the BAS-SP program administrator.

SUPR 325: Social Perspectives on Sustainable Practices

Credits 5
In this course, students will learn about social sustainability and other applicable principles such as inequalities, stratification, racism, poverty, environmental and social justice and injustices, and environmental degradation. Students will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop an understanding of the values and beliefs that influence sustainable (or unsustainable) practices from an individual and societal level. Students will also explore how social institutions like the government and the economy affect outcomes in how laws, regulations, and policies affect socially vulnerable communities. Cross-cultural ideas of sustainable practices, as well as community, development, and decision-making processes are explored as they relate to human interaction with local cultural and natural environments. Students will have an opportunity to engage in applied sustainable practices through group-based projects. Finally, students will learn how cultural, social, and psychological forces can shape human practices to be ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable.

SUPR 397: Sustainable Practices Work-Based Learning I

Credits 1 5
Students will develop hands-on experiences through a sustained contribution within a work setting in the field of sustainability. Students develop and reflect on a set of personalized learning outcomes as they consider how the key sustainability competencies and concepts such as resiliency and adaptive challenges interact in a work setting. They reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses in the competency areas.

SUPR 398: Special Topics in Sustainability I

Credits 1 5
RE- This course affords a student(s) the opportunity to investigate current and relevant topics in Sustainability. The focus, content, format, and delivery will vary depending upon the topics and will be documented in a Learning Agreement. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Instructor or Program Administrator

SUPR 410: Research Design and Methods in Sustainable Practices

Credits 5
The focus of this course is research design and methodology as applied to problems in the field of sustainable practices. Students will learn basic principles of research design and data collection methods in the field of sustainable practices, such as environmental sampling, surveying, content analysis, and interviewing. Students will learn to choose appropriate statistical tools and apply them in the analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Elements of set theory and relational algebra will also be addressed as they are used in working with data sets. Students will learn to interpret published research, such as demographic data and peer-reviewed research articles. They will also learn to communicate the results of their own research in formats that can reveal complex information at a glance, generate insights, and spur action. Research ethics and human subject considerations will be discussed. Needed technology will be taught along with the subject matter. Finally, students will begin the process of using the methodological approaches to help them organize their Senior Project Proposals.

SUPR 490: Sustainable Practices Capstone

Credits 1 5

Students identify a specific, authentic issue or problem with a sustainability context, and define, research, and propose a solution. Students will work to implement the solution, evaluate the outcomes, and present their results to appropriate internal and external audiences. Students will also reflect on their capabilities in the sustainability competencies and develop a plan for addressing areas of needed growth to prepare for a career in sustainable practices. Students develop their portfolio with professional networking connections and course, internship or professional projects.

SUPR 497: Sustainable Practices Work-Based Learning II

Credits 1 5
Students will develop hands-on experiences through a sustained contribution within a work setting in the field of sustainability. Students develop and reflect on a set of personalized learning outcomes as they consider how the key sustainability competencies and concepts such as resiliency and adaptive challenges interact in a work setting. They reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses in the competency areas.

SUPR 498: Special Topics in Sustainability II

Credits 1 5
RE- This course affords a student(s) the opportunity to investigate current and relevant topics in Sustainability. The focus, content, format, and delivery will vary depending upon the topics and will be documented in a Learning Agreement. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Instructor or Program Administrator