Galen University, San Ignacio, BELIZE
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Course Syllabus
Course Number: ESCI-199
Course Title: Principles of Sustainable Development
Credits: 3
Semester and Year: Spring, 2006
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00pm -2:30 pm
Location: CL2
Course Coordinator: Colin A. Young, Ph.D.
Lecturers: Colin A. Young, Ph.D., Robert Richardson, Ph.D.
Office hours: By appointment
Office Location: Main Building
Office Phone: 501-824-3226
Email address: ;
Course Description:
This course introduces development theory then focuses on the essence of sustainable development and four dimensions that are generally considered to be very important: environmental, economic, social and institutional. It includes a thorough analysis of the criteria and the indicators of sustainable development and their applicability at the international, national and local levels. At the end of the course students should be able to understand the historical context of sustainable development and issues that should be considered by individuals, organizations and nations as they make business and policy decisions.
The course will be team taught by Dr. Colin Young and Dr. Robert Richardson. Dr. Colin Young is the course coordinator and is ultimately responsible for course delivery. Both Drs. Young and Richardson will be available to assist students with their group presentations and questions concerning the course.
The course will be made up of lectures, class work, group and individual assignments, a field trip and group presentations. The field trip will take students to industries where they could encounter sustainable development issues. Such industries include banana and citrus production, shrimp and fish production, other agricultural production, energy generation and tourism services. The lecturers will finalize the field trip early in the semester. The course coordinator will be responsible for the logistics of the field trip.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will have:
(i) developed a definition of the scope and essence of sustainable development;
(ii) initiated a discussion of the global context in which the dialogue about sustainable development occurs;
(iii) carried out an analysis of the relevant criteria and indicators of sustainable development;
(iv) had an opportunity to develop creative thinking with respect to the interactions and interdependencies among the environmental, economic, social and institutional dimensions of sustainable development; and
(v) developed a thorough understanding of the mechanisms and instruments through which the dimensions of sustainable development are measured.
Readings:
An electronic reader has been compiled for the course, and it includes the prescribed readings for the course. A folder containing book chapters, working papers, and other important and related readings will be made available to all students who are registered for the course. Additionally, all Power Points Lectures will be posted in the ESCI-199 course folder. Students are expected to thoroughly read the prescribed material for each class date.
Lecture Schedule and Reading Assignments:
Date / Topic / Lecturer / Assigned reading5/09/06 / Course Introduction / R. Richardson
7/09/06 / Definitions of
Sustainable Development / R. Richardson / Basic Principles of Sustainable Development, Jonathan M. Harris
12/09/06 / Origins of Sustainable Development / R. Richardson / 1. Earth Charter: A Brief History
2. The Story of Silent Spring
14/09/06 / Models of sustainable development / R. Richardson / http://www.forumforthefuture.org.uk/
aboutus/ModelsofSD_page1231.aspx
19/09/06 / Models of sustainable development / R. Richardson / History, Definition(s) and Models of “Sustainable Development,”
Marco Keiner
21/09/06 / NO CLASSES / Holiday / Belize’s Independence Day
26/09/06 / The global dialogue about sustainable development: past and present / C. Young / Agenda 21, The Earth Charter
28/09/06 / The global dialogue about sustainable development: past and present / C. Young / Sustainability: A Global look at the Issue
(Developed for CEE5590, Special Topics in Sustainability, September 23, 2004), James R. Mihelcic
Date / Topic / Lecturer / Assigned reading
3/10/06 / Environmental dimension of sustainable development / C. Young / FAO Sustainable Dimensions
http://www.fao.org/sd/epdirect/EPre0033.htm, Chapters 10-13
05/10/06 / Environmental dimension of sustainable development / C. Young / FAO Sustainable Dimensions
http://www.fao.org/sd/epdirect/EPre0033.htm, Chapters 14-15 and Climate and Energy Chapters
10/10/06 / Economic dimension of sustainable development / R. Richardson / Anderson, Ch. 8 (169-188)
12/10/06 / Economic dimension of sustainable development / R. Richardson / Anderson, Ch. 9 (193-216)
17/10/06 / NO CLASSES / FIELD TRIP
19/10/06 / Midterm Exam
24/10/06 / Institutional dimension of sustainable development / R. Richardson / Harris, Ch. 20 (424-440)
26/10/06 / Institutional dimension of sustainable development / R. Richardson / Hawken et al., Ch. 13 (260-284)
31/10/06 / Social dimension of sustainable development / C. Young / The Social Dimension of Sustainable Development, Sherri Torjman
02/11/06 / Social dimension of sustainable development / C. Young / The Social Dimension of Sustainable Development: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean,
Ramon Pichs Madruga
07/11/06 / Sustainable development: criteria and indicators / C. Young / United Nations Division for SD http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/indicators/isdms2001/table_4.htm
09/11/06 / Sustainable development: criteria and indicators / C. Young / UN Division for SD
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/indicators/isdms2001/table_4.htm
Date / Topic / Lecturer / Assigned reading
14/11/06 / Applications of Sustainable Development / R. Richardson / Five Policy Recommendations
for a Sustainable Economy,
Herman E. Daly
16/11/06 / Transitions to sustainable development / R. Richardson / Ruttan, Ch. 14 (600-620)
21/11/06 / NO CLASSES / FIELD TRIP
23/11/06 / NO CLASSES / FIELD TRIP
28/11/06 / Role of GIS in SD / M. Cayetano / Guest Lecture
30/11/06 / Sustainable tourism / C. Young / Sustainable Tourism Development
05/12/06 / Group Presentations / C. Young
07/12/06 / Group Presentations / C. Young
TBA / Final Exam / Comprehensive
Other Course Requirements:
· Students are advised to read the relevant material before attending lectures.
· There will be four graded assignments during the course. Each assignment will be worth 5% of the total grade. Assignments/Projects should include bibliography and a list of the reference material consulted.
· There will be one field trip to southern Belize. It will include a visit to the banana and citrus industries, as well as discussions of sustainable development issues in those sectors.
· Students will be divided into four groups for class presentations. Each group will address one dimension of sustainable development or related topic. Groups will discuss the particular dimension within the context of a relevant case study or example from Belize. The presentation should be between twenty and thirty minutes for each group, and should involve contributions from each group member.
· Students are expected to participate actively in class discussions.
Course Assessment:
Assignments 20 %
Quizzes 10 %
Midterm Exam 20 %
Final Exam 30 %
Presentations 10 %
Class participation 10 %
Assignments
The assignments will require the students to discuss the dimensions of sustainable development, the core values of sustainability and actions that can be taken in pursuit of sustainability at the local, organizational, sectoral, and national levels. All assignments will require the students to write essays.
Quizzes
There will be four quizzes during the course. The quizzes will be unannounced and will count for 10% of the final grade.
Exams
A mid-term and final exam will consist of multiple choices, short-answers, problem sets and other questions regarding the material covered in lectures and class discussions. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Presentation
Students will be divided into four to six groups, depending on the number of students. Group size will be kept between three and four students. Each group will be given a sustainable development topic to explore. There discussion should bring to bear the dimensions of sustainability, models of sustainability and benefits of a sustainable path.
Participation
Lectures will be in discussion format. Students are expected to contribute to the class and field trip discussions, and will be evaluated on their participation in the course.
Course Policies:
1. Attendance and Punctuality: Students are expected to attend all classes and be on time. Excused or unexcused absence for more than 20% of the total classes will result in F for the course.
2. All assignments are expected on their due dates. Five points will be deducted per day (not per class) for late assignments.
3. Exam policy: Make up exams/quizzes will not be given. You may be allowed to take an exam/quiz early if you know in advance that you will be out of town. In the event that you miss a scheduled exam without notification and approval, a grade of zero will be entered.
4. Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: The University Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism applies. Students are expected to be familiar with this, and all other, university policies (see below and Student Handbook, pp.36-37)
5. Gender neutral language in class and assignments: Galen University values the diversity of its student body, staff and faculty. As such, the university is committed to gender-neutral and bias-free language. We are all expected to support this policy in written materials and spoken contributions to class sessions.
Intellectual Integrity
Intellectual Integrity is one of the ideals for which Galen University stands. Students are expected to adhere to high standards of intellectual integrity and honesty. Cheating and plagiarism are contrary to the ideals of Galen University. Cheating is defined as dishonesty of any kind in connection with assignments and examinations. It applies to both giving and receiving unauthorized help. Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work of someone else as one’s own. Cheating and plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Using any unauthorized aids on an exam or test
· Representing someone else’s work as your own
· Falsifying documents or grades
· Submitting someone else’s work as your own
· Submitting the same essay or report in more than one course (without permission)
· Looking at someone else’s answers during an examination or test
· Impersonating another person at an examination or test or having someone impersonate you
· Making up sources or facts for an essay or report
Cheating and plagiarism will be treated as a disciplinary offence in addition to failure in that particular assignment or examination. (Taken from Galen University’s Academic Policies).
Students are encouraged you to work with and collaborate with one another; however, any written work you hand in must be your own.
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